CRIS Spotlight on …

Leveraging Digital Platforms to Support Research Impact

Find out the many ways researchers can leverage digital platforms and strategies to meet their goal for knowledge exchange and dissemination.

Interactive Learning Modules

An interactive learning module is a short, self-directed, and on-demand structured learning sequence, such as a lesson or tutorial, that contains interactive content, including quizzes, embedded videos, and text fields that researchers can use to mobilize and disseminate their research.

Which digital platforms are available to support knowledge exchange?

Websites

If your division or department has resources for hosting websites for research projects, you may request provisioning of a web space to host interactive modules. Two common website platforms are WordPress and Drupal. You may also consider using U of T web services or other approved third-party web development and hosting services to support the creation and maintenance of your website.
The platform you choose may require additional plugins to be enabled to support interactive content sharing.
Using a website means that you will not have learner login processes or administrator’s records of individual learning activity other than web traffic activity reports (i.e., hits on pages).

Interactive e-Learning Objects

To build interactive components such as quizzes, matching questions, sequenced learning content components, and embedded videos, there are three technologies often used by module developers within a WordPress or Drupal site:
SCORM: Learning content displayed in a “player” that controls the sequence of advancement, interaction types, media formats, availability of additional resources, etc. Tools such as Adobe Captivate and Articulate Storyline are used to generate these formats, which are published as a SCORM file. Plugins for the web hosting platform are required to support the “player” function. Here is an example of an interactive e-learning object about Indigenous worldviews that was built with SCORM.
HTML 5: This provides interactivity directly in a web page rather than in a controlled player. This option allows for a more seamless integration with the website but offers fewer interactive features and less control of the presentation format. Adobe Captivate and Articulate Storyline can be used to generate these formats. Here is an example of an e-learning object for medical students that was built using HTML 5.
H5P: This is a type of HTML 5 that uses a library of existing interactive tools that can be adapted and embedded in any webpage. eCampusOntario offers access to an H5P studio and library of reusable resources at no cost. Here is a guide to interactive content creation using with H5P.

Where can I find guides on design practice, including instructional design, video formats, accessibility, and more?

General Module Design Guidelines are available from the ITS Digital Learning Innovation unit.
An overview of video production options is available from the Educational Technology Office in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
To meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements, visit Making Your Online Course Content Accessible from the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation.

Online Guides and Learning Resources

Unlike interactive learning modules, online guides and sharable learning resources are static documents and pages used to present content, such as a textbook, webpage, or a pdf document.

Where can I publish a guide or other community-facing materials to support research or knowledge mobilization?

Websites

As noted in the “Interactive Learning Modules” section of this spotlight, a website may be provisioned for sharing and disseminating research content. A website may contain a single page, or several pages made up of static text, images, and embedded video. Websites can also support links to full documents, such as PDFs.

Pressbooks

If you do not have a website and would like to share a guide or reusable learning resource as an outcome of your research project, you may consider an open publishing platform such as Pressbooks, which is available at no cost through eCampusOntario.
Pressbooks publications are in “book” format, with a table of contents, chapters, etc. They can be enhanced with rich media in the form of videos or interactive components using the H5P technology noted in the “Interactive Learning Modules” section of this spotlight. This visual guide to using H5P technology with Pressbooks is a helpful primer.
Published resources in Pressbooks can be edited and downloaded for printing or reading on a range of digital devices.
The Pressbooks platform is often used for sharing open educational resources under the Creative Commons License.

What are my licensing options for digital learning content?

Creative Commons License

When sharing digital learning content, it is advisable to indicate the terms under which your content can be used or adapted. The Creative Commons license model is a simple way for authors to outline the conditions of use for their material, which may be limited according to a range of criteria, including attribution, no derivatives, no commercialization, and share alike, in which any reuse must reflect the same permissions as current license. The two most common licenses used are CC-BY and CC-BY-NC.
Learn more about how to share your work with a Creative Commons license.
For further guidance on copyright and licensing, contact the Scholarly Communications and Copyright Office of the University of Toronto Library.

Online Courses and Community Outreach

Online courses and outreach projects may be self-paced or synchronous on-demand learning opportunities comprised of—but not limited to—interactive learning modules, guides, and other shareable resources. These are typically administered through a course delivery platform and involve a longer period of time (e.g., several weeks) for participants to complete a course of learning.

Is there an online course delivery platform that can be accessed by an external audience of learners?

Quercus

Quercus is not generally recommended for the purposes of research dissemination and knowledge exchange. It is primarily used for degree program credit courses. Course shells are normally generated based on ROSI registration information and access is available only to members of the university community who have a UTORid. While it is possible to manually create Quercus Shells and generate temporary UTORids for individuals external to the university, the process requires assistance from divisional IT or continuing education units. It is not a common practice as it presents issues related to sustained ownership of administration and maintenance of the course content and activity.

Can I use a MOOC to share my research findings?

Coursera and EdX MOOCs

If the content of a proposed course would be of interest to a global audience, and there is commitment to maintain the content, use of either Coursera or EdX platforms to deliver Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) may be an option.
Although a learner account to access the MOOC content is available at no cost to the individual, both U of T’s MOOC platforms generally require a fee to access assessments and a certification of completion.
Since MOOCs require significant institutional design and implementation support, you must articulate a strong rationale or demonstrate broad interest in your proposed course in an application to the Office of the Vice Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, which oversees MOOC initiatives and funding.
Where a global MOOC is offered, it is possible to create smaller “private” versions of the course for a specified audience.
For details on the approval and development process, see the Open Course Initiative Fund (OCIF), Workflow for Creating A Massive Open Online Course, and U of T’s MOOC Proposal Template.

Resources to Help Build Your Digital Learning Content

Developing digital learning resources requires specific technical skills and expertise. Fortunately, the University of Toronto can provide access to services and expertise to help achieve your digital learning goals.

What services does U of T offer to help me build my learning resource?

The University of Toronto offers a range of learning resource development supports, which are listed below:

Academic and Collaborative Technologies (ACT) offers some web hosting, management, and design services.
U of T maintains a list of approved suppliers for Drupal website development.
Various U of T units offer AV and Multimedia production services.
University of Toronto Libraries’ MyMedia allows you to store and stream video content.
Use SnagIT  to record and share presentations. Read more about  SnagIT resources.
Discovery Commons Services (many services are for Temerty Faculty of Medicine, but some, including video recording, are open to all at U of T).

Where can I find someone with the right skillset that I can hire for technical and design support for my project?

U of T Student Career Centre Job Posting
Casual Contract Hire through U of T HR processes
Upwork or Indeed Job Posting Site