Author: Eleanor

Taking Ctrl: Paste text without Formatting

The Problem

I often copy and paste bits of text from one place to another, but don’t necessarily want the formatting that comes with the text. Just using Ctrl + V, or selecting ‘paste’ brings that formatting across. This means that text might look ‘odd’ when pasting it into another document, or something like a Canvas page.

The Method

  • Windows: Ctrl + Shift + V
  • Mac: Option + Shift + Command + V

The Solution

This means you just keep the characters, meaning your pasted text looks the same as the rest. This works in lots of desktop applications.

Microsoft Applications

To do this in Word, right-click and select ‘paste without formatting’ as below.

Try it today!

How did you do that so fast? Introducing Taking Ctrl

Introducing a new series – Taking Ctrl – a guide to keyboard shortcuts that can save you time!

Many of the tasks we do using the computer have a ready keyboard shortcut to speed up the task, though we might not always know what these are. We have asked the FMS TEL team to share their favourite keyboard shortcuts in this series. This is the team at their most geeky – enjoy, and see how much time you can save!

Our first keyboard shortcut is Windows key + E. This opens up your file explorer – much faster than looking for that icon.

New Year’s Resolutions

Whether you’re planning to try something new, or simply get organised, take a look at this selection of FMS TEL Blog Posts to kick start your January.

Whether you’re planning to try something new, or simply get organised, take a look at this selection of FMS TEL Blog Posts to kick start your January.

Enrol in the FMS TEL Canvas Community on Canvas or the MLE to access our full guides, previous training webinars and a range of other resources.

We ALL Draw!

During the FMS TEL Conference, Leonard Shapiro of the University of Cape Town presented an overview of the many ways in which people draw, dispelled myths about the ‘quality’ of a drawing, and covered some of the many ways in which drawing can be useful in learning and in communication once we stop judging ourselves on our artistic skill.

You can watch Leonard’s talk in Panopto.

The university has a range of tools that allow us to draw for learning and communication, and draw collaboratively when teaching in person and online, such as smart boards, interactive whiteboards, and collaborative whiteboards in Zoom and Teams, as well as note making apps on devices we have in our pockets.

Drawing as a method to understand 3D anatomical structures is central to Leonard’s work – how might drawing allow your students to take a different viewpoint in your subject?

You may also wish to consider the approaches and methods used in the other linked FMS TEL videos below:

Canvas Assessments from Start to Finish

We recently delivered a bespoke training session for the Graduate school about running assessments on Canvas. The session was aimed at Professional Services and Teaching staff, and covered the following:

  • Setting up assessments and enabling Turnitin
  • Creating Canvas rubrics
  • Monitoring submissions and managing different circumstances
  • Plagiarism checks and Marking
  • Moderation and release of grades

The resources are available on our Canvas Community to all Newcastle staff. You may need to enrol in the community if this is your first visit.

FMS TEL Conference 2022 – What’s in it for me?

See an overview of some highlights of the conference for you, depending on your role and your interests.

Not many of you would have time to attend all 16 sessions running this year, from 7th-11th November – here are some sessions you may like to join, depending on your interests.

Clinical colleagues and colleagues who don’t teach often

Spend Monday catching up on developments and reminding yourself of university systems by attending the Welcome and Keynote, and boost engagement with accessibility and Canvas overviews. Dip into Lightning Talks on Tuesday and Friday for bite-size guides to our current technology and teaching practice.

Learning and Teaching Professional Services

Pick up tips and tricks to speed up the management of students’ learning using technology by coming to accessibility, captioning and Canvas sessions on Monday. Join the audience for our panel discussion around placements on Wednesday, then learn some timesaving tips with an overview of Microsoft forms.

Interested in digital assessment?

Try the Special Edition Journal Club to hear about authentic digital assessments, and join the session about how technology can support adaptive feedback on Friday.

Interested in trying new technologies?

How about trying some 3D Scanning on Monday and learning how Augmented Reality is being used in various areas of the university. Later in the week, see how the recently-implemented H5P plugin for Canvas has been used to create digital escape rooms for students.

Want to take your content up a notch?

Why not drop in to our session on using technology to support lab teaching to get some inspiration, or get practical tips on making informative and beautiful infographics in PowerPoint, and spruce up your Canvas pages with some HTML.

FMS TEL Conference 2022 – Open for Booking!

The FMS TEL Conference 2022 is now open for booking. With 16 sessions across five days, there’s sure to be something to suit your interests and your timetable.

Sessions will run from 8am-1pm GMT / 4pm-9pm MYT, with sessions running in person in Newcastle, live-streamed, or in online formats.

Timetable at a glance:

  • Monday: Keynotes, Accessibility, Captions, Canvas, 3D Scanning
  • Tuesday: Lightning Talks, Augmented Reality and Journal Club
  • Wednesday: Supporting Labs with Learning Technologies, Microsoft Forms
  • Thursday: PowerPoint Animations, Making a MOOC
  • Friday: HTML for Canvas, Lightning Talks, Adaptive Feedback

You can see full details of the session details and book via conference page. Looking forward to seeing you all there!