Students taking courses at Portage College will have the opportunity to experience a variety of learning technologies and delivery methods. Portage College is able to support programming across its service region and beyond with the integration of learning technologies into traditional teaching and learning practices. Utilization of learning technology creates opportunities for increased flexibility and enhancement of learning, while capitalizing on the College's strengths of instructor-student relationships and personal learning supports.
Learning technologies at Portage College:
Technologies supporting course delivery at Portage College:
MOODLE:
Moodle is a learning management software that offers an online environment for instructors and students to interact with one-another and with the learning content and resources. Students and instructors communicate using text based web-conferencing. Instruction, content and resources are available in a variety of web based formats, and students can complete, submit and track their assignments and access their grades. Moodle courses are typically scheduled as a paced course of study accessible to students through the Internet 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. Moodle is also used to support face to face classroom courses.
Elluminate:
Students use computers and the Internet to connect online with their instructor and classmates during scheduled (real time) classes. Elluminate supports student and instructor interaction using computer based audio and text communication, along with an electronic whiteboard. Elluminate classes are often recorded so that students may return to them for review. All Portage College Elluminate courses also have a MOODLE companion site to support 24x7 access to course information and resources.
Video Conferencing (VC):
Video systems are used to connect the instructor with students at two or more locations. Students attend regularly scheduled VC classes on-campus, in designated VC classrooms. They can see, hear and speak to their instructor and other classmates. All Portage College VC courses also have a MOODLE companion site to support 24x7 access to course information and resources.
Correspondence and Web-based Resources:
Some of our programs combine text-based correspondence course work and web-based resources from other partner educational organizations with tutorial support from our College faculty. Typically students will have modules of course work that they progress through under the guidance of tutors in scheduled on-campus classrooms with other students.
For more information on the technologies we use at Portage College go to:
http://moodle.portagecollege.ca and select Getting Started with Moodle. Here you will learn about the features of Moodle and what it is like to use Moodle, Elluminate, and Video Conferencing in your courses. All students registered in courses using these technologies will be provided a student orientation.
Helpful information for students taking technology mediated courses:
Moodle: Students require access to a computer with an internet connection. All of our Portage College campuses provide student computer workstations equipped to take on-line courses. A good working knowledge of word processing, file management (saving your work), internet navigation, and email communications will help in managing courses delivered, or supported using Moodle.
Elluminate: Students require access to a computer with an internet connection. Students will also need a headset with a microphone to communicate through Elluminate. The same types of computer skills used for Moodle are required for using Elluminate.
The biggest challenge many students have in using these technologies is in managing their communications and learning how to get the most from these courses. This requires an assertive and active approach to participation. It means checking in regularly to the communication forums, making sure questions are typed or asked, tracking all new information that is being shared and taking the time to fully learn the navigation and orientation of the technology and information in the courses.
When taking courses utilizing video conferencing systems, this same assertive approach will help to create a dynamic and interactive learning environment. Students are often 'camera shy' and are encouraged to help make the cameras invisible by responding and participating as they would in a regular face-to-face class.
Please check with the Registrar's Office at 780-623-5580 for the most up-to-date information on delivery methods for your program of interest.
