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Getting started with TEL

A warm welcome to Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) at the University of Reading!

Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is an overarching term used to describe how technology can support and help facilitate effective and engaging practice in teaching. learning and assessment. As part of the University’s provision of Digitally Enabled Learning, it is given a high priority with dedicated resource to support its use and development.

The TEL Team (within the Centre for Quality, Support and Development, CQSD) support the use of various technologies and tools across the University. Our core tools are Blackboard Learn Ultra (including the integrated Blackboard Ally tool), Turnitin and YuJa:

  • Blackboard Learn Ultra (Bb) is the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). or online learning platform, which is the main system used to deliver teaching and learning online. Each study module has a corresponding Course on Blackboard which contains: information about the module; learning materials, resources and activities; assessments; the online reading list, and module evaluation.
    Integrated into Blackboard is the Ally tool, used to check and improve the accessibility of content in Blackboard, and the quality of the alternative content formats available to students.
  • Turnitin (accessed via Blackboard) is used for the online submission of assignments, checking students’ work for originality and improving their academic practice.
  • YuJa is our video platform, used for storing personal capture screen-cast videos and lecture/classroom recordings.

Getting Started

For context and to help get you started, it would be useful to familiarise yourself with the following key information:

Printable Checklist 

1. Practical things for you to do

a) Log in to Blackboard  using your university log in and password. Make sure you are enrolled on the relevant Blackboard Courses. (Students are enrolled automatically on their courses on Blackboard. Staff need to be added by the Module Convenor or Programme Administrator(s), so you may need to liaise with these colleagues to get yourself enrolled.)

Create yourself a Blackboard Practice Course – you will need to refresh the page to see it in your list of Courses on Blackboard.

b) Check out our range of guides and self-help materials on the Blackboard Help for Staff site. Have a look at the Blackboard Help for Student site too to see what support your students can access.

c) Browse the TEL website and the TEL staff development programme – book to attend sessions that look helpful to you.

d) Pop into a classroom or a lecture theatre and familiarise yourself with the lecture/classroom recording kit and YuJa software on the main PC. (If you are using your own work device, download the YuJa software: using your devices’s search function, search for ‘Company Portal’ and select the YuJa software. Contact DTS if you need any help.)

e) If you need any help with developing your digital (IT) skills, check out the Digital Skills for Staff resources (including free access to LinkedIn Learning) provided by the DTS team.

2. Questions to ask your School, Department, SDTL/DDTL/Programme Director about TEL

a) Before you start teaching with Blackboard, it would be helpful to find out the following:

  • How does the programme and module use Blackboard to support teaching and learning?
  • What will be your role in the Blackboard Course?
  • What is the School/department’s process for online submission, marking and feedback?

b) Who are the staff in your Support Centre that can help with some of your Blackboard administrative queries (e.g. enrol you on new modules)? Support Centre staff work in partnership with academics and have good knowledge of teaching and learning administrative processes related to the use of Blackboard.

c) Are there any school/department-specific approaches or practices to the use of TEL more broadly (e.g. projects or initiatives)? This will help you identify any priorities or areas of focus that might impact your teaching.

d) Are there any school/department-specific learning technologies that are available for you to use, which are supported locally? This will help you to identify what you are able to use easily and with local support.

e) Who are the staff in your School/department with an interest in TEL or have a role supporting TEL (e.g. members of the TEL Practitioner Forum)? You will find it useful to talk to colleagues involved with TEL and learn from their practice. If you are interested in joining the TEL Practitioner Forum, please email: Adam Bailey (TEL Advisory Manager).

Communications & keeping up-to-date

If you’re enrolled on at least one Blackboard Course, you’ll receive key TEL and Blackboard-related communications via the CQSD TEL Notices email list which the TEL team uses to keep you updated on all things TEL.

To receive the latest updates from the TEL Blog directly into your email in-box, subscribe in the bottom right of the blog homepage. If you use social media, follow @UniRdg_TEL on Twitter/X.

Help & support

If you have a TEL-related query, please log a ticket on the DTS Self-Service Portal or email dts@reading.ac.uk with full details. This will ensure your query is addressed by an appropriate person as promptly as possible. There’s always someone to help.