Educational Technology Support

Educational Technology

CTL collaborate with individuals, schools or faculties to enhance modules with the integration of technology into teaching practices using a sound pedagogical approach. The CTL team have several Educational Technologists who work with academic staff to explore technology that contribute to enhancing the learning experience of students. Meet the team.

When to contact who:

T&L Technologies Helpdesk:

  • Technical issues with eFundi sites
  • Site participant problems
  • Student complaints
  • Turnitin Support
  • PDF Marker support

Log a help-desk ticket

Educational Technologists:

  • Which eFundi tools will work best for my T&L purpose (communication, assessment, collaboration etc)?
  • I have an idea – what other educatonal technology can work?
  • Adding media in eFundi Lessons
  • Making your eFundi site more student-centered, user-friendly and interactive

Log a request ticket

Learning Design team:

  • Designing and planning assessment
  • Designing and planning eFundi Lessons
  • Optimising your eFundi site for remote teaching
  • Adding banners and graphics to Lessons
  • Making your Lessons more interactive
  • Creating video and multimedia

Log a request ticket

Educational Technology Tools:

PDF Marker Tool

The new PDF marker tool is available: A new PDF marker tool is available enabling lecturers to mark assignments, submitted in PDF format, electronically (on screen). The tool is still under development to improve and extend its functionality, but can already be used for basic marking. This Infographic provides an overview of the steps for using the application. For detailed instructions on downloading, installing and using the tool please view the short video clips below. More information on demonstration webinars will follow soon.

NB: Please take note that this tool is under development. The PDF marking tool can currently only be used with the Assignments tool in eFundi and not Tests and Quizzes.

 

Please take note of the following:

  1. The PDF Marker is still under development
    • This means that the PDF Marker should/must/can only be used with the assignments tool within eFundi.
    • This means that Tests & Quizzes and Groups are not supported yet. Thus, if you use any other tool than assignments, you will experience issues.
    • We humbly request that you only attempt to mark assignments that were set up correctly (more on this below), that was downloaded within the assignments tool.
    • We humbly request that you do not attempt to use the PDF marker with Tests & Quizzes or Groups.
  2. Remember to set your assignments up correctly
    • When setting up your assignment, remember to change the submission type to uploaded PDF file(s) only. This ensures that students won't be able to submit documents in any other format than PDF. This is quite a common mistake, that causes a lot of errors.
    • Secondly, remember to set the Grade Scale to Points.
    • Thirdly, remember to add the maximum points in the box below the grade scale.
  3. We acknowledge your need for the PDF Marker beyond plain assignments. Please take note that we are continuously working on improving your experience. However, the development and testing of the PDF Marker is a resource-intensive and time-consuming process.
  4. We are starting with testing the upcoming version which boasts various new features, as requested by our PDF Marker community! Keep an eye on the announcements for teasers.
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Turnitin

Visit the dedicated Turnitin support page.

MS Teams

MS Teams can be used for synchronous online classes just like Zoom but the advandatge is that there is no time limit and the number of participants alallowed per session is 300. We do not advice you to use MS Teams as a Learning Management System, for example sharing of resources and taking assessments. MS Teams does not replace eFundi. IT does not back-up MS Teams but they do back-up eFundi.

Instructions for lecturers click here.

Instructions for students click here.

Video, mobile scanning and transcript tools

The tools below can help you convert your content for remote teaching. For guidelines on how to rethink your module for the transition to online learning see the CTL contingency support page Keep on Teaching and Learning. Ensuring student access should be central to all your planning. Adhere to the 5 guiding principles: Teaching NWU students online must be eFundi-based, Mobile-friendly, Low Tech, Low Data and Low Immediacy.

Take note: if you click on the icons of the tools it will direct you to a youtube tutorial on how to use the tool. Further tutorials and download/access instructions are included in the descriptions of the tools.

 

Embed self-recorded video and audio on Lessons

View this PDF tutorial or Video tutorial on how to embed self-recorded videos and audio files in Lessons and prevent it from downloading. Quick tip: Do not embed the video/audio. Rather upload it in Resources first and then insert a textbox in Lessons. Copy and paste this code in the Source of the Text editor and replace the placeholder text with your video's URL. Get the video/audio URL in Resources by right-clicking on the video/audio.

