{"id":4305,"date":"2016-07-05T09:45:28","date_gmt":"2016-07-05T08:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/?p=4305"},"modified":"2016-07-12T12:06:05","modified_gmt":"2016-07-12T11:06:05","slug":"doing-it-digitally-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2016\/07\/05\/doing-it-digitally-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Doing it Digitally – Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

flickr photo by Martin Snicer<\/a> Photography shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license<\/p><\/div>\n

One way to develop your digital capabilities is to carry out familiar activities using digital tools. We already offered some examples of this approach in <\/span>Doing it digitally – presentations<\/span><\/a> and in this post I\u2019ll be looking at a range of ways that you can have a digital summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If your summer is going to be about your research, then have a look at <\/span>Clever apps for smart researchers<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Survey tools for learning and teaching<\/span><\/a>. If you are going to be working in archives such as <\/span>The Keep<\/span><\/a> then <\/span>using your phone as a scanner <\/span><\/a>can be a great time-saver. <\/span><\/p>\n

For more ideas and tips see my <\/span>Tech for Researchers<\/span><\/a> Flipboard magazine.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going to present your research at a conference there are many <\/span>digital tools you can use for presentations<\/span><\/a> and we have some <\/span>top tips for designing presentations<\/span><\/a>. You can find great <\/span>creative commons images<\/span><\/a> to make your presentation more engaging and with the <\/span>Flickr attribution tool<\/span><\/a>, using the correct citation is a breeze. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Summer is also a great time to refresh or <\/span>develop your online academic profile<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflection and Planning teaching<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The end of the academic year is a great time to look back, reflecting on your teaching and your students\u2019 learning. Perhaps this summer you might want to try some <\/span>digital tools for reflection<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

While you are thinking about next year\u2019s teaching, it might be useful to consider <\/span>what students expect at university in terms of technology<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>digital capabilities<\/span><\/a> they should be developing. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using some learning technologies might be useful, for example you can <\/span>encourage student engagement through interactive lectures<\/span><\/a>* using tools such as <\/span>Nearpod<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Socrative<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Poll Everywhere<\/span><\/a>. Or for something less dependent on lots of mobile devices try <\/span>Plickers<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Broadening the range of resources you use can enhance learning – perhaps using material from TV and radio from <\/span>Box of Broadcasts<\/span><\/a> or making your own <\/span>screencasts and\/or podcasts<\/span><\/a> to <\/span>add to Study Direct<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the things that students need to do as part of their study could be done digitally, from <\/span>managing time and resources <\/span><\/a>\u00a0to <\/span>producing written work<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Encouraging students to use a range of devices, apps and online spaces to \"Capture\"accomplish study tasks can help them become critical users of digital tools. <\/span><\/p>\n

Modules that make the most of students\u2019 <\/span>smartphones for creating and learning<\/span><\/a> and\/or introduce them to <\/span>digital curation<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>online collaboration<\/span><\/a> can improve graduates\u2019 employability and better equip them for lifelong learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you making the most of Study Direct? How about <\/span>using forums to improve engagement<\/span><\/a>, or online quizzes for self-testing and instant feedback? See our posts on <\/span>online quiz design<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>rapid quiz creation<\/span><\/a> for help on fast and effective quizzing in Study Direct (Moodle).<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever you are planning for your teaching in the next academic year, you will want to be inclusive and digital tools can really help with that. Our blog post on <\/span>inclusive digital teaching practice<\/span><\/a> will give you some ideas. <\/span><\/p>\n

Holidaying \/ relaxing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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flickr photo by kevin dooley<\/a> shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license<\/p><\/div>\n

If you are getting away – or just relaxing at home – there are digital tools to help you. Find some digital reading from <\/span>Project Gutenburg<\/span><\/a> which offers over 50,000 free Ebooks for you to browse and read online or download to read offline. <\/span><\/p>\n

There is lots of interesting content being published on blogs (try <\/span>Feedly<\/span><\/a> to find and organise some for you) or you can tailor your own magazine from your favourite topics using <\/span>Flipboard<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you prefer to listen, try subscribing to some <\/span>podcasts<\/span><\/a> or check out what\u2019s available on <\/span>SoundCloud<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>Audioboom<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going on a trip, try Evernote to <\/span>organise and access all your travel information<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>DuoLingo<\/span><\/a> to brush up your language skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

So whatever you are doing this summer – try doing it digitally! And remember, if you are planning your teaching and would like to discuss how technology could help, the <\/span>Technology Enhanced Learning team<\/span><\/a> are here all summer and will be happy to discuss ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

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