Announcements

LSE to go wholly online forever, I think

Big news from LSE tonight (I think, anyway). I was in a meeting with colleagues in which I’m pretty sure I learned that we will be selling the campus in its entirety because we have no further use for the buildings.

I say “pretty sure” because my kid was on Fortnite and the WiFi kept dropping out.

But the gist of it was: everyone is so completely comfortable with working, teaching, learning, researching and so forth at home that we really don’t need this massive investment in bricks and mortar, so why not sell it?

Word is, Mike Ashley is interested in turning the Old Building into a Sports Direct and Tim Martin has made a very reasonable offer for the Three Tuns.

Someone with a cat avatar in MS Teams said:

LSE has a grand tradition, stretching back at least two weeks, of making bold decisions and acting on them swiftly. We are proud to be the first of the Russell Group universities to follow the Open University into the online space. Stop hitting your sister with that. Don’t make me come upstairs. One… TWOOOOO

The advantages are legion, and even I can think of at least one, despite having been woken by my children at 04:30 because someone thought it would be fun to put the clocks forward in the middle of a pandemic.

No you shut up.

As I was saying: the “academic hour” is at an end. No longer will I have to scoot across campus from Clement House to 32 Lincoln’s Inn Fields and show up late for a meeting. I can simply drop out of my eleven o’clock and spend the following ten minutes saying: “Can you hear me? No? What about now? Ugh! I hate this computer. Wait, I have a headset somewhere…”

New improved LSE Moodle and lecture recording guides

The Eden Centre Learning Technology team are pleased to announce the launch of our new Moodle and lecture recording guides.

As part of the review and reorganisation of the existing LTI website the Learning Technology team decided to move our guides to a new system that results in an easier to read page design and structure. The new system also allows us to more easily edit the guides and keep them up-to-date, with another advantage being that we are able to more closely integrate the guides with LSE Moodle, including a new search box that is visible to all Moodle teachers, course editors and managers.

Screen grab showing location of Moodle guides search box in LSE Moodle

 

We have also reorganised the Moodle guides so that they more closely match the organisation of Moodle tools and activities. We have tested the pages with some of our users, but we will of course be grateful if you would like to let us know of any problems or errors on the pages. These guides will also be integrated into the main Eden Centre resources page ready for next term.

Also, if you would like us to produce a guide on something that isn’t included in the current catalogue, please do let us know by emailing eden.digital@lse.ac.uk and we will add it to our to-do list!

December 4th, 2019|Announcements, Lecture recording, Moodle|Comments Off on New improved LSE Moodle and lecture recording guides|

Moodle Refresh for 2019

Moodle Refresh for 2019

Each year, we refresh Moodle courses, by removing all student data and students’ contributions to activities (i.e. forum posts, assignment submissions etc). This way courses are ready for the new cohort of students. Course materials uploaded by editors are not deleted. Please make a note of this year’s Moodle refresh dates.

Refresh dates:

Thursday 29 August and Friday 30 August 2019 for the majority of courses. Moodle will be unavailable for all users on these dates (including those with 499 course codes that are refreshed on  later date).

Tuesday 10th September 2019 for courses used to collect dissertation submissions (primarily those with 499 course codes). These courses only will be unavailable on Moodle all day.

If you would like your course/s to be exempt from the 2019 refresh please email lti.support@lse.ac.uk

What do you need to do?

If you have any concerns about the above refresh dates please contact LTI on lti.support@lse.ac.uk

We will send further reminders as we approach the refresh dates, but if you have any questions at this point, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also, visit our Moodle end of year arrangement (Moodle refresh) page which provides detailed information and FAQs of the process.

 

February 15th, 2019|Announcements, Moodle|Comments Off on Moodle Refresh for 2019|

Vacancy: Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist

LSE’s Learning Technology and Innovation team are recruiting a Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist, with a focus on managing our lecture recording system, Echo360 Active Learning Platform.

We offer a salary in the range £35,999 to £43,360, with the potential to progress to £46,617 pa (inclusive of London allowance)

The School is undertaking a programme of expansion by making the system available in more teaching rooms, and moving to an opt-out (record by default) model.