 

 

Screen recording tools:

Record screencast video, audio-only, narrated PowerPoint

No Webcam recording

Cannot export one recording in audio-only and video

Resizable screen capture window

No screen annotations

PowerPoint 2016 not only allows you to record your presentation but also any area of your computer screen. These recordings can be saved as separate video files (MP4). Look at the step-by-step tutorial. View these tutorial videos to see how to do a screen recording and an audio recording in PowerPoint 2016.

Record webcam, screencast video, audio-only

Export one recording in audio-only (M4A file) and video (MP4)

No resizable screen capture window

No screen annotations

Zoom can be used to meet with your colleagues online, with or without video. All participants can share their screens and the session can be recorded. You can also use Zoom to record your classes in video and audio-only format. View this tutorial to see how to record a narrated PowerPoint using Zoom. View this tutorial series for the whole process from opening a Zoom account, recording and uploading to eFundi Resources. You also have access to mutiple tutorials created by Zoom. Download Zoom here.


Caution: Depending on the student profile and student access to the internet it is NOT RECOMMENDED to use Zoom for live interaction with students. Zoom is data intensive. Students may not have unlimited access to data. Their WiFi may not be stable.

Record screencast video

No Webcam recording, no audio-only

Cannot export one recording in audio-only and video

Resizable screen capture window

Screen annotations (type, draw)

EZLive allows users to perform screen recordings with annotations. It allows you to draw and type anywhere on your screen. EZLive is ideal for software demonstrations. See a tutorial here. Download EZLive here.

Tool for creating transcripts:

 

 

 

Video editing and compression tool: Windows & IOS

OpenShot is free video editing software that is easy to use, quick to learn, and surprisingly powerful. Use it to combine and edit self-recorded videos, adjust existing open educational videos, and compress videos (reduce the file size). View these tutorials on how to install on PC and MAC. View these tutorial on how to edit on PC and MAC. Download OpenShot here. For more tutorials click here.

Video compression tool: Windows

HandBrake is free software with which you can compress videos (decrease the file size). It is very easy to use. One can for instance decrease a 500mb video file to only 60mb. We have created a tutorial on how to use HandbBrake to decrease the file size of a video. Click here to watch a tutorial on how to use HandBrake, created by one of NWU's lecturers. Get HandBrake here.

Smartphone video compression tool:

Smartphone scanner tool:

DIY Document camera:

Click here to view the tutorial on how to make a document camera with your cellphone and a paper cup.

Tutorials for recording from home:

 

 

Padlet

Padlet offers a basic free account, but that account had limitations - you are limited to only three walls and files you upload are limited to 10MB. That is why the Centre for Teaching & Learning has a Padlet Backpack. CTL can give any NWU lecturer access to use our licence. You can create unlimited walls and your file upload limits areincreased to 250MB per file.

Adding Padlet to your eFundi site:

View or download this PDF tutorial.

Online Educational Technology Tools: A-Z List

Click on the links below to download an information sheet for these tools with descriptions, uses and tutorials. This tool list will be developed contineously.

Adobe Spark

Answer Garden

Flipgrid

Padlet

Panopto

Educational technology spaces per campus:

CTL offers services to support meaningful technology integration that enhance the teaching and learning experience of staff and students. Even though CTL is working hard towards an equal distribution of resources provided, we encourage staff to take up the challenge and work with CTL to find innovative ways to work together despite the differences in availability of resources per campus. Below please find a list of the resources provided by CTL according to campus.

Mahikeng Campus

Potchefstroom Campus

  • One Button Studio (coming soon)

Vanderbijlpark Campus

Educational technology available for checkout per campus:

Booking form for Educational technology

Mahikeng Campus

  • Padcaster
  • 1 x 360 camera
  • 40 x Google Goggles
  • 2 x Aver conference camera 340+
  • 4 x Aver vision U70 conference
  • 4 x Aver vision M70HD.


To book any of the abovementioned equipment click here.

