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CoLT is dedicated to ensuring our website is accessible to all users, adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0, Level AA). We strive to make our content user-friendly for everyone, including those with disabilities. While we aim for full compliance, some areas may still need improvement due to the dynamic nature of our site. We welcome feedback to help us enhance accessibility. Contact the Learning Technology Team at West College Scotland at learningtech@wcs.ac.uk. Accessibility Policy Committed to your Needs CoLT is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability. We aim to adhere as closely as possible to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0, Level AA), published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). These guidelines explain how to make Web content more accessible for people with disabilities. Conformance with these guidelines will help make the web more user friendly to everyone. Whilst CoLT strive to adhere to the guidelines and standards for accessibility, it is not always possible to do so in all areas of the website and we are currently working to achieve this. Be aware that due to the dynamic nature of the website, minor issues may occasionally occur as it is updated regularly. We are continually seeking out solutions that will bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility. If you have any comments and or suggestions relating to improving the accessibility of our site, please don't hesitate to contact the Learning Technology Team at West College Scotland at learningtech@wcs.ac.uk (email link is also below). Your feedback will help us make improvements. Email the Team Privacy Policy Privacy Policy What information do we collect? The information we collect from you when registering, or as part of an online service is exclusively for the use of West College Scotland. This may include your email address and perhaps your first and last names. Under the Data Protection Act you have the right to request a copy of all personal information we hold for you. Site Statistics We do gather non-personal data regarding site visitors to our website. This is provided to use statistical information on visits to pages, type of browsers being used to view the site, paths taken through the site and other general information. Under no circumstances can this be linked to a particular person. Cookies A "cookie" is a small text file, which helps the server to identify your computer but not the individual. The cookies help us to make your visitor session more personal, and enriching experience. If you wish not to have this facility you are able to disable cookies using that option in your particular browsers settings. Here is an overview of the cookies used by West College Scotland CoLT: Cookie Name - Purpose - Duration - Cookie Type XSRF-TOKEN - Used for security reasons - Session - Essential hs - Used for security reasons - Session - Essential svSession - Used in connection with user login - 2 years - Essential SSR-caching - Used to indicate the system from which the site was rendered -1 minute - Essential _wixCIDX - Used for system monitoring/debugging - 3 months - Essential _wix_browser_sess - Used for system monitoring/debugging - session - Essential consent-policy - Used for cookie banner parameters - 12 months - Essential smSession - Used to identify logged in site members - Session - Essential TS* - Used for security and anti-fraud reasons - Session - Essential bSession - Used for system effectiveness measurement - 30 minutes - Essential fedops.logger.sessionId - Used for stability/effectiveness measurement - 12 months - Essential Google Analytics (_utma, _utmb, _utmc, _utmz) - These cookies are used to collect information about how visitors use our site. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form, including the number of visitors to the site, where visitors have come to the site from and the pages they visited. Disclosure of Information In addition to these safeguards, your personal data is protected in the UK by the Data Protection Act 1998. This provides amongst other things that the data we hold about you should be processed lawfully and fairly. It should be accurate, relevant and not excessive. The information should be kept up to date, where necessary, and not retained for longer than is necessary. It should be kept securely to prevent unauthorised access by other people. Removing subscription to mailing lists If at any time our site contains subscription mailing lists there will always be the option to remove you from the aforementioned list. Normally this, "unsubscribe" option will appear at the bottom of the most recently sent email newsletter. If you don’t want us to process your data anymore, please contact us at learningtech@wcs.ac.uk or send us mail to: West College Scotland, Learning Technology Department, Renfrew Road, Paisley, PA3 4DR. Security West College Scotland is bound by the Data Protection Act 1998 and will comply with its requirements. Any details you give will remain completely confidential. Having gained access to the client’s area, we would strongly recommend that you do not divulge your username or password to anyone. Please always remember to log out of your account and close your browser window when you have finished using them. This ensures that others cannot access your personal data especially when using a shared, or public access computer terminal. Changes to Privacy Policy West College Scotland reserves the right to modify and update the terms and conditions of this website. In continually striving to improve our service for our clients we need to be able to enhance the site in ways deemed appropriate.

