CourseNetworking and Uber Malaysia: Free Rides

Something rewarding is coming your way. You may be rewarded with free Uber rides (as per the banner attached below) when you engage with your courses activities on the CourseNetworking. This is so cool! Check out your courses for details. The promotion will begin from 18th November 2015 until 30th November 2015.

Updated: For my students this semester, you can now find the link to this promotion on the TASK menu (visible to those with sufficient Anar seeds). Check with your instructor on the number of Anar seeds required :)

We look forward for more collaboration in the future and get more rewards from our Anar seeds :)

Learning Styles Don't Actually Exist

Finding meaning from what you are learning is more important than having good memory or excellent sensory mode. The fun of learning sets in when you are able to understand the reason for doing so, value the information, make sense of what you are seeing/reading and try to apply it in your own settings.

I find that this TEDx Talks on "Learning styles & the importance of critical self-reflection" by Dr. Tesia Marshik very insightful to us as an educators and all the learners. I now learned that there is no such thing called 'learning styles' and in order for us to learn effectively, we need to find the reasons for you to learn something. Hence, critical self-reflection is important for us to benefits from the learning experience instead of relying on a variety of materials given.

Watch Dr. Marshik TEDx Talks here:

Screenshot from YouTube

Please share your view on this findings :)

Flipped Classroom: Can it create a better learning environment?

Last year, I was introduced to 'Flipped Classroom' by my mentor. It is an interesting teaching and learning method that I find very different from what I have gone through in my education path, as a student and a lecturer.

The flip is to turnaround the method we use in teaching into facilitating or coaching. Instead of students attending a class to learn from the teacher and then go back home to do revision, the students now learn by themselves at home on the topics assigned first. After that, they will attend the face-to-face session for discussion activities or participate in projects. To me, it is similar to the current lecture and tutorial system in many institutions but with a little bit of tweaks.

Flipped classroom tends to transfer the responsibilities of learning to the students where knowledge can now flow directly to them without going through the teacher. Students will now play a more proactive role and self-independent learning in order to be benefit from the tutorial session.

To understand this better, you can watch the below short video on Flipped Classroom.

Share your view on this teaching and learning method. Do you think it is useful for your students (environment)? Why? Please comment :)

Creating and Monitoring Downloads

The recent update on the CN allows instructor to monitor the learners activities using the Smartlink feature. Take for example, you can now monitor the activities of a download that you creates using the Smartlink.

As usual, you can upload a file for your students to download. Just select the text on your 'Edit Task' page, go to the Smartlink icon and choose the option of 'Upload a File for Students to Download'.

The moment your student downloaded the file that you have uploaded, there will be a count of downloads shown below.

Click on the count, and this will appear, a record of download activities by your students. With this, you will know who have downloaded and read the documents you want them to read.

Let me know what features you expect to have on the CN, Maybe I can show you the settings that allow you to create a better blended learning experience. Thank you.

How to Prompt Student to Answer a Tutorial Question?

SmartLink is a unique internal tools of the CN that can assist you to design the task page into an interactive learning site for your students. This post will show you how to Prompt Student to Answer a Tutorial Question.

Step#1
When you are editing your task on the CN (refer to creating task), such as the case study example as tutorial activity, create an item such as ">>>Click Here to Answer<<<" after the question.

Step#2
Select/highlight the ">>>Click Here to Answer<<<" and you will find the little CN logo at the panel bar turn blue (activated). Click on it to find the "Internal CN Tools" for you to select an Action.

Look for "Prompt Students to Create a New Post" and select it.

Step#3
Once you have selected the option as above, you will be given an option of Link with Gradebook item. Here, you can award marks for the student when they post an answer to your question. Select "+Add a new Gradebook Item".  

Step#3
Enter the Gradebook Item detail and click "Add Item" and save your task. 

Finally, it is done! You have a link for the students to answer to your question. 

NEXT: How to mark the student's answer on the CN?

How to Create Hyperlink for Students to Visit?

SmartLink is a unique internal tools of the CN that can assist you to design the task page into an interactive learning site for your students. This post will show you how to use the basic feature of the Smartlink.

1. Create links for student to access

Step#1
When you are editing your task on the CN (refer to creating task), such as the case study example as tutorial activity, you can select the item you want the student to click for accessing a site. Then, click at the little blue colour CN logo-button at the editing panel (as below).

Note: you can only activate (in blue) the Smartlink button when have made a selection, highlight of items in your edit task page. If not has been selected/highlighted, the button will be inactive.

Step#2
You can then select an Action of your choice. For this example, we want to 'Insert a Hyperlink for Students to Visit". 

Step#3
Enter the URL of the site you want the student to visit and then save it.

There you go, the item you have highlighted is now ready with hyperlink feature.

Next: How to Prompt Student to Answer the Tutorial Question.

How to Create Tutorial Activity Using Task on The CN

Here, I would like to share some tips on how you can create a tutorial activity using the TASKS function on the CN.

Step #1
On you Course main page, look for the add tasks button at the left-side navigation panel.

Step #2
You can then insert the title, change label colour and set visibility to course members only or to the Global Classmates (Public).

For example, you can create a tutorial based on a case study and insert the instruction and questions.

Once done, 'Save Task' and there you go. A new Task created.

Special Tips:
CN provide some hints on how you can use the Tasks to enhance the course delivery. Find the setting button (as below), and you should see the 'Pedagogical Hints' option. Click on it and find the some idea on how Tasks can be useful.

Next: How to Create Hyperlink for Student to Visit.

