Folkwang

Frequently asked questions concerning online teaching

You can find the most frequently asked questions concerning online teaching and the department of university and media didactics.
In case you have further questions that are not already answered in the faq please write an e-mail to: robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de or johanna.toepfer(at)folkwang-uni.de.

Can I use videoconferencing in my lectures?

As a teacher at Folkwang University of the Arts, you can generally use Zoom as a video conferencing service. The IT department issues licences for this purpose. Please contact the IT department for your own Zoom account.

 

By using the "Adobe Connect" option in Moodle in your course, you can conduct a video conference. Within the conference, you can share your screen, provide documents and do much more besides.
For simple video calls (independently of Moodle), PEXIP is suitable for small numbers of participants (up to 23). 
If you are interested, please write an email to: robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de, to informally request a meeting room.
As Adobe Connect and PEXIP are provided by the German Research Network (DFN) – and at present this is heavily used by all the universities in Germany, DFN may experience bottlenecks.

I would now like to conduct my lecture(s) online. What can I do?

Moodle (https://moodle.folkwang-uni.de/) and EDDA (https://edda.folkwang-uni.de/) are offered as digital teaching/learning platforms at Folkwang.
Moodle is better suited for managing a lecture and offers a wide range of interaction possibilities (e.g. quizzes, submission tasks, forums, wikis and Adobe Connect etc.), while EDDA provides the opportunity to communicate in groups via contributions. In EDDA, you can share texts, images, videos and/or files and the shared contents can be commented by everybody in the group.
EDDA is largely self-organised: this means you can register there, independently create groups and invite members of other groups to these groups.

I would like to use Moodle. What's the first thing I have to do?

You can still request Moodle courses using the online form (http://www.folkwang-uni.de/moodle-kurswunsch), or directly in Moodle (https://e-learning.folkwang-uni.de/course/request.php). The courses will be set up as soon as possible, and you will receive notification when the set-up is completed. You will also find in Moodle a variety of example courses that summarise the scope of functions available in Moodle. Take a look at the "Example courses" (https://e-learning.folkwang-uni.de/course/index.php?categoryid=122) category.

Is there any general information available on using Moodle?

Moodle contains a large number of short videos on special questions. Take a look at the following Moodle course (https://e-learning.folkwang-uni.de/course/view.php?id=1000). Besides this, many questions can usually be answered by looking at the Moodle documentation: https://docs.moodle.org/38/de/Hauptseite

Moreover, the following guide is recommended for selecting activities in Moodle: https://lernenonline.bildung-rp.de/fileadmin/user_upload/lernenonline.bildung-rp.de/Textdokumente/Leitfaden_fuer_Lehrkraefte.pdf
Moodle.org also offers a playlist – "Learn Moodle Basics 3.8" – on the leading video platform, this playlist providing a wide range of information on the individual functions in Moodle.
In addition, there are helpful links and resources available in Moodle in the top left corner under "Moodle tutorials".
Lastly, the Hagen Distance-learning University is currently offering a self-study course on Moodle free of charge: https://ekoo.fernuni-hagen.de/neues-angebot-offene-selbstlernkurse-zur-digitalen-hochschullehre/
In the event that you have questions that have not been answered, perhaps your colleagues may be able to help you. Otherwise please send an email to: robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de or johanna.toepfer(at)folkwang-uni.de.

I can't log into Moodle. What can I do?

If you have not logged into Moodle for a long time, your account may have been automatically blocked for security reasons.

If you wish to register, please note that it is best to use your Folkwang e-mail address – otherwise you will first receive an email from the system requesting you to confirm the change in your email address. You will only be able to use Moodle after confirming this email.
In the event that you have problems logging in or registering, please send an email to: robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de or johanna.toepfer(at)folkwang-uni.de, so that your account can be activated.

 

How can I get advice?

No consultations in person are taking place at the present time. The best thing to do is send an email describing your concern to: robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de or johanna.toepfer(at)folkwang-uni.de. Please include in your email a link to the respective Moodle course or EDDA group, so that your request can be processed as quickly as possible.

 

Where can I find other useful links?

Well, here for example

Why doesn't the university offer XY?

At the present time, a large number of different tools, websites and programs are under consideration in the University and Media Didactics and IT Departments. We are striving to provide offers for most Folkwanglers. As the setting-up of such systems and programs does not usually take place within an hour or two, but needs to be thoroughly examined in relation to a) the extent that such systems fulfil data protection requirements and b) to what extent the proposals fit into the existing infrastructure and c) much more besides, please refrain from proposing solutions at this stage. You would be more likely to help us if you express your requirements. This would enable us to check how these needs can be met (albeit certainly with compromises) for most people.

What services can I currently use for my digital teaching?

At the present time, the university is offering various services. Our IT Department is working on extending what we offer. An up-to-date list of our officially offered services is available here:

www.folkwang-uni.de/e-learning

Can't I also use Zoom for my videoconferencing?

In principle, the use of Zoom at the Folkwang University of the Arts is possible via the respective available licences, which you as a teacher can request from the IT department. Alternatives are DFNconf (meetings by request to robin.schuetgens(at)folkwang-uni.de) or AdobeConnect (via Moodle). In addition, you can use numerous Jitsi installations in Germany:

My videoconferencing quality is very poor. Why should that be?

Videoconferencing quality depends on many different factors. First of all, make sure that your internet connection possesses sufficient bandwidth (minimum upload speed of 1 Mbps; 2-3 Mbps are recommended) and ideally use a wired Internet connection. Then ensure that you use at least one headset, if possible. The choice of room also affects the sound quality: you should use a room with as few large smooth surfaces as possible in order to reduce sound reverberation.  In addition, mute your microphone when you are not speaking – this will reduce background noise.
Furthermore, you should use a current browser version, if possible (we recommend Firefox or Chrome). If you have any audio or video problems, try using a different browser.