VUWS TEMPLATE INFORMATION DOCUMENT - Western Sydney ...
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vUWS TEMPLATE INFORMATION DOCUMENT General enquiries about vUWS & specific post-migration questions dft@westernsydney.edu.au General enquiries and comments about the vUWS template project Kim Heckenberg, Senior Digital Consultant K.Heckenberg@westernsydney.edu.au 19 February 2019 Version 1.4
Contents 1. Cortex Overview ...................................................................................................................................................2 Alignment to Securing Success .................................................................................................................................2 Purpose .....................................................................................................................................................................2 Background ...............................................................................................................................................................2 Implementation Overview ........................................................................................................................................2 Timeline ....................................................................................................................................................................2 Training .....................................................................................................................................................................2 2. Template Design ...................................................................................................................................................3 Site Banner................................................................................................................................................................3 Improved Site Structure and Navigation ..................................................................................................................3 Home Page................................................................................................................................................................3 Automatic Icons ........................................................................................................................................................4 Learning Modules Approach.....................................................................................................................................4 Guided Instruction ....................................................................................................................................................4 Quality Standards Checklist ......................................................................................................................................4 Adding and Editing Items ..........................................................................................................................................5 New Features ............................................................................................................................................................5 3. The Content Migration Process ............................................................................................................................6 The Cortex Journey ...................................................................................................................................................6 Site Freeze period .....................................................................................................................................................6 Migrating Content ....................................................................................................................................................6 Migration Log — sample ..........................................................................................................................................6 Migration Map for Standard Items ..........................................................................................................................8 4. Examples of before and after changes .................................................................................................................9 5. Key Contact Information.....................................................................................................................................12 Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 1
1. CORTEX OVERVIEW The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor - Digital DFT will apply Cortex to vUWS sites and move Futures is rolling out a vUWS template that will existing materials into appropriate sections be applied to sites across the University to DFT will provide training via Zoom sessions increase consistency of the student experience which will be advertised to academic staff via and to ensure alignment to international by email. quality standards. This briefing book provides information for academic staff about the Enquiries can be sent directly to Digital Futures template: Cortex, along with the steps and at dft@westernsydney.edu.au. timeline for the content migration process. TIMELINE ALIGNMENT TO SECURING Cortex will be applied across the University in SUCCESS stages to schools. Migrations were started in late 2018 and will continue throughout 2019. A Distinctively Student-Centred University Unit Coordinators will receive separate emails: • Confirming migration will be taking A unique learning experience that is place. innovative, flexible and responsive. • To inform staff when to pause work on their vUWS site as migration is starting. PURPOSE • Informing staff when the migration of The central goals of Cortex are to increase content is complete. consistency, clarity and accessibility across all vUWS sites, for all students studying at Western No content will be removed by DFT during Sydney University. the implementation process. However, sites will be temporarily unavailable as Cortex is BACKGROUND applied to a vUWS site. Current vUWS sites across the University vary in standard and structure. A quality TRAINING benchmarking initiative identified the need to Information and training sessions will be held improve visual and structural consistency via zoom to ensure academics are kept across WSU vUWS sites. Accessibility for all informed and supported during the change. students was highlighted as an area for Impacted academics will receive notification improvement. about relevant dates/times when their site is due to be migrated. IMPLEMENTATION OVERVIEW Implementation of Cortex will be completed by the Digital Futures Team (DFT) working collaboratively with academic staff. Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 2
