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Develop your Digital Skills: Term 3 training courses and more

By Katy O Foster, on 7 March 2024

Image of two badges on a blazer. One of them says Digital Skills

From training and support to helping you improve your digital capabilities, read below to find out what exciting opportunities Digital Skills Development can offer UCL staff and students in term 3.

Term 3 training courses

To book, follow the links below or find more information here: How to book a course on MyLearning.

Mastering Excel

General
30/04/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Excel functions we should all know Online
28/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Excel functions we should all know Online
28/05/2024 13:00 14:30 DSD: Pivot tables in Excel – Workshop Online
29/05/2024 13:00 14:30 DSD: VLookup in Excel – workshop Online
30/05/2024 13:00 14:30 DSD: Charting with Excel Online
Excel Essential Skills Workshops
08/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 1 (campus-based) In-person
22/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 2 (campus-based) In-person

Data analysis and visualisation

Choosing the right software
16/05/2024 14:00 15:00 DSD: Software for success: Winning with charts Online
R
24/04/2024 10.00 17.00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
01/05/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Data visualization in R with ggplot2 (campus-based) In-person
23/05/2024 10:00 17:00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
06/06/2024 10:00 17:00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
Stata
15/05/2024 10:00 17:00 DSD: Getting started with Stata (campus-based) In-person
21/05/2024 14.00 16.00 DSD: Scripting Stata Graphs Online
05/06/2024 14:00 17:00 DSD: Scripting Stata’s Tables and Collections (Campus-based) In-person
Nvivo
09/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Starting an Nvivo Project Online
Excel
30/05/2024 13:00 14:30 DSD: Charting with Excel Online

Interaction and collaboration

General
30/04/2024 13.00 15.00 DSD: Software for success: Survey tools Online
14/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Mentimeter – improving feedback and interaction Online
REDCap
08/05/2024 13.00 14.00 DSD: Introduction to REDCap for research Online
09/05/2024 12:00 13:00 DSD: Data import and export in REDCap Online
09/05/2024 15.00 16.00 DSD: Managing participants in REDCap Online
14/05/2024 12:00 13:00 DSD: Options in designing consent forms in REDCap Online
14/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Using conditions and filters in REDCap Online
21/05/2024 13.00 14.00 DSD: Setting up User Rights and Data Access Groups in REDCap Online
Qualtrics
02/05/2024 13.00 14.00 DSD: Qualtrics Tips and Tricks Online

Multimedia content: Creating and editing

Graphic design and photo editing
30/04/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Design an impactful research poster using UCL templates Online
07/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Basic image editing using free tools – demo Online
16/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: An introduction to free graphic design tools – Inkscape Online
21/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Photo editing with Pixlr X – workshop Online
30/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Creating infographics using free web based tools Online
Film and video
02/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Make a short film using your iPhone Online
07/05/2024 10.00 11:00 DSD: Planning and filming advice for a short film Online
08/05/2024 14:00 15:30 DSD: Introduction to stop motion animation – workshop Online
23/05/2024 14:00 15:00 DSD: Explore the potential of UCL Mediacentral  Online
29/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Best practice for video captions and transcripts Online
Podcasting
25/04/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Podcasting made easy Online

Writing, presenting and referencing

Mentimeter
14/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Mentimeter – improving feedback and interaction Online
Microsoft Office
23/04/2024 10.00 12.00 DSD: Format your Thesis (Windows) – Manage long documents in Word Online
23/04/2024 14:00 15:00 DSD: Creating accessible PowerPoint presentations Online
07/05/2024 13:00 14:00 DSD: PowerPoint for Researchers and Presenters: Words, Images and More Online
08/05/2024 10:00 11:00 DSD: Word Tips and Tricks Online
04/06/2024 14:00 16:00 DSD: Format your Thesis (Windows) – Manage long documents in Word Online
Zotero
29/05/2024 14:00 17:00 DSD: Kick-starting your literature review with Zotero (Campus-based) In-person

Accessibility and assistive technology

Social media
28/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Creating accessible social media content Online
Film and video
29/05/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Best practice for video captions and transcripts Online
Powerpoint
23/04/2024 14:00 15:00 DSD: Creating accessible PowerPoint presentations Online

Programming

Git version control
04/06/2024 13.00 14.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Git version control Online
05/06/2024 10.00 13.00 DSD: Dive into Git version control Online

Social Media

28/05/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Creating accessible social media content Online
04/06/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Managing your digital profile and social media presence Online

LinkedIn Learning

In addition to the above, UCL staff and enrolled students can access over 16,000 courses for free on LinkedIn Learning.

