The E-Learning & Clinical Education course (ClinEd 711) is a postgraduate course about elearning in the clinical setting first launched in 2007. Participants enrol from all over New Zealand and recently also Australia and the UK. All are clinical educators, typically with very busy professional and personal lives, so it was considered essential that the course be offered in a flexible, fully online format.

Using a range of available technologies, LTU staff (Senior Tutors, Adam Blake and Pauline Cooper-Ioelu, and Director, Dr John Egan) have developed the course into a rich, highly engaging and collaborative experience.  Although the students  do not meet face-to-face with each other or the teaching staff, they have several channels of communication open to them and over the duration of the course become very connected with each other; talking, debating, sharing the teaching role, and collaborating on relevant, authentic tasks.

The technologies used to enable this to happen:

The learning management system: students start the course by logging in to Canvas. From there they gain access to all course materials (created using the CourseBuilder course authoring tool) and use:

Collaborative tools:

Course social network (powered by Elgg and with the support of CLeaR): early in the course, online discussion and resource sharing moves away from the more rigid discussion forum to this social networking environment which enables  a free flow of communication and exchange of ideas and resources.

Social bookmarking - tagging of individual interests, posts and files enable the students to see shared connections across people and topics.

CourseBuilder : students increasingly use CourseBuilder in conjunction with the course social network to collaboratively develop and facilitate their own online ‘student-led' modules, one of the requirements of the course.

Wikis - students can also opt to use PBworks or Wikispaces to work in pairs or groups to develop and facilitate their student-led module.

Real-time (synchronous) communication

Students phone from time to time with individual queries, but the objective of maximising flexibility means that there is no synchronous communication built into the course. Students also send individual emails, but not an unmanageable flood, as they are encouraged to openly share questions and ideas as the best way to build knowledge .

What is a learning management system or LMS?

A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic resources and courses.

What is Canvas? 

Canvas is the University of Auckland's Learning Management System and from 2016 all taught courses (PG and UG) in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences will be managed through (LMS) Canvas. It replaces the previous system, Cecil. 

Canvas is a cloud-based system so its tools can be used online, on mobile devices and tablets.

How can I use Canvas in my teaching? 

Canvas can be used to give your students access to course materials online, for connecting your students to each other, to track their use of those materials, for assessing by quizzes and tests and grading. It can be used for face-to-face, blended or distance teaching and learning. 

The list below are some of the most basic features of Canvas:

• Announcements 
• Assignments (formal and informal tasks)                          
• Rubrics
• Marks  and grades                                 
• Modular content                                     
• Discussions                               
• Customisable web pages                                         
• File storage                                             
• Class lists and participants                                          
• Quizzes                                       
• Calendar                                    
• Real time conferencing/virtual classroom (Also called “The Big Blue Button”)
• Collaborations   and group project work                       

You will be able to use a variety of tools and applications that integrate seamlessly with Canvas such as Turnitin, Coursebuilder and Piazza.   

To get started you'll need to arrange for access to courses you are involved with then login to Canvas, and work on the courses to which you have access.

For FMHS staff our direct contact for Canvas support is Sophie An s.an@auckland.ac.nz

But Canvas offers its own online guides which are generally the best place to start: 

Canvas Guides – search the 'official' Canvas guides for any information you need.

Canvas Community – ask the global community of Canvas users a question. 

For information about the implementation of Canvas at the University see - Canvas at the University of Auckland

There is also 24-hour support for Canvas

Online live chat – select ‘Chat with Canvas Support’ from the Help menu in Canvas

Canvas Support Hotline – call 0800 001469 from a landline or mobile to speak with a Canvas Support representative

CourseBuilder software enables you to create rich online resources that can be accessed by students anywhere, anytime - without  you having to know anything about HTML. 

Resources created in CourseBuilder can either 'stand alone' (with selected access options) or can be embedded in Canvas, enriching your use of that space. 

What can I do with CourseBuilder?

• structure sequenced, online learning resources
• compose and import text
• insert media (images, videos, sound files, PowerPoint recordings)
• develop activities (e.g case studies, reflections and quizzes)
• monitor student responses and much more
• collaboratively author with another staff member

You can publish your website for students to view while you continue to edit and re-publish as needed.

One of the great things about CourseBuilder is that you can organize information in a variety of ways. This allows you to  present learning resources to students in terms of learning sequences that progress students through the course topics in a logical manner.

CourseBuilder also allows you to use a variety of media to meet students' different learning styles. You can include galleries of expandable images, upload audio and video in context and create more complex learning interactions such as journaling with individualised feedback. There is a range of interactive elements that can be selected to easily create rich learning resources. 

Getting started with CourseBuilder is really easy.

1. Go to the CourseBuilder login page and create an account if you don't already have one.
2. Log in and take a look at the CourseBuilder support pages which provide clear explanations of how to use CourseBuilder.
3. Use the CourseBuilder "sandbox" to try out the different functions of CourseBuilder before moving on to create your first course (this will appear in your course list as you login).

CourseBuilder is fully supported with online help that is very easy to follow.

The Learning Technology Unit offers one-one or small group sessions to familiarise you with Coursebuilder. Get in touch with us if you would like to find out more.

Web and video conferencing are used to deliver presentations, lectures, seminars and workshops frequently in 'real time'.  They can be very interactive allowing for text chat, video chat and "voting polls" allowing participants to respond to a presenter's questions.

• If your students are not able to get together, this can be a great way to build a sense of community, especially at the start of a course.
• If you have difficult concepts to teach, it is an opportunity to explain material and take questions during or after a presentation.
• You can upload documents such as PowerPoint files, use  a whiteboard and screen sharing for viewing during a session.
• Conferences can be usually be recorded or archived for anyone who misses the live session. 
• Students can give presentations to class or smaller groups.