The post-holder will help to manage the integration between Echo360 and the School’s timetable system, Scientia Syllabus Plus.  The successful candidate will have an opportunity to champion lecture recording at LSE, working with teaching, learning technology, audio-visual and systems integration colleagues to make lecture recording and video-on-demand a core component of the student experience.

The successful candidate will have experience of managing Echo360 Active Learning Platform (or a similar enterprise-grade lecture recording system), and excellent planning, organisation and communication skills. Experience with SQL and the use of Talend OpenStudio for Data Integration, or a similar ETL tool, would be an advantage, but training will be available for the successful candidate.

For more information, and to apply, please visit http://lti.lse.ac.uk/ltsss2019, and for informal enquiries, please contact Chris Fryer, c.j.fryer@lse.ac.uk.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday, 17th February 2019 (23.59 UTC). Regrettably, we are unable to accept any late applications.

January 21st, 2019|Announcements, Lecture recording|Comments Off on Vacancy: Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist|

Improvements to the lecture recording service for Lent Term 2019

We are pleased to announce that our colleagues in Estates Division and Data and Technology Services (formerly IMT) have worked over the Christmas break to improve the lecture recording system.  Recording facilities are newly installed in the following rooms:
  • CLM.2.04
  • CLM.2.05
  • CLM.2.06
If you are scheduled to teach in these rooms and would like to have your lectures recorded, please let us know by completing the form in LSE for You
The following rooms now have High Definition video, in addition to audio and display recording facilities:
  • 32L.LG.03
  • 32L.LG.18
  • NAB – Alumni Theatre
  • NAB – Wolfson Theatre
  • NAB.1.07
  • NAB.1.09
  • NAB.1.10
  • NAB.1.14
  • NAB.1.15
  • NAB.1.17
  • NAB.1.18
  • NAB.1.19
  • NAB.2.06
  • NAB.2.08
  • NAB.2.09
  • NAB.2.13
  • NAB.2.14
  • NAB.2.16
  • OLD.3.21
  • OLD.4.10
  • PAR.1.02
  • PAR.2.03
  • PAR.LG.03
  • TW2.2.04

“On air” lights

Lights have been installed to help you determine when a recording is taking place.  The lights change colour according to the state of the recording system.  When the light is a steady green, no recording is taking place, but the system is operational.  When the light is a steady yellow, a recording is due to start in the next five minutes.  When the light is a steady red, a recording is in progress.
The light also doubles as a push-button control system.  When the light is a steady red (meaning a recording is in progress) you can push down on the light to pause the recording.  You may wish to do this when there is a break in your lecture, or when you otherwise feel that continuing to record is not appropriate.  When the recording is paused, the light will blink yellow.  Push down on the light to resume recording.  Wait for the light to return to a steady red before continuing with your teaching.
Please note that the light will only function while the PC in the room is switched on.

Opt in, or opt out?

Lecture recording remains opt in pending the ratification of the policy document by Academic Board. Some lecturers expressed concern about paragraph 2, which governs intellectual property. We will be sending a revised draft to the departments and the UCU branch for comment before final submission to Academic Board.
So the procedure for Lent Term continues to be as outlined in this post:
January 15th, 2019|Announcements, Learning Spaces, Lecture recording|Comments Off on Improvements to the lecture recording service for Lent Term 2019|

LSE Moodle Archive

The LSE Moodle Archive is a read only digital record of each course from previous academic years for staff and students.

The 2018 copy was taken just before the annual refresh on 14th August 2018 and can be accessed at:

https://moodle.lse.ac.uk/archive/1718/ 

From now on a read only copy of Moodle will be taken every academic year just before the annual refresh and will be kept for three years.  See our website for annual refresh dates.

The purpose of the LSE Moodle Archive is to retain an accessible digital record of each course for students and staff.  This is useful for students who have to resit or retake courses and for staff and students who want to review material from previous years.  It also keeps the current Moodle clutter free and just for the current academic year’s courses.

The level of access to the LSE Moodle Archive reflects the level of access on the day the archive copy was created. For example, if a student was enrolled on a suite of courses when the 2017/18 archive was taken, they will have access to the same courses (albeit read-only) in the 2017/18 archive.

