IDEAS

Most lecturers use IVLE in a very functional manner. You do what you want, and then you exit. There are lots of buttons and links which seem unfamiliar or cryptic, so they are left unvisited. Yet other tools are often used, but have some nifty tricks which are not immediately apparent. Here is CIT’s list of IVLE secrets…

1. Use a full fledged calendar
You’ve all seen the little calendar on the sidebar of the IVLE Workspace. Did you know that it leads to a powerful calendar function? You can see your official lecture and tutorial schedule in that calendar, by day, week and month. You can even add your own schedule, just like a normal calendar.

2. Customize sidebar layout
Talking about the sidebar, if you don’t like My Organizer on the left or Student Events on the right, you can move them around or choose not to display them at all. Go to Personal > Customise > Display. Then move the sidebar web components using the arrows. Apply once you’re done.

3. Subscribe to CIT System Updates
CIT System Updates is where we inform you about scheduled maintenance and those unforeseen system outages for CIT services such as IVLE, webcasts, Breeze, NUS Galleria and the like. The latest updates can be found on the login page of IVLE. They can also be found at the CIT System Updates blog and on Twitter*. You can subscribe to updates via the blog’s feed or by email. If you are a Twitter user, you can get updates from our System Updates Twitter account.

* Twitter is a microblogging tool, which allows updates via the web or by SMS. It is a free third-party service, not provided by NUS.

4. Reduce clutter with the Lesson Plan
On the surface, the Lesson Plan seems quite convoluted. It’s a powerful tool, especially if you’re a seasoned IVLE user who has lots of resources already set up. Think of it as a meta-tool, where all the appropriate content and tools can appear on a week-by-week or a topic-by-topic basis. Watch the Lesson Plan video tutorial here.

5. Assign Forum access to specific students in class
You’ve created Forums. You’ve also created Class Groups. Put the two together, and you can assign specific students their own discussion forum! This is useful if you have assigned discussion groups. Learn how to set this up here.

6. Start a blog for your Module
Using NUS Module Blogs, you are a click away from setting up a blog for your module. You can post while students can reply. We can enable student posting, but this has certain caveats. Your current students for the respective modules are automatically allowed to comment on the module blog. The blogs are public by default, but can be made private on request. Start a Module Blog from the link on the Workspace sidebar under Services.

7. Start community-interest groups with MoBlogs
Not to be confused with Module Blogs, MoBlogs as the name implies, allows mobile blogging. But the big thing about MoBlogs is that it is a community-based tool. It is ideal for starting interest groups and has space for a group blog, discussions and other community functions. Start a MoBlog from the Communities tab on the Workspace.

8. Create podcasts and audio clips
You can create 15-minute podcasts and audio clips right here in IVLE. All you need is a headset with a microphone. The instructions on how to do this are here. The best thing is that students can do this too! This is terrific for language modules. You can get students to record audio clips for class.

9. Create sub-modules
Many lecturers have requested this feature, so we have delivered sub-modules. These are modules within modules in IVLE. Sub-modules have all of the functionality of top-level modules. This is might be useful if there are several lecturers for a module who want their own space.

10. Access online learning
Students (and staff) can take comprehensive online courses at the Learning Portal.

Do you have any tips and tricks which haven’t been mentioned? Share them in the comments!