Potchefstroom Campus

  • Padcaster
  • 1 x 360 camera
  • 40 x Google Goggles
  • 10 x Portable Aver Document Camera
  • 15 x Aver conference camera 340+

To book any of the abovementioned equipment click here.

Vanderbijlpark Campus

  • 4 x Video Camera (with tripod)
  • 1 x Logitech Conference Camera
  • 2 x Logitech wireless presenter (clicker)
  • 1 x Equil Smart Marker
  • Mecer Digimemo
  • Mimio (Capture, pad & teach)
  • 1 x 360 camera
  • 40 x Google Goggles
  • 2 x Aver conference camera 340+
  • 4 x Aver vision U70 Document camera
  • 1 x Aver vision U50 Document camera
  • 4 x Aver vision M70HD.

To book any of the abovementioned equipment click here.

 

Meet the team

Educational Technology: eLearning designers

Ms Letshego Harejane
Educational Technologist
018 285 2640
letshego.mabalenwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 115
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Ms Pheliwe Xhalisa
Educational Technologist
016 910 3111
pheliwe.xhalisa@nwu.ac.za
Building A14, Office SL301
Vanderbijlpark Campus

 

Dr Thamie Ndlovu
Educational Technologist
018 389 2441
thamie.ndlovu@nwu.ac.za
Building A3, Office G80
Mahikeng Campus

 

Ms Zingisa Ngwane
Educational Technologist
018 285 2889
zee.ngwane@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 109A
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Educational Technology: eLearning developers

Mr Naldo Oberholzer
Educational Technologist
018 285 2888
naldo.oberholzer@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 101B
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Ms Christelle de Beer
Educational Technologist
018 285 2897
christelle.debeer@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 115
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mrs Tarryn Williams
Educational Technologist
018 285 2898
tarryn.williams@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 109
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Ms Orefile Malebo
Educational Technologist
44582269@nwu.ac.za
Building A14, Office SL301
Vanderbijlpark Campus

 

Ms Kobela Masipa
Educational Technologist
018 285 2888
27497216@nwu.ac.za
Building A3, Block C, Office G04
Mahikeng Campus

 

 

 

Teaching and Learning Technology Helpdesk

Miss Janice (Evangeline) Ballies
T&L Technology Helpdesk Assistant
018 285 2295
22911669@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 107A
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mr Wayne Jansen van Vuuren
T&L Technology Management
016 910 3038
Wayne.jansenvanvuuren@nwu.ac.za
Building A14, Office SL301
Vanderbijlpark Campus

 

Mr Motlhamme (Michael) (Thoriso) Mogapi
T&L Technology Management
018 389 2447
25967878@nwu.ac.za
Building A3, Office G06
Mahikeng Campus

 

Mr Zwelakhe Nyiko Mokoena
T&L Technology Helpdesk Assistant
018 389 2312
Nyiko.Mokoena@nwu.ac.za
Building A3, Office G66
Mahikeng Campus

 

Mrs Grace Selebano
T&L Technology Helpdesk Assistant
018 389 2312
Maki.Selebano@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 107
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mr Shavaan Willemse
Front Desk Assistant
018 299 2123
shavaan.willemse@nwu.ac.za 
Building E8, Office 114
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Technology Resource management

 

Mr Marius de Beer
Education Technologist
018 299 2704
36502375@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 139
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mr Ettienne Jordaan
Resource Assistant
018 299 4242
36502375@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office G32
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mr Teboho (TG) Nyakane
Resource Assistant
016 910 3038
26941465@nwu.ac.za
Building A14, Office SL313
Vanderbijlpark Campus

 

Education Technologists: Development & Projects

Mr Kobus le Roux
Senior Educational Technologist
018 299 2001
kobus.leroux@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 113
Potchefstroom Campus

 

Mrs Elne van Niekerk
Educational Technologist
016 910 3317
elne.vanniekerk@nwu.ac.za
Building A14, Office SL320
Vanderbijlpark Campus

 

Mr Herman van der Westhuizen
Educational Technologist
018 285 2760
herman.VanDerWesthuizen@nwu.ac.za
Building E8, Office 114
Potchefstroom Campus