MyLO includes a powerful tool known as Quicklinks. This tool allows you to link to a range of items inside and outside of your MyLO site. You can use this tool to create links pretty much anywhere in MyLO including Announcements; Descriptions of Modules and Items;  HTML Pages; Discussion posts; and feedback in Assignment Submission Folders, Rubrics and Quizzes.

As a general rule, if you can see this icon when creating or editing something, you can use the Quicklinks tool!

In this post, we show you how to insert a Quicklink. including how to choose linking options, in five (5) steps. We then provide a summary of the types of items you can link to, and the best target behaviour to use with each item type. 

How to insert a Quicklink and choose your linking options

Step 1

When editing an item in MyLO, place your cursor where you would like the link to appear.

Step 2

Select the Quicklinks tool. It should appear towards the top left of the editing window and will be the third icon from the left hand side.

Step 3

The Insert Quicklink window will open. Select the type of item you wish to insert a link to (for example, here we have selected Content).

Step 4

Work your way through until you have found the item you wish to link to. Select the pencil icon to the left of the item.  This allows you to insert a meaningful link text, and control the target behaviour of your link. If you’ve gone too far, use the left-facing arrow symbol (within the Insert Quicklink window) to go back as many times as needed until you reach your preferred option, or press the Cancel button to start again.

NOTE: You cannot select a specific tool or a Content Module to link to. You can only link to  items within Tools or Modules. For example, you cannot link to the Assignment Submissions Folder tool, but you can link to an Assignment Submission Folder within the tool.

Step 5

You should now see two options. You can change the default Title text (usually the name of the item) so that it is more meaningful to students. To do this, simply replace the text in the Title field. You can also change the Target. By default, this will be Same Frame. However, we have found that this target behaviour does not work well with many item types. To see if you should change the Target behaviour for a Quicklink, refer to the table towards the end of this page.

TIP: If using the New Window Target behaviour, include the following phrase at the end of your link Title so students know what will happen when they click on the link: (opens in new window). For example: Access the Week 1 Checklist here (opens in new window).

Once you have chosen your options, select the Insert button. Your Quicklink should now appear in the editing window. Continue to edit as normal and don’t forget to Save your work regularly!

Item types and target behaviours

Please note that we have excluded some Quicklinks options as they do not function effectively or are rarely used at UTAS.

Item Type	Recommended Target Behaviour	Notes
Assignments	Whole Window	Link directly to an Assignment Submission Folder.
Calendar	Whole Window	Link to a Calendar item.
Chat	Whole Window	Link to a Chat room. If you haven’t already created a room, you will have the option to Create New Chat.
Checklist	Whole Window/New Window	Link to an existing Checklist, or create a new one by selecting Create New Checklist. It can be useful to open a Checklist in a new window if students need to work through the Checklist whilst completing other activities on the MyLO page where you placed the link.
Content	Same Frame	Allows you to link to items seen in Modules in Content. Note that you cannot link directly to a Module (folder) using this tool. Some staff find it easier to have a Materials module that they upload class materials to (e.g. Powerpoint Presentations and PDFs). They then use the Content Quicklink, rather than uploading files ad-hoc via the Unit Files Quicklink tool.
Discussions	Whole Window	Allows you to link to Forums (best when you have several Group Topics in the one Forum) or individual Topics.To link to a Forum, locate the Forum, and select it. You will see the Forum name, along with all the Topics included in the Forum. Select the small + icon that appears to the right of the Forum name. You cannot link to a thread using this method, though that is possible using the Url Quicklink option.
External Learning Tools > MyMedia Recordings (ALP)	Whole Window	Creates a link to your Echo360 Section, or to an individual recording in your section (Class). Once the Quicklink is created, you will need to save/preview your item, so that you can follow the link that you have created. You will then need to select the Section/Class you wish to link to take students to. Further instructions are available here for linking to a Section, or here for linking to a single recording (Class).
External Learning Tools > MyMedia Recordings (ALP)	Same Frame	Web Conferencing – creates a link to the Web Conferencing tool, so students can then launch the 24-7 room (by selecting the Join Room) or a session (by selecting the session name).
Quizzes	Whole Window	Note that students will receive an error message if they try to follow this link before the Start Date or after the End Date has been reached. You may like to mention this in the link text. For example: Please note that you will receive an error message if you try to access the Quiz before DATE/TIME or after DATE/TIME)
Surveys	Whole Window/New Window	If students have already completed the maximum number of attempts, they will see a message saying they have no more attempts left.
Unit File	New Window	Allows you to select a file from the Manage Files tool (if you have already uploaded the file to MyLO) OR to upload a file from your computer. Uploading a file from your computer via this Quicklink tool will NOT allow you to choose a Target behaviour. We have found this problematic in some cases. You may find it easier to upload files to Manage FIles before linking to them. Alternatively, upload them to a Module (folder) in Content, and link to them using the Content Quicklink.
Url	New Window	Allows you to link to a web address (URL). This is typically used to send students to a website outside of MyLO.
Equella Select or Add Item	No choice	Allows you to create and link to a new item in the university’s Digital Copyright Management System, known as Equella. You can also link to existing items. This system is generally used to house student readings (like PDFs of a chapter from a book or an article) that are not already available via the UTAS Library.
Web Conferencing	N/A	DO NOT USE: Use External Learning Tools option instead.

