Educational Media Center – Leeward Community College

UH LMS Replacement Update (July 2023)

Gloria Niles, Director of Online Learning at UH ITS, presented an update about the LMS replacement during the UH IT All-Campus Workshop on July 28, 2023. Read on for a brief recap and access the full presentation recording and presentation slides.

Where We Were

We’ve been with Laulima (Sakai) for about 15 years. A main concern of continuing with Sakai is that it’s down about 1.5% of the market share. Developers have left and the most recent version we are on will likely be the last version of Sakai. Therefore, third-party systems neglect to integrate with Sakai and we won’t be getting updates which may also pose security vulnerabilities.

In Spring 2023, UH went through a LMS Review phase to help make a decision on if we should replace Laulima (Sakai). During the LMS review, three vendors/platforms (i.e. Anthology Blackboard Learn Ultra, D2L Brightspace, and Instructure Canvas) were reviewed by the UH community to see what is currently out there. Strengths and concerns of Laulima and the three platforms were summarized in the LMS Report. The report was submitted to the UH Officers in May 2023 with a recommendation to transition away from Laulima. The decision was made to replace Laulima.

Where We Are Now

UH is going out for a full RFP (request for proposals). Some of the features we are looking for include:

Modern functionality – mobile app, responsive design, robust tools for teaching and learning
Systemwide LMS – Sakai, RCUH, etc. Move everyone under one platform.
Content migration from Sakai
Vendor-university partnership evidence – responsive to customer feedback, professional development, training, and support
ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi language pack
Integration with our other systems like Banner, PeopleSoft, etc.
Accessibility
Standard features such as: assessment of learning outcomes, dynamic learner engagement features, feedback and grading efficiencies, third-party app integration, and more.
Optional features that we could add-on/purchase: interactive multimedia content, digital badging capabilities, generative AI integration, OER, and more.

Where We Are Heading

Projected Timeline for 2023:

August: RFP out for bid
September: Proposals received and vetted
October: Proposal evaluation and scoring
November: Contract awarded
December: Announce new LMS

Tentative Implementation Strategy

Goal: Full migration to new LMS for all courses by Fall 2025.

Fall 2024: Cohort 1 migration
Spring 2025: Cohort 1 implementation and Cohort 2 migration
Summer 2025: Transition to Laulima archive. New LMS full implementation.

More Information

LMS Replacement Update (Zoom Recording, 21:34 min)
LMS Replacement (Presentation Slides)

EMC, Laulima, Zoom

Zoom Tutorial: Transcripts & Captioning for Video Recordings

Did you know you can add captions to your Zoom recordings? In accordance with the UH Guidelines for Accessible Technology and Digital Media, courses and course content should be accessibility compliant. One way to ensure your videos like your Zoom recording videos are accessibility compliant is to include captioning on them.

Recently, Zoom has included transcriptions for recorded meetings that can be downloaded through the cloud service. The UH Zoom Cloud Service is managed by UH ITS, and allows faculty and staff to save their recorded meetings to the cloud for download.

In the first Zoom tutorial video we will show you step-by-step instructions to request access to the UH Zoom Cloud Service (if you haven’t already), how to change your Zoom settings to enable transcriptions (one-time only step), and how to download files from the cloud service.

It is highly recommended to download the video recording and transcript files from the UH Zoom Cloud Service before uploading and embedding the video to Laulima. There are two options, you may upload your recording and captions to Google Drive. Or, you may upload your recording and captions to YouTube.

Screenshot of a Google Drive video and a YouTube video embedded in the Laulima Lessons tool.

In the second Zoom tutorial video, we will show you how to upload the video file (.mp4) and transcript file (.vtt) to Google Drive. Then, we will show you to embed the Google Drive video into Laulima Lessons.

In the third Zoom tutorial video, we will show you how to upload the file (.mp4) and transcript file (.vtt) to YouTube. Then, we will show you how to embed the YouTube video into Laulima Lessons.

You may also take a look at our full Zoom tutorial guide on transcripts and captioning for video recordings (via Google Docs).

Ed Tech, EMC, Laulima

Updating the Laulima Overview Tool

For those of you using a UH Laulima template, after the most recent Laulima update, you no longer need to update the overview.html page in Resources to update your Overview tool/page in your Laulima course site. There is a one-time step you’ll need to do to put that overview page content directly in the Overview tool which will then allow you to edit directly in the Overview tool using the text editor. You will continue to edit/update using the Overview tool’s text editor even when you import the Overview tool into your next semester’s Laulima site. Follow these instructions and/or watch this video tutorial (6:00) to show you how.

8/23/23 Update: You’ll also need to update any images you have on your Overview page because that image is private to that particular course site. Either upload the image to your course site’s Resources tool and re-insert it on your Overview page. Or, and recommended, upload it to your Home site Resources tool, change the settings to public, and in your course site, re-insert that image on your Overview page. Doing it the latter way will allow you to import to next semester’s site without having to update the image file.

