I presented this to a delegation from the Open University of China on 7 June 2013 at University of Leicester. The OU China has access to most of the innovations we discussed, but delegates needed practical ideas to use them.

1. www.le.ac.uk
Three practical innovations:
Webinars, Digital History, and iTunes U
Open University China
Leicester Workshop
6 June 2013
Terese Bird
Institute of Learning Innovation

2. What will we talk about?
• Webinars and innovative uses
• Creating and remixing OERs in the Digital
Humanities: the Manufacturing Pasts project
• How Leicester is using iTunes U

3. I. Webinars

4. What is a webinar?
• Internet-facilitated browser meeting, possibly
comprising voice, video, and computer-based
demonstration
• Cross between Skype and the old video-conferencing
• AND IT RECORDS!
• Software:
– Adobe Connect, Blackboard Collaborate, Go-To-
Meeting, Webex
– Free versions: BigBlueButton, Google Hangouts

5. https://connect.le.ac.uk/p4szc71ziie/

6. Tech
• Computer with internet connection – wired
connection is best
• Microphone
• Headphones – absolute must
• Webcam optional
• Always do Audio Setup Wizard
(under Meeting)

7. We use Adobe Connect
• Windows, Macs, but not Linux
• iOS devices need app
• Not perfect
• Many tools

8. Lectures
• Slides probably more important than webcam
• Recorded – students can revise
• https://vimeo.com/64883732

9. Case study of Maths Assessment
• Students presented their work to overseas
companies
• Everything was recorded for review and grading

10. Meetings
• Webcam is important
• Everyone will need a microphone
• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with
microphone
• Only one speaker at a time
• Try the whiteboard!

11. Focus Groups
• Everyone will need a microphone
• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with
microphone
• Only one speaker at a time
• May want to aim the webcam at something else

12. 3 International Online Conferences
• 200+ delegates
• 25 countries
• Every continent but
Antarctica
• Save travel costs
• Easier to communicate
with every other
delegate
• Great for networking
and meeting overseas
friends

13. www.le.ac.uk
II. Manufacturing Pasts: learning about
industrial change in twentieth century
Britain
Digital History, Digital Humanities

14. What we did …
• Took Leicester as an example of the changing British
industrial city
• Digitised selected photographs, company records,
factory plans, newspaper articles, maps, oral history
interviews from University and Record Office
collections and put them online
• Created learning resources based on them
• Created ‘toolkit’ on how to use the resources

15. http://tinyurl.com/d4u3oc9
Making the history accessible

16. Making the history accessible - how
• Created a website on
top of the database
• Used social media
• Mobile devices
• iTunes U

17. Manufacturing Pasts on iTunes U

18. Making the history accessible –to whom
• Researchers
• Urban History
students
• College students –
extended project
• Local community
• Local historians
• Digital humanities
scholars

19. Addressing needs of digital humanities researchers
Toolkit for researchers:
• Using visual sources in
historical research
• Using oral testimony in
historical research
• Provenance, judgment
Tools for students &
teachers:
• Glossary, reference
• How to make your own

20. Powerful examples
• Sound clip – ‘It was silent’
• Virtual tour: Historic and Industrial Leicester

21. III. iTunes U:
Learning and Research Channel for
Students, Showcase to the World

22. www.le.ac.uk
SPIDER Project www.le.ac.uk/spider
iTunes U Reach Project

23. iTunes U: free learning since 2007

24. iTunes U: free learning since 2007

29. iTunes U how to

30. iTunes U v YouTube
YouTube iTunes U
Ease to publish Easy Easy, must apply to
Apple
Ease to grab Easy-ish Easy
Ease to adapt Not so easy Not so easy
CC Catered but hidden Catered but hidden (?)
Formats Video Audio, video, epub, pdf
Academic quality Mixed, diluted Very Good to Excellent
Internet connection Required at the time Not required at the time
Software Any browser Free iTunes software
Time limit 10 – 15 minutes* None
Restrictions Some countries cannot
access
None
Restrictions in UK Schools don’t like Some unis don’t like
Mobile-ready Smartphones, tablets All including non-smart
iPods, best on Apple

31. How did Leicester launch?
ILI
interested-
OER
(2010)
Marketing
interested
(2011)
Academics
wanted to
share
Apple made it
easy (2012)
Launch March
2013

32. iTunes U Group at Leicester
Marketing
ILI
Academics
“Just show
your
university’s
strengths”

33. What gets passed?
• Each piece must have engaging learning content on
its own
• Video
– Professional
– If unprofessional: short “talking head”, slides or
demonstration with narrator
• Audio
– Recorded lectures or talks
– Shorter pedagogical podcasts
– Research descriptions (10 minutes)

34. www.le.ac.uk
Examples
For the future: incorporate into distance learning
Greater use in Medicine and other iPad courses