What does it do?

Web comferencing allows staff and students to meet in real time in a virtual (online) space. During a session, participants can use text based chat, audio chat and/or video to communicate. An electronic whiteboard allows for the sharing and live annotation of PowerPoint presentations (though video and animations embedded in PowerPoint presentations will not work). When participant internet connections are reliable, live presentations of your computer screen can also be shared, allowing you to show students through a website, demonstrate the use of an Excel spreadsheet, annotate a Word document and so forth. The moderator of a session has  some control over what the participants of the room are able to do with the available tools. The moderator is also able to record all or part of a session for later viewing. You can even invite an external presenter to join the session, even if they are not a UTAS staff member or student.

At present, the Web conferencing tool used at UTAS is Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (often referred to as Ultra). Ultra works on Mac and PC, and mobile devices (when the free Blackboard Student app is installed). Skype for Business is sometimes  used, but this tends to be reserved for meetings between UTAS staff.

Useful terminology

• Room: an online space dedicated to your unit. The room is available anytime whilst the unit is active. Many staff refer to this room as a web room to help students differentiate between synchronous face-to-face activity, and synchronous online activity.
• Session: the term used to describe the activity that occurs in a room when the moderator and participants meet together. By default, your unit will have its own room. You can pre-book sessions to take place between set dates and times. These occur in addition to your unit room.
• Moderator: the person/people in control of permissions and functionality in the room. Moderators can remove other participants, control which tools participants can use, change the role of participants (to presenters or moderators), share materials via the room whiteboard and start a recording.
• Presenter: has the same permissions as a  participant, but has the ability to share items on the room whiteboard.
• Participant: any person participating in a session that does not have the permissions of a moderator or a presenter.

What is Web conferencing best for?

• Real-time meetings between distributed learners.
• Virtual tutorials, workshops or lectures where interactivity between participants and/or moderator is desired. If a session is more for ‘show and tell’, a video recording is often more suitable than a web conference.
• Student meeting rooms to help support collaborative group work between students.
• Drop-in information sessions, or Q&A sessions about forthcoming assessment tasks.
• Guest lectures, where you would like the guest presenter to respond to student queries (these can be easier to run in a web conferencing setting than in a physical lecture theatre).

Capabilities and tools

A summary of the tools available in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is available here (opens in new window).

There are a variety of online tools and software applications that you can use to help students create or perform items for assessment, and submit online. Here, we  review some of the tools supported by UTAS.

Are you using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra to run online classes (workshops, tutorials, webinars etc)?

The way you (and students) access the recordings of your sessions will depend on the way you set up the Online Room. If you ordered a room through the MyLO Support Team (usually via a form you fill out online), you would have received a Participant’s link to send through to your students. Once your recordings are processed, you should receive a further email containing a link to your recording. You can then make this link available to students on MyLO, via a link in a folder (module) in Content or a link in a News Item. 

Most staff create their Online Rooms from inside of MyLO. You’ll know that your room was created inside of MyLO if the link to it is marked with a symbol like this:

If so, follow the instructions in the video below to obtain a recording link to share with your students. Alternatively, you can view the video on YouTube.

We have had some reports of students experiencing difficulty accessing Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Online Rooms. When some students go to MyLO and try to click on the Join Room link, or a session link, they are prompted to enter a username and password (not their UTAS username and password), and thus have difficulty accessing the room.

This may happen because:

• the student did not wait for the room to load and clicked the back button on their browser to try to return to MyLO; or
• the student is using a mobile device and has not installed the free Bb Student app.
• the student is using the Safari browser (on an iOS device like a Mac computer, tablet or smart phone) and the browser is blocking cookies.

Student did not wait for the room to load and clicked the back button (resulting in a prompt for a username and password): Solution

If the student clicks the back button on their browser before a room loads, they should close the browser tab with the username and password prompt. This should return them to MyLO, where they can click the link to the room again and, this time, wait a few seconds for the room to load. This may mean watching a black screen for up to 20-30 seconds or so, depending on connection speed.

