Technology Enhanced Learning

The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a core component in the provision of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) and is critical to the student learning experience.  Faculty and staff have the opportunity to leverage the affordances of Brightspace to provide students with a more responsive and personalised learning experience.

In UCD Teaching and Learning we endeavour to support the implementation of pedagogical-driven approaches ensuring the VLE is not just a passive digital repository but utilised to provide an active learning environment. It is expected that every academic module in UCD, whether face-to-face, blended or online, should be provided for in Brightspace. It is where students should find all learning materials, activities, assessments and related feedback. The institutional VLE Standards Policy comprises the VLE Module Standards Framework which details at a minimum how all academic modules should be presented to students. The VLE standards were developed by representatives of the University Teaching and Learning Committee, the Educational Technology Advisory Network (ETAN), UCD Teaching and Learning, IT Services and UCD Estates and were approved by the University Management Team. 

For further information, within our Brightspace Guides section you will find a number of pedagogically focused on: Module/Programme Design; Assessment and Feedback; Collaboration and Communication.

Brightspace training is bookable via UCD IT Services while on demand training videos are available via their Brightspace training page.

Google Workspace is a suite of educational technology tools that are available to UCD staff and students. Google Workspace provides an integrated suite of productivity, communication and collaborative applications which can be used for various teaching and learning purposes.

• Google Drive - provides a secure unlimited online storage space with the ability to share and collaborate  with colleagues and students through shared files/folders and drives.  The components (as outlined below) of this productivity suite are powerful online collaborative tools that can be leveraged for various teaching and learning purposes i.e. facilitating collaborative learning, group work, instructor or peer feedback and the presentation of learning materials/activities within Brightspace.
• Google Documents (docs) - a collaborative word processing tool used to create documents which enables synchronous or asynchronous collaboration by multiple users. In a teaching and learning context Google docs are often used to; facilitate student group work (using a single shared document), co-creation of content, peer review, to collect and share notes. 
• Google Slides - an online presentation tool used to create visual presentations and slideshows.  In a teaching and learning context Google slides are often used to facilitate students to create group presentations where multiple students can work within the same presentation either synchronously or asynchronously. Slides can also be used to present learning materials to students and embedded in Brightspace. 
• Google Spreadsheets (sheets) - an online application to create spreadsheets, organise and analyse data.  In a teaching and learning context Google sheets may be used to facilitate student group/project work (e.g. using a single shared sheet) to collect, share and analyse data. 
• Google Forms -  an online survey/quiz tool with various question types used for data collection. In a teaching and learning context Google forms can be used to survey/poll students, facilitate ice-breakers activities, check students' understanding through formative assessments.  Learn more about Google forms.
• Google Jamboard - a digital whiteboard that can be used to facilitate collaboration. Jamboards can be shared with individuals/groups or a shareable link can be created. In a  teaching and learning context  Jamboards are often used in virtual classroom sessions to facilitate students working together in small groups to share ideas, problem solve or brainstorm (using sticky notes feature). 
• Google Meet - a video conferencing tool which can support  virtual meetings/discussions and classes.  In a teaching and learning context it is commonly  used to facilitate small group tutorials, one-to-one meetings (virtual office hours) or as a student-led online meeting space.  Learn more about setting up a Google Meets call. 
• Google Currents - an online space with a ‘community’ feature which allows cohorts of staff or students to engage in subject specific discussions, information and idea exchanges within a secure online environment. In a teaching and learning context it has great potential to support communities of practice/learners. An example of a Google Currents community is the UCD Teaching and Learning Community which is open to all staff across the University to join, share and discuss information on subject specific topics relating to teaching and learning.
• Google Keep -  an online tool for creating and saving notes, lists and reminders. It can be used to create, share and collaborate with colleagues/fellow students on notes/lists to manage projects, set goals, bookmark or curate content. Keep synchronises across all devices and integrates directly with Google docs and slides. Learn more about using Google Keep. 

All of the above Google Workspace applications are integrated with UCD Gmail/Calendar & Google Drive and many of them when used for teaching and learning purposes can be easily integrated into Brightspace (i.e. Docs, Slides, Sheets, Forms, Jamboard by embedding a shared/published link). 

To access Google Drive and the above mentioned apps within it go to UCD Connect log in with your UCD Connect username and password and click on the Drive icon at the top of the screen and choose the tools you wish to access. 

Student Response Systems (SRSs) are educational technologies most often used for the purpose of making lectures (specifically for larger classes) interactive by engaging students in real-time activities. Typically during class (either face-to-face or online) the lecturer would pose a question or poll which students would respond to instantly via their own device such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Student Response Systems are also commonly referred to as Polling tools, Classroom or Audience Response Systems, Clickers and Electronic Voting Systems. 

Poll Everywhere is a web-based student response system (or polling application) that is available to all UCD staff and can be accessed via https://www.polleverywhere.com/auth/saml/ucd

To use Poll Everywhere from a Teaching and Learning perspective see our resource:  Introducing Poll Everywhere for Teaching and Learning

For technical support and assistance with Poll Everywhere contact the Educational Technology Team, IT Services.

Pre-recorded lectures are commonly used to deliver learning materials asynchronously as a component of blended and online delivery. They are beneficial to students in that they facilitate a student-centred learning approach enabling learners flexibility to view recordings at their own pace and at a time and location of their choice. Most commonly pre-recorded lectures are created in an MP4 video file format which can be easily shared with students via Brightspace. A wide range of technologies can be used to create these pre-recorded videos including Zoom and Yuja.

Yuja is a video management software which is now integrated with Brightspace. It supports uploading video content which can be stored, shared, edited and embedded as learning materials in Brightspace modules. It also enables the recording of lectures and presentations, and the management of existing video content (including recordings from zoom). Yuja can be accessed via all Brightspace modules by going via ‘my class/video content’ or direct access to Yuja via: https://ucd.yuja.com/

There is also a possibility to link your Zoom account to Yuja, that way recordings made in zoom can be seamlessly imported, managed and shared within the Yuja platform.

For further information on the use of pre-recorded lectures and video management see the following resources:

• UCD IT Services Yuja Support information via  UCD IT Services Knowledge Base
• UCD Teaching and Learning: TEL Quick Guide Pre-recorded Lectures and Screencasts;
• UCD IT Services: Creating Videos with PowerPoint;
• UCD IT Services:  Creating and Uploading Video Presentations to Brightspace;
• UCD Estates Services: Online Teaching in Shared Teaching Spaces.

peerScholar is an online peer review and assessment tool that is available within Brightspace to support peer to peer review and assessment.

peerScholar is a customisable tool which supports peer review/assessment on individual, group or case study assignment types. Through a three step approach (create, assess, reflect) it enables students to provide constructive and anonymous feedback on each other's work and facilitates critical reflection on how they might improve their own work.

For more information on peer review and assessment see our resources:

• Assessment and Feedback
• Benefits and Challenges of using Self and Peer Assessment
• UCD TEL All Talk: Peer Assessment - making it work for students and teachers with PeerScholar - Dr. Monica Gorman, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science.
• TEL All Talk: Peer Assessment by peerScholar - Dr. Sarah Browne, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science.
• TEL All webinar recording: Using peerScholar in Brightspace - Aoife MacCormac, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems &  Karen Ryan, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science.

For technical support and further information please refer to the support Peer Assessment webpage of the Educational Technology Services team in UCD IT Services.