Staff: Consistency is key!

When we asked students for feedback on Minerva earlier this year, the top complaint was a lack of consistency between modules. Students commented that modules were set up differently and it was hard to know where to look for resources and submission areas.

As part of ongoing work by the Digital Education Committee, it was decided to re-develop the Minerva module template, adding in section headings to aid structure and instructions for staff to indicate what kind of materials should be in each menu item.

Please review your modules and use the new headings and menu items to help improve the student experience. 

We have developed a guide on the new template which includes tips on how to move content efficiently and links to example modules so you can see how other staff at the University have organised their content into the new template.

Whilst reviewing your content, remember to remove or hide last year’s content which students on the 19/20 module shouldn’t see! The new template guide also contains tips on how to do this.

When you have finished reviewing your module, read our guide on the Student Preview function and use this tool to ensure your module has no duplicate/empty menu items or folders.

 

Turnitin 2019/20 – advice update

The University has updated the advice to instructors on how to use similarity checking in  Turnitin; to maximise the effectiveness of Turnitin’s match overview, and to better detect more subtle or sophisticated forms of malpractice.

Fine tuning of the sensitivity of the similarity detection in Turnitin is achieved through the filter settings within Feedback Studio.

The University now stipulates that small match filtering in Feedback Studio should always be set to “Don’t exclude by size“.

Screenshot of the

Feedback Studio’s Filter settings

All new electronic assessment using Turnitin in 2019/20 should use this setting, unless there is a defensible pedagogical or technical reason for not doing so.

As an aide to investigation, staff may temporarily filter small matches by no more than 2% of the assignment or 7 words.

The Minerva guidance on interpreting Turnitin reports now incorporates this advice. Check the Minerva help for more on the University’s policy and the code of practice on the use of similarity detection software.

Minerva staff training next week

There are still places available on the Introduction to Minerva and Grade Centre training on Wednesday 18th September. Places can be booked via the OD&PL website (follow the links below).

Introduction to Minerva

New to Minerva? Find out how Minerva can be used to support teaching and enhance the student experience at our 1 hour session. The session will include a presentation, demonstration and Q&A. Note that this is not a hands on session.

Wednesday September 18 2019 10:30 to 11:30

Grade Centre

Find out more about the Grade Centre tool in Minerva, and how it can be used to help manage grades and return feedback to students.

We will cover how different assessment types, e.g. Turnitin, integrate with the Grade Centre and look at how students see their grades and feedback via the My Grades tool. This is a hands on session and participants should be familiar with the Minerva module interface.

Wednesday 18 September 1.30-3.00pm

Interested but unable to attend?

We have further sessions available in October.

A session on Turnitin administration will be advertised soon.

Issues connecting to Rosetta Stone and Top Hat – Resolved

Connection issues to Rosetta Stone and Top Hat were fixed on Friday evening and all access should now be restored.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Comments are welcome, however if you need help or advice please contact the IT Service Desk on tel (0113) 343 3333, via the online contact form, or itservicedesk@leeds.ac.uk.

Staff: find out more about the Minerva Grade Centre

Find out more about the Grade Centre tool in Minerva, and how it can be used to help manage grades and return feedback to students.

We will cover how different assessment types, e.g. Turnitin, integrate with the Grade Centre and look at how students see their grades and feedback via the My Grades tool.

We are offering two sessions, follow the links below to book on a session via the OD&PL website:

Wednesday 18 September 1.30-3.00pm

Tuesday 22 October 1.30-3.00pm

This is a hands on session and participants should be familiar with the Minerva module interface.

Staff: new to Minerva?

Find out how Minerva can be used to support teaching and enhance the student experience at our 1 hour session. Places must be booked via the OD&PL website (follow the links below). We have 2 dates available:

Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 10:30 to 11:30

Monday, October 21, 2019, 10:30 to 11:30

The session will include a presentation, demonstration and Q&A. Note that this is not a hands on session.

If you want more specific hands on training, we are offering a session on Minerva’s Grade Centre. A session on Turnitin administration will be advertised soon.