CLOUD DEAKIN
CloudDeakin is an online e-learning tool. Below you will find the services it provides and
give brief instructions how to use it. In the last point it will explain why
CloudDeakin is an important part of Information Communications Technology (ICT)
for university students.
CloudDeakin is a type of learning management system that allows Deakin students to improve their studies in a quick and efficient way. ‘It incorporates a range of spaces and tools to enable interactive and engaging learning’ (Deakin University 2014). The tools available on CloudDeakin supports students in an achieving their work in a practical and convenient manner. Deakin has provided students with a new easily accessible way of learning that enhances their learning experience.
Instructions for Using CloudDeakin
Login
For students to login go into the tab under current students on the Deakin website and type in their user name and password. CloudDeakin will then process the student’s information and automatically log them in. It will bring them to the home page of CloudDeakin.
Communication
Communicating with tutors, lecturers and students is made relatively simple in CloudDeakin. Students can either go into the mail tab which will take them into the Deakin mail, where they can ask their unit’s chairs and lecturers more detailed question. Students can also go into their unit, from there they can go into Collaborate and click on Discussions. The student can then pick a topic and choose to make a new thread or comment on an old thread.
Assessments
Information on assignments can be located under the Resource tab for the students unit. Grades and quizzes can be found under the Assessment tab as well. To find detailed information on assessments go under Resources and click on Assessments. For students to submit assignments they can click on the Assessment tab and go to assignments, choose the correct assignment and then upload it before clicking submit. Students can also check their assignments for originality with Turnitin by finding it under the report column of the submission history page.
Video & Audio
To listen or watch lectures from home students can access them under EchoSystem which can be found under Resources and then if they go into Lectures, it is below the slides. The EchoSystem tool has a variety of streaming formats from students to choose from. Students can also access DeakinAir which allows them to easily view videos that are related to their studies, and can also share videos with their lecturers. To access DeakinAir click on the link http://air.deakin.edu.au/public/.
Social Tools
Students can create a blog on CloudDeakin by clicking Blog under the More tab, and there are options whether to reply to others or to create your own. Drupal allows students to create a profile and contribute to discussions, to access Drupal click on the unit name under My Sites widget, and then click on the link for Drupal. Students can share and create files on the web collectively by using MediaWiki, which they can find on homepage of DeakinCloud. Click on the unit under My Sites widget then go to the link for Wiki.
Online Folder
Under the tab Portfolio, there are various tools that students can use to help set up an online space to keep assignments. Under Portfolio students can find the Dashboard which is the central place to organise all their information. The Explore tool allows students to see what information has been shared to them. To see all their information in one area, students can click on My Items. The tool Sharing Groups allows students to save groups or other students so they can use them for other work. To export or import items to other portfolios simply click on the Actions button under My Items, then select import/export.
Because CloudDeakin is online based learning it is able to give students a vast amount of information in an organised easily accessible place. Moses said the internet provides a vast amount of information to its users (2014). CloudDeakin allows students to be versatile with their studying making it possible to study any time or place. CloudDeakin has been specifically designed for university education, and provides many useful tools to help improve student’s study.
CloudDeakin is a type of learning management system that allows Deakin students to improve their studies in a quick and efficient way. ‘It incorporates a range of spaces and tools to enable interactive and engaging learning’ (Deakin University 2014). The tools available on CloudDeakin supports students in an achieving their work in a practical and convenient manner. Deakin has provided students with a new easily accessible way of learning that enhances their learning experience.
Instructions for Using CloudDeakin
Login
For students to login go into the tab under current students on the Deakin website and type in their user name and password. CloudDeakin will then process the student’s information and automatically log them in. It will bring them to the home page of CloudDeakin.
Communication
Communicating with tutors, lecturers and students is made relatively simple in CloudDeakin. Students can either go into the mail tab which will take them into the Deakin mail, where they can ask their unit’s chairs and lecturers more detailed question. Students can also go into their unit, from there they can go into Collaborate and click on Discussions. The student can then pick a topic and choose to make a new thread or comment on an old thread.
Assessments
Information on assignments can be located under the Resource tab for the students unit. Grades and quizzes can be found under the Assessment tab as well. To find detailed information on assessments go under Resources and click on Assessments. For students to submit assignments they can click on the Assessment tab and go to assignments, choose the correct assignment and then upload it before clicking submit. Students can also check their assignments for originality with Turnitin by finding it under the report column of the submission history page.
Video & Audio
To listen or watch lectures from home students can access them under EchoSystem which can be found under Resources and then if they go into Lectures, it is below the slides. The EchoSystem tool has a variety of streaming formats from students to choose from. Students can also access DeakinAir which allows them to easily view videos that are related to their studies, and can also share videos with their lecturers. To access DeakinAir click on the link http://air.deakin.edu.au/public/.
Social Tools
Students can create a blog on CloudDeakin by clicking Blog under the More tab, and there are options whether to reply to others or to create your own. Drupal allows students to create a profile and contribute to discussions, to access Drupal click on the unit name under My Sites widget, and then click on the link for Drupal. Students can share and create files on the web collectively by using MediaWiki, which they can find on homepage of DeakinCloud. Click on the unit under My Sites widget then go to the link for Wiki.
Online Folder
Under the tab Portfolio, there are various tools that students can use to help set up an online space to keep assignments. Under Portfolio students can find the Dashboard which is the central place to organise all their information. The Explore tool allows students to see what information has been shared to them. To see all their information in one area, students can click on My Items. The tool Sharing Groups allows students to save groups or other students so they can use them for other work. To export or import items to other portfolios simply click on the Actions button under My Items, then select import/export.
Because CloudDeakin is online based learning it is able to give students a vast amount of information in an organised easily accessible place. Moses said the internet provides a vast amount of information to its users (2014). CloudDeakin allows students to be versatile with their studying making it possible to study any time or place. CloudDeakin has been specifically designed for university education, and provides many useful tools to help improve student’s study.