About the Digital Learning Environment
The "Digital Learning Environment" (DLE) is a suite of tools used for online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. It is the "digital" portion of the teaching and learning experience. This page provides some basic information and, in many cases, links to other resources regarding the various pieces of the DLE.
While GBIT offers technical support for a wide range of technologies and tools, CATL manages the over-arching philosophy surrounding the DLE. The staff in CATL are ready and willing to work with any instructors who would like to make the most effective use of it. Some helpful resources related to pedagogy include:
Stop by...
CATL's office is located in Cofrin Library 405, Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Please use the button below to request an in-person or online consultation.
Join us!
CATL works hard to host a variety of workshops and special events. Stop by often!
Learning Management System (LMS)
The LMS makes up the largest piece of the DLE pie. Currently, UWGB (and the majority of UW-System) uses Canvas as the LMS. This platform hosts course materials, quizzes, files, discussions, and more for online and blended learning in various capacities. Many of the DLE's instructional tools integrate into Canvas and are primarily accessed through it.
Kaltura Video Tools
Kaltura is the System-hosted video platform (similar to YouTube). This platform is in many ways meant to be an "in-house" equivalent to services like YouTube and Vimeo. One primary advantage to Kaltura is the ease with which instructors can make and post videos. It also integrates directly into Canvas (see above). Kaltura Capture is the desktop application used to create screen recordings, webcam videos, etc.
Zoom
Zoom is the videoconferencing tool incorporated into the DLE. Students and Teachers can connect to synchronous video meetings using the Zoom desktop or mobile applications. Zoom meetings support many instructional features like breakout rooms, screen sharing, polls, and hand raising. Sessions can be recorded and shared with students who missed a synchronous session or want to review. Zoom is integrated into Canvas and is accessible from the Navigation Menu of a Canvas course. It can also be accessed outside of Canvas from the UW System Zoom web portal.
PlayPosit
PlayPosit is an exciting new tool that can be used to add interactive elements to course videos to improve student engagement. Users can turn their videos into "bulbs" that include various interactions like quiz questions, reflections, in-video discussions, and more. Bulbs can be added to Canvas courses as graded assignments or ungraded, formative content. PlayPosit's Interactive Player and Designer are both user friendly and intuitive. PlayPosit's capabilities extend far beyond what is possible with Kaltura Video Quizzes, and it even integrates with your My Media video library. Use it to transform your videos, both old and new, into engaging bulbs!
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a multifaceted collaboration tool that has exciting possibilities for educational use. There's a lot going on with this new and growing product from venerable giant Microsoft. The key features Teams brings to the DLE are its rapidly improving video meetings and easy-to-use, collaborative file sharing. Those features can be powerful instructional tools when paired with Canvas. Teams that are created for "Class" use incorporate some features that directly compete with features in Canvas. Be wary about using the Assignments and Grades features in Teams unless you are willing to dive into using Teams, instead of Canvas, as your primary LMS.
Hypothesis
UWGB is currently running a pilot of the Hypothesis social annotation integration in Canvas. The Hypothesis external tool integration is currently available in all UWGB Canvas courses, and our pilot is unlimited with all instructors invited to join. With Hypothesis, instructors can assign PDF or website readings and ask students to collaboratively annotate in the "digital margins" of the reading. Instructors and students can view and reply to each other's annotations to turn assigned reading into an active experience!
The Student Information System (SIS), Email, Qualtrics, and other services...
While other services like SIS and Email are not directly a part of the LMS, they are certainly a part of the ecosystem known as the "DLE." As with anything within the DLE, the best place for technical support varies depending on the service and the level of complexity. For technical assistance, GBIT is the best place to start. For questions regarding effective uses in education, integration of tools into the curriculum, and best practices for teaching and learning using these tools, please do not hesitate to contact CATL.