Student is using a mobile device and has not installed the Bb Student app: Solution

To use Blackboard Collaborate Ultra on a mobile device, the device must have the Bb Student app installed. The app can be downloaded for free from iTunes (iOS devices), Google Play (Android devices) or Microsoft stores.

Once installed, students should navigate to the link you have provided in MyLO. They be prompted to enter a school’s name. Instead of choosing a school, they should click on the link that says Join Collaborate without signing in. They should then be able to type their name and click Join to join the session.

Student is using Safari browser: Solution

Essentially, the default browser setting block communication between MyLO and Blackboard Collaborate. Thus, the student is not recognised and cannot get in. There are, however, work-a-rounds.

• The student should use Google Chrome browser (opens in new window) (which will work on Mac and iOS devices). This is the browser recommended by UTAS and it is free.
• If the student must use Safari, they can trying adjusting the security settings for their Safari browser by changing the security level under Block Cookies to Always allow.
• As a back up plan, you can provide a direct link to students that ‘bypasses’ the MyLO > Blackboard Collaborate communication process. Students will not have to log in, but they will need to enter their name when prompted. This name they enter  is collected so that others can identify them when they enter the room. The video below will show you how to access this link (if you would like to view the video in full screen, view it on YouTube here). You can then email it to students experiencing difficulties or Quicklink to it in MyLO.

Recently, some staff have reported difficulty joining an Online Room or viewing a recording from the Online Room Archive.

Issue

When using Google Chrome, you try to join an Online Room or Archive (recording). A new window or tab opens showing the usual Blackboard Collaborate page, but nothing seems to happen after that. No obvious warnings appear.

Cause

Google Chrome blocks pop-ups that ask your permission to download the essential .jnlp file needed to launch and use an Online Room.  Unfortunately, the browser does not make it obvious that it has blocked the pop-ups, making it appear as though the launch process has frozen.

Solution

1. Launch the Google Chrome browser.
2. Navigate to your Online Room and click on the Join button.
3. A new browser tab or window will open. Look up in the top right corner of the browser window, towards the very end of the address bar where the page URL appears. You should see an icon that looks like this
4. Click once on the icon to see a list of options. Select the Always allow pop-ups from mylo.utas.edu.au then click on the Done button.
5. In MyLO, try clicking on Join or click on the archive (recording) link again. Your Online Room or recording should launch this time.

Presentations are a common form of assessment for group and individual assessment tasks. Presentations are usually delivered during face to face tutorials. How can we ‘translate’ the task of delivering a presentation into something that is feasible for distance students? Here are three possible solutions.

Presentations during online sessions

If you have a relatively small cohort of distance students, it may be possible to arrange a presentation session, or sessions, during which students can ‘present’ to you and/or the rest of the class. It is also possible for students to meet online and record their own session, and submit the recording for assessment.

Setting up

1. Set up sessions in Blackboard Collaborate (Web Conferencing) for your presentation session, or sessions.
2. You may wish to get students to register for a particular presentation time. This can be achieved using the MyLO Groups tool. For more information, please contact the TSBE Flexible Education Team.
3. If you want to mark this form of presentation in MyLO, you could ask students to submit their slides to an Assignment Submission Folder and associate it with a Grade Item. Alternatively, you could create a standalone Grade Item and record the marks directly into it. For advice about setting up a standalone Grade Item, please contact the TSBE Flexible Education Team.

Considerations

• It can be difficult to find a mutually convenient time for distance students to present. If it is not possible for groups of students to meet online with you, an alternative method of presentation may be required.
• It is possible for students to meet in their own Online Session as moderators and record a presentation. It is not currently possible to ‘lock’ this room to a specific group – but naming the session accurately should be enough.
• A link to the recording can then be submitted to a Assignment Submission Folder for assessment. However, students will need practice and guidance for this method to be a success. If you are considering using this method, please contact the TSBE Flexible Education Team for advice.
• Practice makes perfect – give students access to a room as Moderators so that they can practice setting up and using their microphone, uploading slides and so forth. You could set up a room for a group of distance students for the purpose of assignment preparation.
• Have a plan for the session: you may still need to act as Head Moderator, wrapping up overtime presentations, prompting students to ask questions, introducing presenters and so on.
• Recording the session will allow you to review student presentations. This could be very useful for marking and review purposes.
• If your session occurs after hours (after 6pm), the IT Service Desk will not be available to assist you or your students.
• You (and your students) may feel more comfortable using other common tools like Skype for presentation sessions. Skype can record presentations however testing to ensure the settings are correct for recording audio is essential.