Discord This is a communication tool which specialises in text, image, video and audio communication between users in a chat. It combines the features of a chat lobby, a message board and a VoIP chatting. Why use Discord rather than another platform? Discord is particularly popular with gamers and young people so may be more engaging for them. Here’s a useful link on how to set it up as a classroom. Explore and enjoy! If you have difficulties with this, please click on the link below to contact the Digital Strategy Group General - WCS Digital Strategy Group

Skype for Business UPDATE: Microsoft Teams is now the standard communication tool at WCS. Our WCS standard communication tool which enables calls, online meetings, instant messaging, document sharing, voice over, voicemail, file transfers, video conferencing, web conferencing and email. Up to 250 people can join a meeting/class at any one time, although only 6 faces can be seen on the screen at one time. Why use Skype rather than any other platform? Skype is essentially a telecommunications application, all calls are made from your college account and appear to originate from inside the organisation, ideal for calling colleagues or students. Screen share facility allows remote members of meeting to work on same document at the same time. Explore the numerous capabilities of Skype to aid you in your day to day work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_c4zVJ739M enjoy! If you have difficulties with this, please click on the link here to contact General - WCS Digital Strategy Group

Some courses to help your own development Self Development Exceeding Expectations This area is populated with courses and resources that you can use to enhance your digital skills. Evolve Evolve has many courses you can complete for self development. Virtual Bridge Recordings of the Virtual Bridge sessions recorded by College Development Network in partnership with Jisc. They are a series of 30-minute webinars. CoDE Certificate of Digital Excellence. 6 modules, that will ensure teachers and practitioners have an understanding and the skills needed to coach young people to be ready for our technologically-advanced world. BLE Blended Learning Essentials. This program contains essential knowledge for teachers, trainers & managers developing blended learning and prepare learners to succeed. Digital Skills Courses Want to work on your Digital Skills? Get the digital skills you need with these specially designed courses from Accenture. There are 7 free Digital Skills courses on the Future Learn platform. CDN Website Click to view the CDN's series of inspiring blogs from a huge range of key experts. Covering topics including college delivery, digital innovation, and leadership.

Wakelet Wakelet is a free platform that allows you to curate and organize content to save and share. You can save videos, articles, images, Tweets, links or even add your own text. Save this content in your bookmarks, or organize related items in to a collection. Wakelet collections can be embedded into MS Teams and Moodle. Wakelet can be used to create lessons plans, share resources with students and colleagues, collaborate on group projects and much more. Access Wakelet Platform and Guides Wakelet Platform Click to access the Wakelet platform Wakelet Help Guide Click to view our wakelet help guide.

Free Image Websites Creative Commons We have gathered together websites that have free creative commons licenses. This means that you can use them free of charge in your Learning Content. Even when they are royalty free it is best practice to still credit the image when appropriate, e.g. when you are using them in your Moodle course. Below are links to some of our favorite resources we like to use, for a full and comprehensive list of Free creative commons resources visit: "The Monster List" of Free photo sites" Photo credit: Pixabay UnSplash Pixabay Pexels morguefile Free Images RGB Stock hautestock Raw Pixel Free Pik The Noun Project Adobe Free Stock Microsoft Iwaria Monster list of all free Image sites Nappy Wocintechat ukblacktech affecttheverb Help us help everyone Please contact the learning tech team if you find good sources First Name Last Name Email Send Thanks for submitting!

Moodle and Microsoft Teams: The Perfect Fit for Your Educational Journey! Education in the digital age has witnessed a remarkable transformation, with virtual learning environments becoming increasingly prevalent. Moodle and Microsoft Teams are two widely used platforms that have revolutionised online education by providing educators and learners with powerful tools to facilitate remote teaching and learning experiences. At West College Scotland we have chosen to use both platforms, with Moodle being our primary Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). To further enhance the educations process, it is essential to explore the diverse range of educational tools available within these platforms. To assist with this, we have created a comprehensive overview of educational tools that can be utilised in Moodle and Microsoft Teams, in the form of a wheel diagram. The wheel is categorised into Laurillard's six learning types: Acquisition, Collaboration, Discussion, Investigation, Practice, and Production. It details which tools or activities facilitate each of the learning types and which are best suited to either Moodle or Teams. This also helps to ensure consistency and equity for all our students. By visualising the capabilities of each platform across these categories, educators and learners gain a holistic understanding of the tools at their disposal, enabling them to make informed decisions on how to best utilise them to enhance their educational journey. For each category, the inner wheel below highlights a range of Moodle tools, activities, and resources, while the outer wheel specifically outlines the tools and activities best suited for use within Microsoft Teams. Click on the image to open in popup and magnify. Moodle, our primary VLE, offers a robust set of features and plugins designed to support various educational activities. From content creation and organisation to assessments and collaborative learning, Moodle provides a flexible and customisable environment for educators to engage students in a virtual setting. Microsoft Teams, a collaborative communication platform, empowers educators and learners with a rich array of tools to foster seamless interaction and engagement. With its focus on real-time collaboration, Microsoft Teams provides features such as chat, virtual meetings, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft applications. By visually comparing the tools available in Moodle and Microsoft Teams across the six categories, this wheel diagram aims to assist educators in making informed decisions about which platform to use based on their specific educational goals. Whether it's creating and sharing content, facilitating group projects, encouraging active discussions, conducting research, practicing skills, or showcasing student work, this diagram provides educators with a valuable resource to explore and select the most suitable tools for their teaching objectives. As the digital landscape continues to shape the future of education, understanding and utilising the educational tools within platforms like Moodle and Microsoft Teams becomes crucial for effective virtual teaching and learning. This wheel diagram serves as a comprehensive guide for educators, highlighting the diverse range of tools available in Moodle and Microsoft Teams. It empowers educators to create engaging and interactive educational experiences in an online environment that encompass the entire educational process, from content creation to student participation and assessment.

