By M.P. Ramaswamy, Barry Lee Reynolds, Frank Gong, Katrine Wong and Chris Fulton
With online learning now being implemented at the University of Macau, committed teachers are holding classes online with UMMoodle and Zoom. This blog post features some of our colleagues’ tips and best practices. Let’s see what has worked well to support teaching and learning of different disciplines in an online environment.
M.P. Ramaswamy (FLL) Blending the best of online and classroom pedagogy using Zoom during the class suspension. Among various tools providing a dynamic learning environment in Moodle, none equates with real classroom experience as much the integrated Zoom utility offers. During the challenging period of suspension of classroom meetings, I have been using Zoom regularly to offer real-time classes online. With Zoom, I was not only able to conduct classes as per the original schedule but also harness it with the effective teaching and learning needs of legal education. I found that the Socratic method of legal education, warranting live interactions to emulate a courtroom experience is fully made possible through the powerful features of the Zoom program.
The specific features I found useful to ensure effective learning are the possibility to simulate a live debate on any topic of learning among large participants, the tool that enables the creation of breakout rooms to separate a large class into small groups to achieve active learning through group discussions, the ability to supplement with public and private written chats, the prospects to test specific learning outcomes using the polling tool and the technical means to ensure student attention and involvement even during long class sessions.
Such features are readily accessible using the embedded Zoom gateway built into the UM Moodle without having to separately open and maintain a Zoom account in its proprietary web platform. This facilitates the use of powerful features without having any need for technical expertise or training. The quick learning curve, the ease of use as well as the effectiveness of the learning features highlighted above should motivate a full utility of the Zoom program among academic colleagues in not only legal education but also across other disciplines.
The role of CTLE and ICTO in this regard, bringing together mutual learning through shared experiences and facilitating the use of Zoom, deserves to be commended.
Prof. Barry Lee Reynolds (FED) Colleagues can use Zoom not only for real-time delivery of lectures but also to record full or mini lectures without requiring students to be online. These recordings can then be uploaded to Moodle. This method is useful for colleagues that would like to get familiar with Zoom before leading a lecture or activity in real time. Here are the basic steps to follow:
Prof. Frank Gong (FED) Here are a few things that I have been doing during this period of online T&L:
As much as I encourage students to switch on their camera whilst in class, I appreciate the fact that sometimes circumstances stop them from switching on their video feed. After all, as long as students are with me during class discussion on Zoom, as long as they respond to me when called upon to speak, and as long as they are on task, I'm fine with it.
It's also useful to remind our students to mute their mics when they're not speaking. This helps reduce distraction and environmental noise during your Zoom meeting.
Dr. Chris Fulton (CTLE) Two common technical questions asked by colleagues relate to screen names and screen sharing. First, we can change our screen name either permanently or temporarily.
1. In a meeting, teachers can temporarily change screen names by opening the Participants list, and moving the mouse over their name. Click on rename and type a new name.
Colleagues new to Zoom have also enquired about how to share the sound from a video. When one wants to play a video using share screen function, one needs to click that share computer sound button.
· CTLE: Getting Started With Online Classes · CTLE: Five ways to make the most of UMMoodle · CTLE: Can I conduct online classes with a basic Zoom account? · ICTO: Quick Start to eLearning · How To Use Zoom? 如何使用 Zoom?
Students who would like more information should pay close attention to their courses on UMMoodle. Video tutorials on how to use UMMoodle can be found at an ICTO page, A Distance Learning Quick Start Guide for Students.
Zoom Support Desk 1. Online submission via submit a request. 2. Chat live with our support team by visiting your account and selecting help in the lower right hand corner here. Zoom技術支援 1. 通過提交請求線上提交。 2. 登錄您的帳戶，並選擇此頁面右下角的“幫助”，與我們的支持團隊進行即時聊天。
Contact Points: For teachers and students – ICTO Help Desk https://icto.um.edu.mo/help-desk-services/ Telephone: 8822-8600 Email: elearning@um.edu.mo
To ask questions about teaching with Zoom at UM, join me, Chris Fulton, in a Zoom meeting. The next online meeting is on Friday 21 February, from 11:00 to 11:30 AM. At that time, click this link to join the meeting: htttps://umac.zoom.us/my/chrisfulton