How To Create New Course on The CN

For instructor, normally the institution will create and assign new course for you based on your teaching load. However, you can create your own course any time you want. It is very easy to do so.

Step #1
Find the 'Course' at the top of navigation of the page. Click on it and you will see a drop menu as below. Use the '+ Create a Course' option to create new course.

Step #2
Then, you will see a 3-step process of setting up your new course. Fill up the basic settings and click continue.

Here, you are given the option to create a course for public or to selected CN members. Hence, you can opt for pin code or email request as permission to join your course.

Step #3
Next you be come to the Anar Reward System setting. You have a choice to enable or disable the Anar Reward System for your new course. The Anar Reward System is unchecked by default.
Explore the activities that allows you to reward Anar seed to your participant. It can be fun and allows you to convert the seeds into assessment marks if you want to (check with your institution on this).

Step #4
You can click continue if you you do not want to search of similar course and there you go, your new course is ready!

Hope this is easy!

How To Import Tasks From Other Course - For Instructors

With a special request this morning, I will share a very useful tips for instructor who want to import the previous semester course tasks into the new semester. Only 2 steps, easy!!!

Step #1
Go to your new course page and find the Task Setting button and a pop-up menu will show you two options and the pedagogical hints. Choose "Import Tasks" as below.:

Select "Import Tasks"

Step #2
You will then find the Import Tasks option. Select a course that you want to import the tasks/materials from.

Note: You can 'SELECT ALL' to import the entire Course Tasks to your new course or select by specific tasks. I would advise you to "Checked" both the import settings if you want to conduct the same course with all the activities in the new semester. All your previous polls and posts will be imported. If you do not want to import it, you need to unchecked these options.

Done!
There you go, all the tasks will appear in your new course tasks. With some editing, your new course is ready!

Have a great new semester ahead!

Setting up Cover Image and Showcase Icons on CN

Profile page on the CN is like your portfolio page. The purpose of having this page is to allow a CN user to showcase academic achievements and associated professional body or social networks.

To utilise this, you can go to your profile page after you have logged in and find the 'plus' button as the screen shot above. Click on it and you find the the option to add the institutions, their web addresses, the period of association and the logo.

The interesting part of adding the logo is that you can choose to upload the image from your files, or use the Google search feature to get the image of the logo you want to use for showcase.

Next, you can change your background cover image by selecting the "Add Cover Image" option at the right-top section of the profile page as below. You will be prompted with the option to upload the image. When upload is complete, you can then edit the image to fit in the page.

Try it out and create your own ePortfolio today.

Next, I will share some tips for the basic functions of the CN such as Post, Poll and Events

Older Posts:

Setting Up Your Own Profile Page on Course Networking (CN)

Setting Up Your Own Profile Page on Course Networking (CN)

Each CN account owner will get a Profile Page. You can access your profile page by using the link (your CN ID) at the top navigation bar.

Tips #1 - Profile Picture
Once you get into your profile page, the first thing that you can try is to upload your profile picture. Similar to Linkedin, you want to let your network to identify/recognise you and your posting in the future.

Roll over to the profile picture area and you will see the little camera icon. Click on it to prompt the Windows Explorer to search for your picture. 

Tips #2 - Personal Details
There are three sections that you can insert your personal details. First is when you roll-over the area as below, you can click on the edit button to change your name.

At the lower sections, you can roll over (as circled), to write about yourself and some basic information as below. You can provide contact information like email, or use the "Find Me" tile box for your Facebook or Website addresses. The "Social Engagement" shows your connection with others during your interaction on the CN.

All these tile boxes can be customised, either hidden or visible from public, show only to selected group of networks when you click on the little earth button (by default it is visible to the public).

Next, I will show you how to showcase your association and change the cover image.
Older Post: First time login to the Course Networking CN

First time login to the Course Networking CN

Last year, I was introduced by my institution to embark on the use of Course Networking (CN) for e-learning purposes. This is to create an on-line platform for teaching and learning in Higher Education. Since then, I have been a fan of the CN and have been using it as part of my course delivery tools.

Recently, I have conducted a workshop for my colleagues on "CN for Starters". I would like to share some of the basic tips here for you to kick-start your learning journey on the CN. (I will not explain in details what is CN all about but you can find out yourself on their website - as below).

Firstly, you need to have an account. You can sign up yourself or your institution will provide for your an account. If your account are given by an institution, you will see the institution identity on top-left (red circle).

After you have logged in, you will come to the home page. A few navigation that you need to be familiar with. On top navigation bar (pink underline, from left to right) you can see your notification, email, people who choose to follow you, the list of courses you are taking, help page, the link to your CN profile page and setting button. Click on it to explore them and you can click on your institution logo to go back to the Home page any time.

The blue circle area on left-vertical bar will show all your active courses. Well, the interface is very much similar to other social network site such as Facebook and Linkedin. You just need a few attempt to use it to get familiar with it.

That's it for now. Next, I will share with you on how to create your very own profile page on the CN.

May the Fourth be with you!

Today is a Good Day, May the Fourth be with you!

I think today is a good day to kick start a new blog that I always wanted to do so for the past 1 year. I wanted to have a blog that summarizes what is happening around us, my thoughts, anything I know that can be shared, and philosophies, in just 4 minutes. It is difficult to digest a lengthy page or notes nowadays as there are too much to input (the era of fast and furious). 

Hence, I hope this blog will serve the right people well; those who have the same thought like me: 3 minutes too short, 5 minutes too long and 4 minutes just nice! Stay tuned for posts that might excite you.

Thank you.

To all Star Wars fan - May the Fourth be with you!