2. TEMPLATE DESIGN The structure of Cortex is based on existing information, communication tools and vUWS sites with minimal changes and support. regrouping of elements. The design is Cortex enables students to focus on based on the internationally recognised learning rather than looking for the Quality Matters standards. It has been information they need. tested and it improves the sites it has been applied to, moving them from ‘acceptable’ In ‘post-Cortex’ units, teaching staff will be to ‘exemplary’. Further elements are able to spend less time creating content detailed below. areas and deciding where to upload materials and how to draw them to SITE BANNER students’ attention. A responsive banner viewable across all HOME PAGE devices promotes a consistent Western presence across all sites. This banner has The template Home Page combines been customised to accommodate specific welcome message/s, unit overview, and branding subsets within the Western unit information including the Learning branding (such as the Sydney Graduate Guide. School of Management, the Graduate This provides a clear starting point for Research School and the Academy). students, an essential aspect of quality standards. All the information a student IMPROVED SITE STRUCTURE needs to start the unit is now found in one AND NAVIGATION place (see Fig. 1 on next page). Visual and structural inconsistencies have During the content migration process DFT been identified across University vUWS staff will relocate the information from the sites. To improve consistency, important Unit Information content area to this page. information and materials are grouped into The Learning Guide will be used for static the following zones in the site menu: content such as unit learning outcomes and • Home how to approach the unit. • Learning Zone DFT will fill as many sections as possible • Communication Zone with the information at hand to reduce • Assessment Zone workload for academic staff. • Support Zone After this process is completed academic These zones present students with a staff may need to update some consistent interface across all of their vUWS supplemental information such as sites, including interdisciplinary units. assessment due dates and teaching staff contact details if it’s not featured on their pre-cortex site. The template establishes clear signposting for students on where to find learning materials, as well as assessment Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 3
GUIDED INSTRUCTION Research shows students are more likely to engage in learning when they understand how the materials and activities fit within the context of the unit. Cortex provides guided instruction for academics to describe the purpose of the modules and learning materials to students Figure 1. vUWS template homepage in collapsed view (see Fig. 2, point 3). The technical skills and recommended These prompts help teaching staff articulate software section at the bottom of the Home expected learning outcomes and Page provides links for students to access achievements to students, encouraging and download any tools that they need for deeper engagement with the material. their studies. Instructors can add any unit- Academic staff can utilise these samples as specific requirements at the top or bottom a basis to create their own instructions for of this section. students. AUTOMATIC ICONS Item headings are automatically assigned an icon illustrative of the heading title (see Fig. 2, point 1). If an instructor creates new items using a simple naming protocol, these icons will appear automatically. A list of item headings and icons can be found at: https://dft.westernsydney.edu.au/docs/te mplate-icons LEARNING MODULES APPROACH Cortex uses learning module terminology, instead of teaching weeks, to achieve consistency in the structure and order of learning materials. Modules are not restricted to any given time period, allowing for greater flexibility across teaching Figure 2. Learning object with 1) automated iconography, sessions, again reducing staff workload 2) quality standards checklist and 3) guided instruction (rework) across sessions. One module may be taught over a number of weeks, or a QUALITY STANDARDS number of modules may be taught in any one week. The alignment of modules and CHECKLIST weeks should be outlined in the Learning The template has been designed to align Guide. with the Quality Matters rubric; recognised as the international standards in online and Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 4
blended learning. Details of this rubric and NOTE: Remember to update the Learning Guide available support can be found at: schedule of activities to match the new module https://dft.westernsydney.edu.au/tel/quali headings, etc. ty-matters NEW FEATURES Elements from the Quality Matters rubric are embedded in each item and content An additional feature is the expand and area as a checklist explaining what is collapse tool indicated by the and needed for maximum efficacy (see Fig. 2, icons on the all pages in student view. All point 2). The checklist is only visible to the content is expanded as default, and users instructor with edit mode on and is intended can then collapse individual items as they to be used to improve the quality of the reviewed or finished with them. vUWS site. Students cannot see these checklist items. Figure 3.. Collapsed and expanded views of Cortex ADDING AND EDITING ITEMS The standard vUWS process for adding and Figure 4.. Collapsed and expanded views of editing items remains unchanged. When Cortex standardised headings are added to items, icons (which are consistent across all units) are automatically added. A list of item headings and icons can be found at: https://dft.westernsydney.edu.au/docs/te mplate-icons To edit material, click on the contextual menu icon which appears when the mouse hovers over the item heading. For more instructions, visit: https://dft.westernsydney.edu.au/support /#content-editor LEARNING GUIDE CHANGES The Handbook Summary for this unit has been approved by the School Academic Committee and must not be changed here. The Learning Outcomes for this unit has been approved by the School Academic Committee and must not be changed here. The Assessments for this unit have been approved by the School Academic Committee and must not be changed here. Only the due dates are to be added here. Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 5