By default all courses in the Moodle archive are hidden from students.  Also quizzes and assignments within those courses are hidden.  The Moodle archive is currently editable by departments for a period of one month up until 16 November 2018.  In this time editors can hide or reveal any resources and/or activities within a course and make their courses visible.  After this date the archive will be read only for everyone.  For students to see their grades and feedback and to download submissions in assignments the activity needs to be visible.

All editors should go to the 2018 LSE Moodle archive and hide or reveal any activities and resources within their courses and then make their courses visible so that students will be able to see the read only copy.

  • To hide/reveal an activity or resource click Turn editing on > Click Edit (use the drop-down menu next to the activity you want to hide/reveal) > Select Hide (or Show depending on your choice)
  • Once you are happy with your changes, make the course visible in the archive.
    From the Administration block, click Edit settings > from the drop-down menu Visible select Show.

If you have any queries please contact LTI.support@lse.ac.uk

October 10th, 2018|Announcements, Moodle, Teaching & Learning, Tools & Technologies|Comments Off on LSE Moodle Archive|

We have moved!

Our new offices are in 20 Kingsway – fourth floor, room KSW4.01 and KSW4.02.

As well as physcially moving we have moved departments from IMT to APD and will be working closely with our colleagues in the Teaching and Learning Centre.

Our email address is staying the same so if you have any queries please contact us via lti.support@lse.ac.uk

August 8th, 2018|Announcements, Teaching & Learning, Uncategorized|Comments Off on We have moved!|

Secondment opportunity in LTI

LSE Learning Technology and Innovation are offering a 12 month secondment opportunity for the role of Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist, looking after our lecture recording system, Echo360.

This role is a secondment opportunity to enable existing employees to broaden their knowledge, experience and skills by transferring to a different team/department. Existing employees wishing to apply for this role as a secondment opportunity should discuss the role and seek agreement from their line manager in advance of their application.

Please see the full details in LSE Jobs.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 28th August 2018

August 3rd, 2018|Announcements, Lecture recording|Comments Off on Secondment opportunity in LTI|

Moodle refresh for 2018/19

Each year, Moodle courses are refreshed to remove old student data and prepare for the next cohort of students.

For 2018 the refresh will take place on:

Tuesday 14 August and Wednesday 15 August 2018.  Moodle will be unavailable all day for all users.

Tuesday 11th September 2018 for courses used to collect dissertation submissions (primarily those with 499 course codes).  These courses will be unavailable on Moodle all day.

Current staff and students will need to take action to ensure they have all the information they need from Moodle before the refresh take effect.  More information about the process can be found on our website:
http://lti.lse.ac.uk/moodle-end-of-year-arrangements/

If you have any queries email lti.support@lse.ac.uk

June 20th, 2018|Announcements, Moodle, Teaching & Learning, Tools & Technologies|Comments Off on Moodle refresh for 2018/19|

Vacancy: Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist

LSE’s Learning Technology and Innovation team are recruiting a Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist, with a focus on managing our lecture recording system, Echo360 Active Learning Platform.

We offer a salary in the range £34,736 to £42,019, with the potential to progress to £45,212 (inclusive of London allowance).

The successful candidate will have experience of managing Echo360 Active Learning Platform or a similar enterprise-grade lecture recording system,​ working knowledge of SQL, and excellent planning, organisation and communication skills.

The post-holder will manage the integration between Echo360 and the School’s timetable system, Scientia Syllabus Plus.  Experience using Talend Open Studio for Data Integration, or a similar ETL tool, would be an advantage, but training will be available for the successful candidate.

The School currently operates an opt-in lecture recording policy, and records 42% of teaching.  We plan to expand coverage by making the system available in more teaching rooms, and to move to an opt-out (record by default) model.

The successful candidate has an opportunity to champion lecture recording at LSE, working with teaching, learning technology, audio-visual and systems integration colleagues to make lecture recording and video-on-demand a core component of the student experience.

For more information, and to apply, please visit http://lti.lse.ac.uk/ltsss, and for informal enquiries, please contact Chris Fryer, c.j.fryer@lse.ac.uk.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 14th June 2018 (23.59 BST). Regrettably, we are unable to accept any late applications.

May 24th, 2018|Announcements|Comments Off on Vacancy: Learning Technology Systems Support Specialist|