Recording a video and submitting the file to an Assignment Submission Folder

If you are happy for students to present without slide content, you could ask them to record a video of themselves and submit the video file to the Assignment area for assessment. Note that this method is suited to individual presentations, not group presentations.

Setting up

1. Link to this document from your Assignment, and/or Assessment folder (in Content) and/or in a News item. The document provides advice to students about appropriate video file formats, in addition to information about submitting a video file to an Assignment Submission Folder.
2. Set up an Assignment area and associate it with a Grade Item.

Considerations

• Students will usually have access to some form of device with video recording capability: smart phones; tablets, webcams and most digital cameras can all be used for recording purposes. However, students may not have the technical know-how when it comes to using these devices to record video. Due to the plethora of devices and video apps on the market, there is no single solution or ‘lock-step’ approach to video that is guaranteed to work for all students.
• The only thing students should need to worry about, aside from the quality of their presentation, is the video file format and whether they are visible and audible in their video. Emphasising a need for perfect video techniques may prompt some students to waste countless hours trying to edit out every “um” and “ahh”. Remember: you are not assessing them on their video editing skills – you are assessing them on their general communication skills.
• File format and size can be an issue when uploading to an Assignment Folder. Some students may experience significant delays or time-outs during the upload process. In cases where students experience genuine difficulties uploading video files (e.g. their connection times out), advise them to support their video with some form of written document, for example, an overview of the main points of their presentation. They can upload it to the submission folder along with their video file. The written document can be processed through Turnitin (this feature is turned on when you set up the folder) and associated with a Grade Item, meaning you can use GradeMark to provide feedback on the whole assignment.
• Some students may experience time-outs when they try to submit to the MyLO assignment folder. If so, an alternative submission method may be required. For example, your students could upload their file to YouTube (free for a video of up to 20 minutes duration), or put the file up to a Dropbox or Google Drive account (free). They can then submit the link to the video to you for assessment. They would need to place this in the Assignment Submission Folder comment area.
• Set a submission date during the week, not over the weekend. That way, students can contact the IT Service Desk if they encounter difficulties uploading their work.
• It is difficult (and near impossible without special tools) for students to record both footage of themselves AND a presentation (e.g. PowerPoint) in a video. Consider what is more important: seeing the student, or seeing the presentation? If seeing the presentation is more useful, consider the next option.

Recording audio in a PowerPoint presentation and submitting the file to the Assignment Folder

Recent releases of Microsoft’s PowerPoint have included the ability to record audio with a microphone. The tool is known as Record Slide Show and it can be found in the Slideshow ribbon, as seen below. The resulting PowerPoint file can be uploaded to the Assignment Folder for assessment. It is also possible for students to record audio to slides individually.

Setting up

1. Consider providing students with a link to helpful information about including audio in a PowerPoint, like this tutorial from Microsoft.
2. Set up an Assignment Folder and associate it with a Grade Item.

Considerations

• Turnitin cannot interpret PowerPoint slides. If you wish to use Grademark to add comments to a student’s work, consider asking the student to submit a PDF of their presentation, along with the presentation itself. The PDF file can be processed by Turnitin, allowing Grademark to also be used as well. To save their presentation as a PDF in PowerPoint, students will need to go to File > Save As Adobe PDF.
• Not all students will have access to MS PowerPoint at home. What will you do if they don’t have access to PowerPoint? Is there an alternative that they can use (e.g. submission of a video).
• A microphone is required to record the student’s voice. The microphone could be in the form of a headset, an external webcam (which usually include a microphone), or an inbuilt microphone.
• PowerPoint files with embedded audio can get quite big, so some students may experience difficulties uploading their files to an Assignment Folder.
• When you go to mark the presentation, you will need to open the file in PowerPoint. You may need to click on an Enable Editing button first. Select the Slide Show ribbon, then choose the From beginning option to launch the presentation.

Many Unit Coordinators include a group-related activity in their suite of assessment tasks. Presentations are a common form of assessment task for groups, but how can off-campus students get together to plan and record a group presentation, or simply just meet as a group?

Using the UTAS web conferencing platform, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (from hereon referred to as Ultra), students can meet online in a dedicated session and record a single meeting, or hold a sequence of meetings. They can even upload PowerPoint slides and deliver a presentation. The resulting recording can be shared with the class (via a MyLO Discussion) or submitted directly to an Assignment Submission Folder for assessment, along with any relevant documentation like meeting minutes or PowerPoint slides.

For further information about supporting group collaboration and assessment with web conferencing, please contact your college or faculty support team.