Digital Skills Support: Office hours

To make them more widely accessible, our drop-ins have been changed to an office hours format, with slots available each day. If you have a question or would like individual support on a specific issue, book an appointment with one of our team: Digital Skills Development Office Hours

Upgrade your skills with the Discovery Tool

In partnership with Jisc, the Digital Skills Development team have put together a Discovery Tool to help UCL staff and students identify gaps in their knowledge and improve their skills. Use the self-assessment questions to start your journey towards better digital skills today: Discover your digital

Now with AI questions added for staff

The Jisc Discovery Tool now has a question set for staff on Digital skills in AI and Generative AI and a lot of new resources on AI skills have been added to the tool. Find out more in our blog post.

Contact us

For any questions on Digital Skills Development at UCL, email isd-digiskills@ucl.ac.uk

Develop your digital skills: Term 2 training courses and more

By Katy O Foster, on 8 December 2023

From training and support to helping you improve your digital capabilities, read below to find out what exciting opportunities Digital Skills Development can offer UCL staff and students in term 2.

Term 2 training courses

To book, follow the links below or find more information here: How to book a course on MyLearning.

Data analysis and visualisation

Choosing the right software
30/01/2024 10:00 11:00 DSD: Software for success: Data analysis & statistical tools Online
01/02/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Software for success: Winning with charts Online
05/03/2024 12:00 14:00 DSD: Software for success: Data visualisation Online
R
17/01/2024 13.00 20.00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
31/01/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Better Tables in R (Campus-based) In-person
07/02/2024 15.00 17.00 DSD: Data visualization in R with ggplot2 (campus-based) In-person
08/02/2024 14:00 16.00 DSD: Data manipulation in R with Rstudio Online
20/02/2024 10.00 17.00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
11/03/2024 10.00 17.00 DSD: An Introduction to R with Rstudio (campus-based) In-person
Stata
06/02/2024 10:00 17:00 DSD: Getting started with Stata (campus-based) In-person
06/03/2024 14:00 17:00 DSD: Scripting Stata’s Tables and Collections (Campus-based) In-person
14/03/2024 14.00 16.00 DSD: Scripting Stata Graphs Online
Nvivo
01/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Starting an Nvivo Project Online
Matlab
26/02/2024 & 27/02/2024 10:00 17:00 DSD: Introduction to Matlab (campus-based) In-person

Mastering Excel

18/01/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Tips and Tricks Online
24/01/2024 12:00 13:30 DSD: Charting with Excel Online
30/01/2024 12:00 13:30 DSD: Vlookup in Excel Online
30/01/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Excel functions we should all know Online
13/02/2024 12:00 13:30 DSD: Pivot Tables in Excel – workshop Online
22/02/2024 10:00 11:00 DSD: Excel Tips and Tricks Online
22/02/2024 14.00 16.00 DSD: Intermediate statistics with Excel Online
07/03/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: In a Nutshell: Excel functions we should all know Online
13/03/2024 14:00 16:00 DSD: Advanced statistics with Excel (campus-based) In-person
Excel Essential Skills Workshops
24/01/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 1 (campus-based) In-person
07/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 1 (campus-based) In-person
21/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 1 (campus-based) In-person
06/03/2024 13.00 14.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 2 (campus-based) In-person
13/03/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 2 (campus-based) In-person
20/03/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Excel Essential Skills – Workshop 3 (campus-based) In-person

Accessibility and assistive technology

16/01/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Creating accessible Powerpoint presentations Online
16/01/2024 10:00 12:00 DSD: Creating accessible Word documents Online
14/02/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Creating accessible documents with LaTeX (Campus-based) In-person
28/02/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Creating accessible documents with LaTeX (Campus-based) In-person
29/02/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Best practice for video captions and transcripts Online
19/03/2024 10:00 11:00 DSD: Creating accessible social media content Online

Programming

12/03/2024 10.00 17.00 DSD: Think like a computer programmer (campus-based) In-person
18/03/2024 14:00 17:00 DSD: A Quick Introduction to UNIX (campus-based) In-person

