Webducate

Reflect e-portfolio help movies

Working to a tight deadline Webducate recently completed a set of nine help movies that provide an overview of using the Reflect e-portfolio system developed by Pebblepad. This system was developed to meet the specific needs of the 300,000 teachers, trainers, tutors and student teachers that form the membership of the Institute for Learning (IfL). These help movies focus on the portfolio tasks most relevant to this group of users e.g.

• Creating an action plan
• Creating and editing a portfolio entry
• Creating and using a blog
• Tagging a portfolio entry
• Creating a record for submission to the IfL

View an example Reflect help movie.

New Dragster 3 features - demo

Here at Webducate we have been working hard to make Dragster 3 even better. Based on input from our users and also from some ideas of our own, we have put together a set of new features listed below. Before we integrate these into the Dragster 3 authoring system we would really like to get some  feedback.  So please do try the example volcano labelling activity, explore the new features and get in touch!

Pop-up text feedback and links - text feedback can be assigned to each draggable element.  This pop-up text is displayed when the mouse is rolled over the element during the display of an activity's feedback. The text can be defined differently for an element positioned correctly, close or missed. In addition corresponding web addresses for more information can be provided. These links are opened by clicking on the pop-up text feedback box.

Button roll-over labels - pop up text can be defined to appear when a participant's mouse is rolled over the activity buttons (e.g. the print and submit buttons in the activity toolbar).

Keyboard controls -  participants can complete dragster activities using only keyboard keys. This is particularly important for users unable to use a mouse. E.g. label pointers can be flipped during the activity by using the space bar. (more information on the keyboard controls).

Randomising element presentation - the order in which the draggable elements are displayed can be randomised.

Automatic element scrolling - to prevent an activity participant missing draggable elements which need to be scrolled into view, this scrolling will occur automatically when the drag the last visible element on to the dropzone image.

Updated activity design - we have made some minor aesthetic changes to the look and feel of the activity skin. We think they look better... what do you think?

(this example activity uses an image from Wikimedia Commons and information from the U.S. Geological Survey and  Volcano World)

Webducate joins Desire2Learn Partner Network

We are very pleased to announce that Webducate has been accepted as a member of the Desire2Learn Partner Network.

Creating dropzone images for Dragster activities movie

Often the most difficult part of creating a Dragster drag and drop activity is creating the dropzone image, that is the image on to which your draggable elements will be placed.

This new help movie provides a brief overview of some of the issues and techniques involved including:

1. Copyright issues
2. Using an example source of suitable images (Wikimedia Commons)
3. Techniques for editing an image to the appropriate dimensions for use in a Dragster activity using Gliffy and Snipshot (free on-line image editing services)

View the creating a Dragster activity dropzone image movie

Delete elements from wiki activities

A new function has been provided via the Dragster 3 authoring system to allow elements to be deleted from within wiki activities.  To access this facility, login to your Webducate account, view the results page for the wiki activity.  At the bottom of the page is a link Review / remove wiki elements .  Use this link to view a list of the elements displayed in the latest version of the wiki activity.  Use the remove icon beside the element you wish to remove.

NB - any changes made this way will appear in the wiki version history as being made by the last participant to make an edit.  If you wish to maintain the integrity of the wiki version history, make an edit to the wiki as administrator before removing the element.

Dragster 3 authoring movie

A screen capture movie is now available demonstrating the Dragster 3 authoring process. (view movie)

Dragster 3 overview movie

A screen capture movie is now available providing an overview of the key features of Dragster 3 drag and drop activities.
(view movie)

Dragster 2 available for FREE!

Now with the latest version of Dragster officially released (Dragster 3) we have decided to make access to the previous activity authoring system (Dragster 2) FREE.  You can quickly and easily set up your free myWebducate account and start using Dragster 2 now...

Group work video resource - nominated for award!

The LearnHigher making group work work resource has been nominated for the Jurors' Award  at the Learning on Screen 2008 conference to be held in York on the 18th/19th March. Fingers crossed!!

View the LearnHigher Group Work resource

One percent for the planet

We are very pleased to announce that Webducate has been accepted as a member of One percent for the planet.  As a member of One percent for the planet Webducate will commit to donating 1% of annual sales to fund the work of selected environmental organisations.