CoLT (Centre of Learning Technologies) is the dedicated support site for staff and students at West College Scotland, a leading further education college in the west of Scotland. Our platform provides comprehensive resources and assistance to enhance learning through technology. Welcome to the WCS Centre of Learning Technologies website - CoLT - designed to support all aspects of learning technologies, including working and teaching online. Why not start by viewing our News, Hints, Tips blog ? Sign up with your WCS Office 365 account to get new posts sent straight to your inbox so you don't miss out on training, support and much more. Use the menu and search bar to discover tools that will help you enhance your digital skills - and, for staff, support your students' learning! Check out the MS Teams area under Office 365 for all things Teams-related. If you would like to contribute a blog post or share examples of best practice, please don't hesitate to contact us at learningtech@wcs.ac.uk . Have questions? - see our FAQs Search the Library An easy way to search across the wide range of resources available from your campus libraries. Sign in below with your usual Office 365 login. Contact library staff with any access issues. Library_Search Boost Your Productivity: Top Office 365 Tips for Students Introducing the WCS Digital Toolkit: Enhance Your Assessment Strategies Supercharge Your Moodle Courses with Exciting New H5P Resources Designing appropriate assessments - Future Teacher free webinar - Thurs 28th Sept (13:00 - 14:00) Revolutionising Education: Embracing the Power of Artificial Intelligence and Authentic Assessment Resources for creating accessible content Socrative: Interactive Quizzes and Surveys Coming soon for Moodle 4 - Ally Accessibility Toolkit! New features and improvements to question banks in Moodle Recent Blog Posts Contact Us learningtech@wcs.ac.uk

OneNote from Microsoft using Office 365 OneNote Your digital notebook Your world, organized Get organized in notebooks you can divide into sections and pages. With easy navigation and search, you’ll always find your notes right where you left them. Gather your thoughts, then make them even better Revise your notes with type, highlighting, or ink annotations. With OneNote across all your devices, you’ll never miss a flash of inspiration. Share and collaborate Great minds don’t always think alike, but they can share ideas and create together in OneNote. OneNote Guides Get Started Take Notes Format Notes Draw and sketch Stay organized Share and sync All Guides OneNote All Categories Play Video Play Video 07:21 Microsoft OneNote: How to search and tag action items Microsoft OneNote: Basics and beyond. Part 3: Search and Tag Action Items. This is the third video in a 6-part series brought to you direct from Microsoft IT. Join Microsoft OneNote Senior Trainer, Brian, as he explains the OneNote searching and tagging functions, as well as adding additional content. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/itshowcase Play Video Play Video 01:20 OneNote Tips: Learn how to draw A quick and easy guide on how to draw in Microsoft OneNote Play Video Play Video 06:04 Microsoft OneNote: how to organizing your Notebook Microsoft OneNote: Basics and beyond. Part 2: Organizing your Notebook. This is the second video in a 6-part series brought to you direct from Microsoft IT. Join Microsoft OneNote Senior Trainer, Brian, as he recommends how to organize the content within your OneNote notebook. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/itshowcase

DLS: Our Online Learning Platform Link to DLS VLE Access the Online Learning Platform for West College Scotland online learning students: DLS. Online Learning Course List Access the course directory for Online Learning with West College Scotland. Frequently Asked Questions Access the FAQs for Online Learning on our virtual learning environment (VLE), DLS. Online Learning have 3 different types of courses – Introductory Courses (Moodle), Short Online courses and Qualification courses which are certificated by awarding bodies. DLS is West College Scotland's Online Learning VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). For twenty years, West College Scotland has pioneered Online/Distance Learning in Scottish education. A wide range of courses is offered which can be studied in a way which suits the learner. It is also the platform that lecturers can utilize when the provision of their course runs outwith 'traditional' term times. Qualification courses and Short auto marked courses can also be utilised by lecturers as an enhancement or additional learning resources. Online Learning have access to a range of resources via partners that are currently not in use for Online Learning purposes. For help and guidance, please first check the DLS | Frequently Asked Questions . If your query is not resolved, please contact the Online Learning Team via the Online Learning Contact Form .