3. THE CONTENT MIGRATION PROCESS THE CORTEX JOURNEY DFT will provide specific SITE FREEZE PERIOD communication/instructions throughout Site content cannot be edited by the academic migration. Site milestones include: staff whilst the migration is ‘In Progress’. Unit 1) Unit Coordinator notified that ‘Cortex is Coordinators will receive a specific email Coming’ advising when the site enters this phase. During 2) If required, Unit Coordinator notifies this time Unit Coordinators should advise DFT of correct rollover site teaching staff to pause uploading or editing 3) DFT will request the site on behalf of content on the site. It is estimated this freeze Unit Coordinators period will last no longer than 2 weeks. DFT will 4) Unit Coordinator to receive an auto alert ensure the site migration is completed to enable re: site is available. Note, no action is sufficient time for final academic updates before required. site is available to students. 5) Unit Coordinator notified that ‘Cortex is in progress’ MIGRATING CONTENT 6) Unit Coordinator notified that ‘Cortex is As previously mentioned, DFT will move site completed’ content into the new menu structure as per 7) Unit Coordinator to ensure unit is ready the ‘Migration Map for Standard Items’. for delivery _Unmigrated_ Folder 8) Site is ready for students Once a site migration has been completed, Temporary change to site request any content that cannot be logically placed process: Note that for the purpose of site will be moved to the ‘_unmigrated_’ folder. migration, DFT will request the site to be This folder, located at the top of the left hand created on behalf of the Unit Coordinator. menu, is not visible to students. Once a unit is migrated, the process will return to normal for future site requests (ie The ‘_unmigrated_’ folder will contain a the for the subsequent teaching session the ‘Migration Log’. The Unit Coordinator should Unit Coordinator will contact ITDS to review this document (and move any content request their new site per normal process). required) prior to the site being available to students. MIGRATION LOG — SAMPLE Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 6
All content items in the _unmigrated_ folder should be reviewed before the site is opened to students. Reasons why content has been Digital Futures Recommendation placed in the ‘_Unmigrated_’ folder Content is a replication of No further action is required. This template reduces Learning Guide duplication of Learning Guide content. The student should always be referred to the Learning Guide as the single source of truth. This ensures that minimal site updates are required between sessions (e.g. date changes etc.) Content is out of date Delete old content Content not used and was Delete unused/archived content hidden from students Content was a duplicate copy Delete any duplicate copies Content uses the old UWS logo Update the content with the new WSU logo and move it to the relevant folder Content was floating and did Delete the content or move it to the relevant folder not appear anchored to a teaching activity (Digital Futures was unable to identify relevant folder) Content was not organised by Separate the content and move it to relevant folder weeks (Digital Futures was unable to identify relevant folder) Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 7
MIGRATION MAP FOR STANDARD ITEMS Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 8
4. EXAMPLES OF BEFORE AND AFTER CHANGES BEFORE AFTER MENU Area Menu area has been separated into zones: • Learning = all content relating to providing or accessing resources for unit delivery • Communication = all applications used to communicate either between academics and students (e.g. Announcements) or between students (e.g. Discussions boards) are listed here. • Assessment = Each assessment is a content area which contains any submission points (Turnitin / Dropbox) and information not in the Learning Guide, but relevant to the assessment. If there is no submission point or additional information a shorter overview of the assessment can be added. • Support = Any service that supports student life within the university or vUWS is listed here. NEW ACCESS FEATURE Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 9
New accordion panels (student view). They can be individually collapsed and expanded by clicking + / - at the end of the panel. OR Collapsed and expanded all at once using the + / - at the bottom right of the screen. LEARNING MATERIALS AREA IS NOW LEARNING MODULES - Before Learning Materials generally was set up in weeks or topics. Learning Modules replace this with modules that can run in a single week or over several weeks depending on how the content in the module is set up. The new structure is more linear and for best practice, where possible, content will only go only one level down (so one folder in a folder). LEARNING MODULES - After MODULES BLUEPRINT Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 10
The Module Blueprint folder contains a larger selection of pre-formatted items that can be copied into the modules a required. Please DO NOT DELETE. MODULES FROM STUDENT VIEW The addition of the accordion action with items allows for students to expand and collapse information so reduces scrolling. QUALITY MATTERS RUBRIC Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 11
Each module has a standard item already created with suggested text. A Quality Matters rubric checklist is provided to help identify best practice in content delivery (Edit view - grey panel in each of the items – not visible to students) OPENING TO STUDENTS The black bar across an item helps to visually identity whether an item has been released (opened) to students. 5. KEY CONTACT INFORMATION Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 12
General enquiries about vUWS & specific post-migration questions should be emailed to: dft@westernsydney.edu.au School specific enquires should be emailed to the appropriate Digital Consultant: Stephanie Bourke – s.bourke@westernsydney.edu.au • School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics • School of Education • School of Medicine Lisa Caldbeck – l.caldbeck@westernsydney.edu.au • School of Business • School of Law • School of Science and Health Rhoda O’Higgins – R.O'Higgins@westernsydney.edu.au • School of Humanities and Communication Arts • School of Nursing and Midwifery • School of Social Science and Psychology General enquiries and comments about the vUWS template project can be communicated to: Kim Heckenberg, Senior Digital Consultant K.Heckenberg@westernsydney.edu.au DFT also have online resources available at http://dft.westernsydney.edu.au These include a vUWS Support Portal, information on Technology-Enabled Learning and a range of resources and support for learning and teaching at Western Sydney University. Visit http://westernsydney.edu.au/cortex for more information. Western Sydney University – Digital Futures – Cortex Information Document – V01.2018/19 Page 13
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