Interaction and collaboration

19/03/2024 12:00 14:00 DSD: Software for success: Survey tools Online

Multimedia content: Creating and editing

Graphic design and photo editing
24/01/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Design an impactful research poster using UCL templates Online
06/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Basic image editing using free tools – demo Online
15/02/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: An introduction to free graphic design tools – Inkscape Online
22/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Creating infographics using free web based tools Online
06/03/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Photo editing with Pixlr X – workshop Online
Film and video
24/01/2024 14:00 15:00 DSD: Explore the potential of UCL Mediacentral  Online
31/01/2024 14:00 15:30 DSD: Introduction to stop motion animation – workshop In-person
27/02/2024 10.00 11:00 DSD: Planning and filming advice for a short film Online
27/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Make a short film using your iPhone Online
29/02/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Best practice for video captions and transcripts Online
Podcasting
22/02/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Podcasting made easy Online

Writing, presenting and referencing

Choosing the right software
18/01/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Software for success: Writing tools Online
05/03/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Software for success: Working with Bibliography and Citation Apps Online
Microsoft Office
16/01/2024 10.00 12:00 DSD: Creating accessible Word documents Online
16/01/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: Creating accessible PowerPoint presentations Online
08/02/2024 10.00 12.00 DSD: Format your Thesis (Windows) Online
05/03/2024 10.00 11.00 DSD: Word Tips and Tricks Online
07/03/2024 14.00 16.00 DSD: Format your Thesis (Windows) Online
26/03/2024 12:00 13:30 DSD: Effective use of Onenote – workshop Online
LaTeX
13/02/2024 10.00 17.00 DSD: Overleaf: LaTeX with NatBib (campus-based) In-person
14/02/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Creating accessible documents with LaTeX (campus-based) In-person
28/02/2024 14.00 17.00 DSD: Creating accessible documents with LaTeX (campus-based) In-person
29/02/2024 14.00 15.00 DSD: LaTeX: Demo of Overleaf Online
Zotero
21/02/2024 15:00 17:00 DSD: Kick-starting your literature review with Zotero (Campus-based) In-person

Office hours

If you have a question or would like individual support on a specific issue, book an appointment with one of our team: Digital Skills Development Office Hours

Upgrade your skills with the Discovery Tool

In partnership with Jisc, the Digital Skills Development team have put together a Discovery Tool to help UCL staff and students identify gaps in their knowledge and improve their skills. Use the self-assessment questions to start your journey towards better digital skills today: Discover your digital

LinkedIn Learning

UCL staff and enrolled students can access over 16,000 courses for free on LinkedIn Learning.

Contact us

For any questions on Digital Skills Development at UCL, email isd-digiskills@ucl.ac.uk

Would you like professional recognition for effective technology use in education?

By Karen Shackleford-Cesare, on 28 January 2022

If so, why not join the 2022 Bloomsbury Learning Exchange (BLE) Cohort and work towards CMALT accreditation? You may be a tutor, a PGTA, an ELO, a TA, a Librarian, a Learning Technologist, etc. Anyone in fact, who is a staff member at one of the institutions affiliated to the BLE (namely, Birkbeck, LSHTM, RVC, SOAS, UCL, City, University of London and UoL) and has been using technologies effectively to teach or support teaching and learning. Indeed, in the last two years many more UCL staff members have been doing just that.

What is CMALT?

CMALT stands for Certified Membership of the Association for Learning Technology and the CMALT Accreditation Framework provides pathways to peer-assessed accreditation for a cross-section of learning technology focused professionals, educators and administrators in the UK and internationally.

Join the BLE CMALT Cohort

Registration for the BLE CMALT Cohort is now open! (Until March 1st 2022*). If you missed our two Introduction to CMALT sessions, our slides are available to view here and the session’s recording is here. Attached is the CMALT Prospectus; further information about CMALT and the Association for Learning Technology can be accessed here: https://www.alt.ac.uk/certified-membership

When you have decided, which of the 3 CMALT pathways you may wish to pursue, (download the CMALT Prospectus for details), then please complete our sign up form. Thereafter more information will be emailed to you. The first cohort meeting was or will be on Thursday 3rd Feb, 1 – 2.30pm and was recorded. Future meetings will take place on the first Thursday of every month for no more than 8 months.

Late starters are very welcome! (Until March 1st 2022*). So, if you are interested please do get in touch using the aforementioned form.

*It is also possible to pursue CMALT accreditation independently at any time. See CMALT Support for details.

Inspiration – Great News – It has been saved!

By Michele Farmer, on 29 January 2020

I have heard that Inspiration mind mapping software has been bought by another company and will be continued.