EMC, Laulima

Laulima Upgrade v21

During the 2022 winter break, ITS Laulima Support upgraded to v21. You may notice some interface changes as well as a few new features.

Quick Highlights

Some highlights in v21 include:

Dark Theme mode:

Screenshot of the Preferences Theme menu in Dark theme mode

Dashboard (New Tool):
- Add Widgets
- Select a Layout
Assignments:
- External Tool (LTI) – submit assignments that use outside publishing or vendor platforms that are integrated into Laulima such as IDAP, Cenage Tools, or H5P + Laulima
Forums (Renamed to “Discussions”):

Screenshot of Forums tool renamed as Discussions tool in Laulima v21

Gradebook:
- Message Students – directly message students from the Gradebook tool regarding a particular gradebook item.
- Import/Export tab
Lessons:
- Add Content menu

Screenshot of v20 Add content menu and v21 Add content menu in Laulima

- Add Layout from Template
- Reorder screen
Rubrics:
- Search function
- Weighted Criteria

More Information

For a complete list and information of all new features and changes in Laulima v21, please see the faculty resource document.

Additionally, there will be a Laulima v21 Upgrade and Tips for Instruction webinar hosted by the UH Instructional Design Professional Learning Community (PLC) this Friday, January 6th, from 10:00AM – 11:30AM. Please consider registering to attend.

EMC, Featured Instructor, OER, Video Production

Anatomy and Physiology OER Instructional Videos

The following is a guest blog post from I-Chia Shih, Assistant Professor of Physiology.

Allison in the studio with staff

For students who are studying anatomy and physiology (A&P), they know that this subject has a reputation for being a highly intensive class. Imagine if you had to learn A&P during the pandemic when classes went online and everything was shut down! When the pandemic started to affect our lives three years ago, our ways of teaching and learning were forever changed. After a year of the pandemic, Allison Beale (Physiology Lecturer) and I noticed that A&P students were in desperate need of more resources to truly learn the structures and functions of the human body.

Behind the scenes monitor

We saw an opportunity when the EMC asked if anyone needed help creating instructional videos. Allison and I proposed the development of high-quality OER anatomy videos for human anatomy and physiology. This idea later evolved towards developing videos for all anatomy and physiology students at Leeward CC and beyond, with the intent of providing support materials for an OER lab manual. To create these videos, Allison worked closely with Camden Barruga and his Video Production team from the Educational Media Center (EMC). The EMC staff, including student assistants Theo and Audrey, and Theater staff, helped to set up everything for a multi-camera production including set design, lighting, video and sound in the Media Center Studio. This teamwork, through numerous recording/editing sessions, generated 19 OER demonstration anatomy videos for our A&P students. Check out the PHYL_141L playlist and PHYL_142L playlist of videos. Allison’s goal was to provide students with the necessary resources so that they will be able to watch and learn about the bones, muscles, heart, and other organ systems. In addition, she covered the dissected structures of the sheep brain, sheep heart and cow eye to offer students a closer look at the real structures as if they were dissecting the specimens themselves. These videos are a product of the tremendous amount of effort and passion we put in to help our students learn and reach their professional dreams.

*****

Have an idea for an instructional video or series of videos? Would you like more information on services the EMC Video unit provides? Perhaps a tour of the studio to get the creative juices flowing? Please feel free to contact Camden Barruga at ext. 604 or camden@hawaii.edu. We look forward to collaborating with you to take your project from conception to completion.

EMC, Featured Instructor, OER, Video Production

Leeward CC Writing for College Success Series

A guest blog post by Tasha Williams Moses, formerly an English instructor and currently the Tutoring Services Coordinator.

Tasha Williams Due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing and prospective Leeward students face unprecedented challenges with online learning and have many questions. As the 2021 OER Leeward OER Creation Incentive Award recipient, I’ve created a 10-part video series to assist students with navigating online learning during the pandemic and beyond.

I designed this project due to my interactions with students in online classrooms and tutoring services. They have encountered new academic, financial, and emotional difficulties due to the challenges of writing in online environments. The pandemic has exacerbated many socio-economic challenges, and this equitable and inclusive approach addresses topics students face who are affected by the digital divide.

With a focus on online and hybrid writing classrooms, the series aims to help students who are grappling with developing their writing skills amid the ongoing fallout of the pandemic. The video series can assist ENG 100 students and instructors with the following:

Write a structured academic essay
Analyze and apply text(s) to logically support an argument
Apply reading, writing, and critical thinking strategies in other contexts
Apply study skills to improve learning

It was a great collaboration with the EMC! This was my first venture into recording educational videos. Camden and his video production team were really insightful and helpful throughout the whole process. You can access the series playlist on the Leeward Writing Center’s YouTube channel or click the links to the individual videos below. They are licensed CC BY-NC so feel free to use them.

