Announcements Tool - OWL
What is the Announcements Tool
The Announcements tool in OWL is a communication tool for instructors to disseminate information to their students. Notices can be posted to an OWL worksite and optionally sent by email to the members of the worksite.
What is the purpose of the Announcements Tool
Instructors can post timely information reminding students that an assignment is due, post quiz or exam schedules, announce that course content (for example, notes from the latest class lecture) is available, or announce that the class is canceled.
How to use the Announcements Tool
Within your OWL worksite, enable the Announcements tool using the 'Site Info' page and clicking on the 'Edit Tools' link. The Announcement tool is added to the left side of your OWL worksite. Click on the Announcements tool icon to add an announcement, view and edit existing announcements, and merge announcements from another worksite.
Where to find Support
This tool is centrally supported
Support
For help, you can contact the WTS Helpdesk
Documentation
Announcements help can be found on OWL Help
Tool Evaluation
Functionality
| Rating | Rationale |
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ScaleThe Announcements Tool can scaled to accommodate any size class but lacks flexibility to allow tailored announcements to class sub-groups |
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Ease of UseThe Announcements Tool has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and personalize |
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Tech Support/Help AvailabilityWestern technical support/help documentation is readily available. See the Announcements Page in OWL Documentation Wiki or contact the Helpdesk |
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HypermedialityThe Announcements Tool allows users to communicate through different channels (audio, visual, textual) and allows for non-sequential, flexible/adaptive engagement with material |
Accessibility
| Rating | Rationale |
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AODA FriendlyThe Announcements Tool meets accessibility guidelines (AODA and the W3C WCAG 2.0 standards) |
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User-focused participationThe Announcements Tool is designed to address the needs of diverse users, their various literacies, and capabilities, thereby widening opportunities for participation in learning |
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Required EquipmentProper use of the Announcements tool does not require specialized equipment |
Technical
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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OWL IntegrationThe Announcements Tool is native to OWL |
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Operating SystemsUsers can effectively utilize the Announcements Tool with any standard, up-to-date operating system (i.e. Windows, OSX, etc.) |
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Web BrowserUsers can effectively utilize the Announcements Tool with any standard, up-to-date web browser (i.e. Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Explorer etc.) |
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Additional Tech RequirementsUsers do not need to download additional software or browser extensions |
Mobile Design
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Mobile Operating SystemsThe Announcements Tool is accessible in OWL on all mobile devices through a browser. There is no native app for OWL, however you can access OWL through the WesternU app on both android and iOS devices. |
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Mobile FunctionalityThere is little to no functional difference with the Announcements Tool when accessed on mobile systems. Announcements can be viewed, created, and edited. |
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Offline AccessThe platform cannot be used in any capacity offline |
Usage and Account Set Up
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Sign Up/Sign InUse of the Announcements Tool does not require the creation of an external account or additional login beyond a Western Identity and access to OWL |
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Cost of UseAll aspects of the Announcements Tool can be used free of charge to Western account holders |
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Archiving, Saving, and Exporting DataAnnouncements are archived and saved, Posts can be individually printed or saved as a PDF |
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Data Privacy and OwnershipUsers maintain ownership and copyright of their intellectual property/data; the user can keep data private and decide if/how data is to be shared |
Social Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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CollaborationThe Announcements Tool has the capacity to support a community of learning through asynchronous posts. Unlike the Forums tool, Announcements cannot be responded to and are therefore unidirectional rather than collaborative. Students can be given permission to create and edit announcements themselves. |
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User AccountabilityAnnouncements can only be made by those who have permission (i.e. Instructors, Administrators). Announcements are tagged with the author. |
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DiffusionStudent familiarity with the Announcements Tool is likely mixed, some will lack basic technical competence with its functions |
Instructor Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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FacilitationLimited aspects of the Announcements Tool can be customized to suit the classroom context and learning outcomes |
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CustomizationAs a course management tool, the Announcements Tool is not intended to support the collection of learning analytics |
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Learning Analytics1 The tool does not support the collection of learning analytics 2 Instructor can monitor students’ performance on limited measures 3 Instructor can monitor students’ performance on a variety of responsive measures |
Cognitive Presence
| Rating | Rationale |
|---|---|
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Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s)As a course management tool, the Announcements Tool is not intended to engage students in the cognitive task(s) of learning |
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Higher Order ThinkingAs a course management tool, the Announcements Tool is not intended to engage students in higher order thinking skills |
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Feedback on LearningAs a course management tool, the Announcements Tool is not intended to provide opportunities for formative feedback on learning |
Security and Privacy
This tool has been formally reviewed by Western’s Technology Risk Assessment Committee
Last Updated: January 22, 2020
Rubric
The eLearning Toolkit Evaluations are made available under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence
Feedback
Leave feedback to comment or request that the tool be re-reviewed
Topic at a Glance
The Announcements tool is a communication tool in OWL.
Instructors and maintainers of an OWL worksite can disseminate information to a class or worksite on a timely basis.