Digital Accessibility – from Directive to DNA

By Samantha Ahern, on 22 July 2019

I have been very excited by the flurry of activity that has been triggered by The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations (2018)   across my own and other institutions. These regulations haven’t really introduced anything new, much of it is covered by existing equalities legislation, but it has shifted the focus. Previously, we could be reactive and in our laziest moments rely on those that needed adjustments to request them. Now, we are required to be proactive. To create content that is accessible by design and follows Universal Design for Learning principles around designing for POUR (i.e., so content is Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust). Aligning with the social model of disability: people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference.

Tweet by Danielle Johnstone describing some of the Lego activity outcomes.Many colleagues I meet are concerned about what the regulation means in terms of workload, what is required of them and how they become compliant. A range of guidance and support is being delivered to help raise awareness and develop the required skills. But, fundamentally there needs to be a mind shift.

Although there are deadlines associated with the regulations, I would argue that digital accessibility is not a compliance challenge but a cultural shift. A move from directive or requirement to part of our institutional DNA.

In a workshop I co-hosted with my colleague Leo Havemann, a participant described Digital Accessibility as being akin to Escher’s staircase, and I believe that they are correct. We will never not need to consider accessibility as part of our learning and content designs, and it may at times be impossible to be 100% accessible to everyone. However, it doesn’t mean that this shouldn’t become part of our day-to-day practice. The recently launched Student Health and Wellbeing Strategy echoes this with Action 1D: Make key concepts related to disability awareness, inclusive learning, health and wellbeing an integral part of relevant professional services staff and Personal Tutor training. Incorporate these concepts into curriculum development, design and governance.

So, how do we make accessibility part of our everyday? The aim of the aforementioned workshop was to crowd-source ideas on how to create the cultural shift, but also to identify what we can do now to help affect our institutional cultures.

Screenshot of tweet by Kris Rogers showing workshop Lego modelFor creating a cultural shift, key themes were to obtain buy-in from senior leadership teams and to embed digital accessibility in induction, training and promotion/development requirements. Making it part of the institutional language and ways of working for all. There was an acknowledgement that we needed to be honest with colleagues that it would require additional effort and different ways of thinking and doing. However, this would reduce over time as a result of skills development, cultural shift and tools to help. There should also be a bottom-up approach facilitated by peer evaluation and creating a network of champions within and across institutions.

With regard to what we can do now, 15% solution, a key theme was walking the talk – demonstrating good practice through our own behaviours and leading the way for others to follow. Training and support were also key themes, as were demonstrating good practice and cultivating empathy.

There may well be dragons to face along the way, but they are worth facing for the creation of a more inclusive and equitable institution.

If you would like to run the workshop at your institution, the materials are available under CC BY-SA 4.0 license: DirectiveToDNA-AccessibilityWorkshop

The materials are also available via OpenEd@UCL.

Gain accreditation for learning technology expertise with CMALT

By Caroline Norris, on 25 June 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is CMALT?

CMALT is the professional accreditation scheme developed by ALT (the Association for Learning Technology) for anyone whose work involves learning technology.

The scheme enables candidates to

  • have their experience and capabilities certified by peers
  • demonstrate that they are taking a committed and serious approach to their professional development

Accreditation is achieved by successful submission of a reflective, online portfolio, which evidences skills and experience in learning technology across four core areas and a specialist area.

UCL staff and CMALT

UCL staff can undertake CMALT accreditation with the Bloomsbury Learning Environment partners.  In the past three years, over 50 staff members have set off on their CMALT voyage with the BLE – many have now achieved their CMALT accreditation. Previous cohorts have comprised academics, librarians, learning technologists, careers advisers and professional support staff who all have a strong interest in learning technology.

You can view further details about CMALT on the ALT website.  there is also this handy document for a brief overview.  An introductory meeting was held in Bloomsbury on Thursday 19th July to explain further what accreditation means and what is involved in achieving it.  You can watch a recording of this introductory meeting or view the slides.

Interested in joining the 2018-19 cohort?

Please confirm your intent to register by completing the registration form by Friday 31st August. You will be sent an introductory welcome email from ALT with links to all relevant documents. You will also then be given access to the BLE CMALT course on Moodle and added to the BLE CMALT mailing list.

The cohort will meet monthly on the first Wednesday of the month during lunch time; the first meeting will take place on Wednesday 5th September, 1230-1430 in Bloomsbury.

Costs
Registration is usually £150 per person. However, for groups of between 5 and 9 candidates, ALT offers 10% off each registration, which would be £135. For groups of 10+ they offer 20% off each registration, which would be £120., I will be able to confirm the fees once we reach those thresholds.

Further CMALT information

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Sherman, BLE Service Manager directly.