There have been a lot of changes to our services, to the point that listing them all might be overwhelming, so I am listing only the top five or fewer changes in each of the applications.  A full list will be in our user documentation if you want more detail.

The LTG staff has been very busy for the last eleven months modifying and updating the LUVLE tools to make the learning, teaching and assessment tasks easier for you.  Many of you have been involved in the beta test of LUVLE 9 throughout the year in which you reviewed the features, look and feel, gave us your feedback, and we made the changes.  Thanks for your input! You can now see this all come together in the release of LUVLE 10!

LUVLE

1. Has a new look and feel that is more consistent across major features and tools and easier to use.  For example, it is easier to change the admin options for each document as it is uploaded.
2. Changes the way that discussions and resources are managed and lets you determine how to display this information.  For example, resources are now placed in a proper folder structure, allowing you to cut and paste a group of resources from one folder to another.
3. Was completely re-written in a different programming architecture (CSS and Java Server Faces), making it easier to use with other modern applications and enabling the possibility of sending it to mobile devices.  For example, announcements of changes to your LUVLE Spaces are normally sent via email to your students; we could, after endorsement from the various teaching committees, alternatively deliver the first 150 characters of these changes by RSS or by an Applet directly to higher-end Android mobile phones (see the list of Android phones).
4. The new architecture should speed up server access throughout LUVLE.

MyModules

1. By popular demand, students can now look at their module LUVLE Spaces from the previous academic year, all organised under the 2009-10 Tab.  If desired, staff can, as always, hide individually selected materials from their students or remove all access to students.
2. Enables the flow of information from LUVLE to LUSI.  For example, students can update their mobile phone number in LUVLE and have it stored in LUSI.
3. Has a new, cleaner look which aggregates popular student links and resources (mostly identified in the 2010 Student eLearning Survey) under Modules (including the Archived LUVLE Spaces, LUSU Essay Bank, and Past Papers from Registry); What’s On (including ISS Message of the Day, LUSU Notifications, LU News, Careers Events, and Weather Conditions); Links (added four more links to university services, with more planned); and About Me (including official photo, and Student Web Services).  

LUVLE Spaces

1. Threaded discussions are now displayed in a more hierarchical fashion and you have the option to choose how you want them displayed.
2. The expanded Coursework Submission tool incorporates regular coursework, anonymous marking, and Turnitin (anti-plagiarism) options.  It also allows downloading of submissions for off-line marking and a simple way of providing and uploading feedback into your LUVLE Space.
3. The new Computer Based Assessment (CBA) feature is more fully integrated into LUVLE, making it easier for you to schedule quizzes, surveys and exams for your students.
4. Are more readable for users with specific accessibility issues, giving them greater display options.

LU Module Evaluation System (LUMES)

1. Has a new ‘Module Score’ reported which shows the average/mean of the responses to the core questions.
2. Provides new reports.  You can choose to compare your Module Score with aggregate statistics for all modules in your department, faculty or the university.
3. Reports can be saved as either HTML or PDF (with XLS coming soon!).
4. Modules with multiple cohorts now receive a separate evaluation for each cohort.

Turnitin

1. It is now easier to use Turnitin from the LUVLE Coursework Submission tool.
2. There is a new report format which shows overlap between the student’s paper and web-published materials in a clearer fashion.
3. Staff can allow students to use Turnitin as a more formative tool.

MyPGR

1. Now includes the Annual Appraisal forms online where students and staff can both enter it easily and review it at any time.
2. Includes a tabular report for each supervisor which displays: names of all assigned PG students, library card, email address, qualification sought, mode of study, date registered, year of study, minimum completion date, maximum date, and status.
3. Incorporates a Most Recent Changes table which includes: Student Name, Supervisor’s Name, and dates for changed Development Needs Analysis (DNA), Skills Development Record (SDR), PDP plan, Meeting date, Comments, and a Count of entries.
4. Has new email reminders.
5. Provides the ability to download all MyPGR data as a zip file which can create a local website for personal storage.

Please remember that LTG are available to help you understand these changes and make them an important part of your learning, teaching and assessment.  Just contact the ISS Service Desk at X10987 or iss-service-desk@lancaster.ac.uk.