Thursday 11 April 2013

CELT's Digitally Enhanced Learning (CDEL) team are nominated for prestigious award (again!).

The CDEL team were thrilled to recieve a nomination for the University of Wales, Newport's Vice Chancellor's Enterprising Educators award for the second year in a row.

The nomination came from university staff which the CDEL team has been supporting since the team's inception in August 2011.

The CDEL team's remit is to educate and support individuals and organisations in the effective use of digital technology, enabling them to develop the confidence and competence to seamlessly integrate it into academic and working practices, allowing them to work smarter, not harder.

We'd just like to say a massive Thank You!! to everyone who nominated us! :)



CDEL Presents: Electric Sheep Episode 15 - Using Technology to create online, distance learning courses.


Friday 15 March 2013

CDEL Shines the Spotlight on Men's Health

Student Services in collaboration with the Center for Digitally Enhanced Learning (CDEL) at the University of Wales, Newport have developed and launched a website to provide advice and support on men’s health issues http://bit.ly/NewUMEN

Research indicates that many men choose to try and sort out problems themselves before speaking to others, either formally or informally, frequently using online resources to access information.


The site is intended to be a useful starting point for information in the three keys areas of physical health, psychological health and general lifestyle issues.

Designed for male staff members at the University, the site has been developed by Counsellor Jenny England, Senior Nurse Jan Griffiths and with technical support from The CDEL Curriculum Developer, Lyndsey Muir.

The development of the site follows on from the success of a similar website which was launched some months ago at the University, this one aimed at providing students with advice and support on men’s health issues:  http://bit.ly/NewUStudent


Jan Griffiths, Senior Nurse at the University of Wales, Newport, said:

“Research indicated that men are commonly likely to use the internet to access information about problems, before meeting with services such as a Counsellor, GP or Nurse.

We felt it may reduce stigma if information about crisis, suicide and mental health issues were embedded within a more general support website. A key benefit of a website of this kind is that a person feeling desperate and alone could access support and information at any time.”

The website covers a range of subjects which can then signpost people to established websites for more detailed information.  We have used humour and video clips to make it more engaging".

Jenny England, a Counsellor at the University, added:

“We hope that this site will prove to be a useful resource to male staff of all ages, whether they are just looking for some general information on an issue or if they need to reach out for help when they feel there is nowhere else to turn.

The website means that men can access information privately at any time, day or night.

We are very keen to hear how people find the website and welcome comments, we have put a feedback form within the website so would be thrilled if people could let us know their thoughts.”

The websites have also started to rouse international interest with The Georgetown University in Washington DC contacting us asking us if we would like to collaborate with them in some way on a similar project they are doing http://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/spotlight-on-mens-health/

Erica Moss, Community Manager, Nursing@Georgetown contacted us saying 

"I stumbled upon your Men's Wellbeing site recently, and find it to be a great resource for those seeking more information about this important issue. Education will be key to improving the state of men's health."



Friday 1 March 2013

Webinar: Free Android & Apple Apps for education.

The CELT's Digitally Enhanced Learning team (CDEL) are pleased to present a webinar on free mobile & tablet apps, which it delivered in conjunction with RSC Wales as part of their Lunchtime Bytes series.

You can watch the webinar below.



St Mary's Church in Wales Primary School Website Goes Live




The CELT Digitally Enhanced Learning Team (CDEL) at The University of Wales, Newport has been working in collaboration with The Welsh Assembly Government and Blaenau Gwent County Council to digitize 12 Primary Schools in the Blaenau Gwent area and we are proud to announce that the first website of the project has gone live today - The St Mary's Church in Wales Primary Schools.

Staff, pupils and parents are thrilled to finally have a vehicle through which they can communicate.  

The website has a wealth of features, resources and tools for staff, pupils and parents, features include:-

  • School Dinner Menus - so mums and dads know in advance whether their children will like the day's food.
  • Useful forms - such as uniform ordering forms, sickness and holiday forms - one parent said "I do not drive so being able to print these forms out at home and email them in will be a god send!"
  • Gallery of pupils work - so mums and dads can see the fabulous work their children are doing in school.
  • Educational Games - so parents can direct their children to games at home which will as well as allowing them to have fun enhance their learning.
  • School Blog - Where the school can keep parents informed and up to date with anything from snow closure days to items in the local news about the schools excellent performance.
The acting Head Mrs Alison Chaplin today said "We cannot thank you enough, we really are thrilled to bits and are delighted to now have such a useful resource at our fingertips".