Collaborating on Blackboard

Blackboard themes

“I have changed the look and feel of Blackboard to make it easier for me to find my way around, read course titles and find documents.  I set it up how I like it and then you can personalise your page (top right of the menus). I chose the forest theme because I found it had quite subtle shades and it was easy to see and use and it wasn’t too stark.  Then you click on submit at the bottom of the page, and it puts it all into place for you. But then I was working with someone who did not like my colours so I used the Internet Options in Internet Explorer to quickly make it easier for her to read content with a blue background.”  (High Contrast mode is also available through the My Places menu on Blackboard)

blue colour background for Blackboard

Sarah – nursing

Opera browser has handy mouse gestures

“I use Opera rather than Internet Explorer to go back a page – right click and a left click, straight one after the other, that makes going back so much easier! Not using Alt / L & R Arrow. I also used Firefox a bit, but Opera is much nicer. You have to do right click followed by left click very quickly!”

” I prefer the layout so much more and the keyboard and mouse shortcuts are so useful. For instance I use right click followed by left click to go back a web page or just the z key.” The YouTube video below illustrates what is possible with mouse gestures.

I find the automatic reloading of a page useful when working on forums which you can customise to however many minutes or seconds you want. Opera also allows you to add your chosen search engines as part of the menu. There is also a function called ‘speed dial’ that provides you with your 4 most important web sites”

Chloe – Psychology

iPhone for organisation image capture, notes and using iCloud

icloud on mobile“I was given an iPhone that I use for calendars, calls, texting with speak selection, camera shots of articles using Image to text and video capturing of lectures.  I use it to organise everything and sync with iCloud so I can view and work online from my desktop as well.  This does not work for videos at the moment – those have to go through iTunes.”

Fiona – Multimedia and Design

iCloud-transfer.com is the site which can provide you with the iCloud tips/tricks, iCloud tutorials, and iCloud resources to help you use iCloud easily

Free iPhone 4 light app for reading

iphone lightI find that when I am trying to read very small sized text the free LED light app can be incredibly useful.  It can act as a torch and also has a flashing option and SOS setting!. Just double tap the touch screen to turn it on providing you are not using VoiceOver – when you have select the icon first and then double tap. The menu items can be read back with voice. The battery drains pretty quickly if the light is used for too long.

Jane – Researcher

iSoton app for bus timetable, campus map and lecture timetable.

soton iPhone app“I use the free university iPhone bus timetable and map app when I am in a hurry and need to find my way about.  It also has my timetable and modules.”

Nicole  – Engineering