What are ‘Digital Learning Activities’ and why are they important?
Digital Learning Activities are a core aspect of Digitally Enabled Learning. Essentially, these learning activities are tasks designed to help students unpack and make connections between content and learning aims/outcomes, for example:
Make connections between content and scheduled 'live' teaching
See CQSD guidance: Learning Actively in the Classroom. Example: Create/make available screencasts and content, then construct a related activity which features/ links to the interactive session (‘Watch the screencast/read the article. Write down what you think are the three most compelling reasons for xxx and come ready to share your ideas at the interactive session on Thursday’).
Link content to self-scheduled study
See CQSD guidance: Self-scheduled study. Example: Create/make available screencasts and content, and construct a solo activity for the student (‘Watch the video. Write down in your own notes (1) the elements of good practice you observed and (2) the poor practice demonstrated’).
Facilitate collaborative working between students
See CQSD guidance: Effective Groupwork. Example: Create/make available screencasts and content, and construct a related Blackboard Discussion activity to be completed as a Blackboard group. e.g. 'share what you think is the most important factor in the success of xxx, and explain why you think that. As a group, debate and decide a viewpoint that represents the negative and positive aspects, ready to share next seminar. Complete this by xx date').
Where can I find ideas and inspiration for Digital Learning Activities?
For quick and simple activity ideas, you can pick from a menu of common Digital Learning Activities, and if designing from scratch, see good practice guidance:
Live online sessions |
However you choose to use Digital Learning Activities, you should follow these guidelines to engage your students.*If you are considering scenarios whereby students are present in the physical classroom and remotely online, see CQSD guidance about Hybrid teaching.
What technologies are available for Digital Learning Activities?
The table below provides links to further information and support for commonly used technologies. If you’re planning to use technology listed as ‘third-party’, see considerations when using third party tools/services in teaching and learning,
Blackboard contact CQSD TEL for support |
Office 365 contact DTS for technical support |
Third party technologies contact provider for technical support |
---|---|---|
Collaborate Whiteboard (use during a Collaborate session) |
Microsoft Whiteboard (use during or outside of Teams meetings) |
Padlet (collaborative digital pin boards) |
Collaborate break out rooms | Teams break out rooms | – |
Polls in Collaborate | Polls in Teams | Free/freemium ‘student response’ apps |
Blackboard Tests | Microsoft Forms (quizzes and surveys) |
– |
Discussion Forums | Teams spaces for student collaboration | |
Blackboard Groups for student collaboration | O365 co-authoring tools (collaborative O365 docs and OneNote) |
– |
Wikis | PowerPoint Online (collaborative posters and presentations) |
– |
Blogs | Freehand drawing | – |
Journals | – | – |
Creating a PeerMark assessment | – | – |
Formative assessments: How to provide feedback with no mark | – | – |