Ed Tech, EMC, Laulima

An Instructor Preview of Leeward Online Learning Orientation for Students

Tips for Online Learning

Much time and thought goes into trying to delivery an online course designed for students success. Besides course design, what else can contribute to a successful online learning experience? Leeward CC provides our students with a online learner orientation originally developed by the University of Hawai’i Information and Technology Services and modified with permission for our Leeward students.

Sharing Tips & Best Practices

This resources is sent out to all distance education students via a broadcast email prior to the start of the semester. However, instructors may also consider sharing this resource with their online students as a prior to the start of the semester or as a week 1 activity. After students register themselves (http://go.hawaii.edu/3V7) the Laulima site provides them tips and best practices for learning online and is divided into 5 sections.

Basics of Online Learning
Communication & Engagement
Self-Management Strategies
Technology
Support & Resources

Recognizing Completion

At the culmination of the orientation students may request a personalized certificate of completion which they can share with their instructors as proof of completing the orientation. The following is a brief overview of the Leeward Online Learning Orientation highlighting its benefits and potential application in a course setting for instructors to consider.

Thoughts, questions, or feedback, please comment below. – Mahalo

Ed Tech, EMC

Differentiate Learning – Giving your Learners Choice

Voice and Choice

Are you looking for a dynamic way to gauge student learning beyond assigning a traditional quiz or discussion forum post? Have you ever considered asking your students how they would like to demonstrate their learning? Consider giving students voice and choice by differentiating learning. Doing so also provides you, the instructor, differentiated student submissions to look at for grading (how refreshing 🙂). With a little pre-planning, organization and communication, differentiated learning can be a meaningful enhancement to your course. The following is an example of applying this concept to an online class.

Learners’ Choice

In this example, students are presented with a Learners’ Choice Activity Board and four categories to choose from. Students can complete each category only twice. Leaners’ Choice is a weekly culminating activity and is applied to 8 weeks of the course. One student-chosen activity is due at the end of each week. The content of the activity must be focused on the subject topic from that week. Rubrics can be helpful to assessment. Since topics vary week-to-week, activity rubrics can be designed at a higher level (independent of a specific subject topic) yet still provide students feedback on meeting activity requirements and the depth of the learning that they have demonstrated for the week’s topic.

Thoughts, questions, or feedback, please comment below. – Mahalo

Ed Tech, Laulima

Why Exceed Proficiency?

Shoot for the Stars

Do you have a rubric listing a range of developing proficiency to meeting proficiency and have wondered how to recognize students who’ve exceeded proficiency? Have you seen a rubric that ends with exceeds proficiency, stating that exceeding equates to full credit for the assignment? If so you may have pondered, how can I encourage students to push themselves to strive to exceed proficiency. Awarding extra credit points each time students exceeds proficiency may not be practical, but if a student shows an established record of exceeding proficiency shouldn’t they be recognized for it?

Recognizing Exceeding Proficiency

Single Point Rubrics

The idea of a single point rubric (composed in Laulima Lessons) is that you simply specify a single column for what the students need to do in order to demonstrate they Meet Proficiency and receive full credit. Student who do not meet all the criteria would be in the Developing proficiency and receive less than full credit. Conversely students to truly Exceed Proficiency receive full credit and recognition on the class sticker board. Overtime should a student receive four stickers they will then receive extra credit.

Simple Sticker Chart

The idea is to recreate (in a Google Doc) the classic motivational sticker chart found in many grade school classrooms. Gamification of your teaching can be complex, but the classic sticker chart incorporates some of the core gaming elements in an easy to update and maintain leaderboard which recognizing individual student accomplishments. This type of sticker board can be easily created in a Google Doc and embedded into a Laulima course site. The instructor has Edit access while the students have View access. For the instructor it is as simple as copying and pasting the sticker icons as appropriate.

Thoughts, questions, or feedback, please comment below. – Mahalo

Laulima

Cross-Listed Courses in Laulima

Do you combine multiple sections of a course in Laulima? Please note that due to FERPA concerns raised by the UH Data Governance Office, ITS has revised their request process for cross-listing or combining Laulima sites. You will find new guidance language on the Laulima site request page that reflects how faculty could request to combine their courses while still being FERPA compliant.

Here’re the highlights relevant to you for Fall 2022:

Dissemination mode vs. Collaboration mode: this distinction was necessary to ensure that students are fully aware (and have an option to withdraw) before the start of the semester if there is cross-CRN collaboration.

Combined sites in Dissemination mode are used for disseminating announcements and providing course content only: (a) Don’t use the Email tool since it shows names and email addresses of students in all CRNs, in violation of FERPA. (b) Discussion/Forum groups cannot be formed across CRNs.
Combined sites in Collaboration mode can use the Email tool and other collaborative activities (such as discussions/forums) across CRNs, but need to include in the syllabus, “This course space is being shared by students in the following CRNs [list] and if you do not wish to be in a shared course space, please drop this section and register for another section of this course.”
Submit your request to combine sites by August 18, 2022, if you plan to use the collaboration mode.

Note that in future semesters, you will need to submit a request before the registration begins if your combined sites will operate in the collaboration mode.