In this article, we share a number of examples of exciting ways Talis Elevate has been used across different disciplines, modes of study, and teaching methodologies.
Suzanne Faulkner (Strathclyde University): Using Talis Elevate for multiple applications across a Prosthetics Course
In this example, Suzanne demonstrates how she used Talis Elevate for a variety of activities. Initially, she introduced both the module and the tool to her students by utilising ‘low risk’ activities. Suzanne recommends this as a way of normalising new systems to her students. Students were asked to collaboratively annotate a poem, and play a virtual game of ‘head shoulders knees and toes’.
Following this, Suzanne used Talis Elevate for everything from collaborative analysis of x-rays, encouraging students to debate a potential sign of scoliosis in a number of scans. She also used this to provide a space for students to discuss journal articles ahead of seminar activity.
Suzanne found the image annotation feature particularly diverse and impactful, and could see a variety of applications across a number of different disciplines.
Ian Wilson (York St John University): Using Talis Elevate for difficult conversations
Ian used Talis Elevate as a way of bringing difficult debate into a central part of his course. He used a video that intentionally sparked high emotion amongst his students as a way of bringing the discussion to life. Students’ were given the video to watch independently, and were asked to share their thoughts within the video using the video annotation features.
The discussion element in Talis Elevate wasn’t designed to be the whole learning activity, but the beginning. Ian felt that this provided a powerful bridge to further dialogue between students, allowing for a depth of discussion rarely seen in discussion activity.
Ian was also able to utilise the Talis Elevate analytics to better understand how students has utilised this content ahead of his seminar, highlighting ‘hidden’ information about his students’ engagement.
Ian recommends using Talis Elevate for this kind of activity selectively; you can have too much of a good thing. He also recommends keeping content short!
Roy Hanney (Solent University): Talis Elevate to facilitate active reading practice
This year at Solent University, Dr. Roy Hanney and colleagues in his Faculty used Talis Elevate as a way to move their active reading project online. You can find out more about that project here
Talis Elevate proved to be the right tool for the job, allowing students to collaboratively annotate academic texts and work together to synthesise learning together.
Roy also gives some example of how colleagues have used Talis Elevate beyond this application, connecting theory to practice on media courses.
Helen Lovatt (University of Nottingham): Using Talis Elevate and Padlet together for languages courses
Dr Helen Lovett used both Talis Elevate and Padlet throughout her latin courses this past year. Helen used Talis Elevate in particular for discussion across a number of resource types, primary and secondary sources, even collaborative translation of Latin!
In this presentation, Helen discusses her experience, where she felt both tools offered strengths and weaknesses, and how she would plan to use them together moving forward. In summary, whilst Padlet was easier to ‘get started’, Talis Elevate proved more valuable for deeper learning activities.
Victoria Walden (Sussex University): Talis Elevate for virtual poster presentations
Victoria was faced with the challenge of moving a virtual poster presentation online during the pandemic. Throughout her use of Talis Elevate on her modules, she felt that this could be a really valuable vehicle for delivering such an activity asynchronously.
Surprisingly, the first year students experiencing this couldn’t believe this would normally be done face to face by the end of the project!
Dannielle Green (Anglia Ruskin University): Using Talis Elevate for assessment
Danni took over a module that had historically used Talis Elevate with great success (Read more about that here). Building on the success, Danni continued the work previously undertaken and used Talis Elevate as a tool for low stakes assessment. Students were graded on the quality of their contributions.
Danni also discusses in this video how she assessed this work, and through her analysis, what the impact was.