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Essential coronavirus info
Your safety is our first priority.

Studying online

Student at a desk typing on a computer
Student at a desk typing on a computer
© Alys Tomlinson, Portfolio by by Craig Green, MA Games Design, London College of Communication.

Tools and advice to help you study online

Your course will include a mix of online activities. For example you may be asked to

  • Join a live lecture or tutorial
  • Read, watch or listen to other online materials
  • Join a text chat forum to ask questions or discuss your group’s work.

You will also need to submit your work online for assessment.

Your course team will explain how teaching will work for your course. To help you get started we’re sharing important guidance on the key digital learning tools UAL uses and how to get the most out of studying online.

Big Welcome 2020: Studying at UAL

Find key course information in Moodle

Moodle is the virtual learning environment (VLE) at UAL. This will be the main ‘home’ for your course online.

Visit Moodle regularly for important information about your course, to submit assessments and take part in online activities such as forums and webinars (online seminars and lectures).

Moodle for UAL Students

Study using Blackboard Ally

Blackboard Ally is a study and accessibility tool in Moodle. You may be able to download documents into alternative formats.

  • Tagged PDFs are structured PDFs for improved use with assistive technology.
  • HTML can be viewed in the browser and on mobile devices.
  • EPub can be read as an e-book on a tablet, like an iPad, Kindle or other e-reader.
  • Electronic braille is a BRF version for consumption on electronic braille displays.
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) PDF converts a PDF of an image into searchable text.
  • Audio is a MP3 version for listening.
  • BeeLine Reader is enhanced version for easier and faster on-screen reading.

Join an online class in Collaborate Ultra

Collaborate Ultra is the platform your course will be using for ‘live’ online activities such as lectures and seminars.

You'll be able to find links to join these sessions in Moodle.

Collaborate Ultra Guide for attendees

Meet in groups using Teams

Your tutors may set up video-calls and chat for smaller groups or tutorials using Microsoft Teams. Download Office365 for Desktop or Mobile.

Share ideas online using Padlet

Use Padlet alone or in groups as an online pinboard for your scrapbook, portfolio, noticeboard, mind map, blog or discussion forum.

man sitting at laptop

Share your creative work online using Myblog and Workflow

Your course may also use other UAL tools, - your course teams will let you know.

Need Help?

If you have problems with your UAL login, password or Office 365 (email, Teams) please contact IT Support. Raise a ticket on MySupport, or contact the team on +44 (0)20 7514 9898 with urgent enquiries.

For questions about Moodle or Collaborate Ultra please speak to your course team.

Submit your work online

You'll need to submit your work for assessment online via Moodle.  Your tutors will choose either Moodle Assignment or Turnitin.

Moodle Assignment and Turnitin are very similar, but allow different file types and sizes. Check your assignment brief for details.

Turnitin

This video from London College of Fashion shows the UAL Turnitin submission process, or you can read how to submit to Turnitin (PDF 222KB).

You can also use Turnitin to support your writing (PDF 407KB).

Moodle Assignment

Read our blog post on how to submit to Moodle Assignment.

Don't leave submission to the last minute.  Allow enough time so that you can fix error messages or internet connection problems without missing your deadline.

Use these tools to get ready to submit

Submitting to TurnItIn

Creating positive online spaces

Please don't share resources or recordings of sessions online. It’s important you feel free to share your thoughts and work with your course and can trust that they won’t be seen elsewhere. Moodle and Collaborate Ultra should be a safe, and private, space for learning.

Instead get your chat flowing positively with these top hints and tips.

Read more

Creating, sharing and using content online

Read about creating, sharing and using content online (PDF 363KB) to help you make informed decisions when using your own or other people’s content in online spaces.

man sitting at laptop (face not visible)

Protecting your data

Your courses will be taught using approved University tools, including Moodle, Collaborate and Microsoft Teams. The University has a legal responsibility to protect your personal data which is one of the reasons we use selected online tools for teaching.

Your course teams may also ask you to use other (non-UAL) digital tools but you will not have to share any personal data.

Independently you are free to use any digital tool to support your studies but you should take care when sharing personal data online.

Remember live Collaborate Ultra or Teams sessions may be recorded (you can turn off your camera/microphone). Comments in chat boxes are visible to everyone and you may not see the whole list of participants unless it is fully expanded.

If you have questions please ask your course team.

Looking down a line of four students sitting at computers. Focus on one student looking down at their phone.

Academic Support

Access all your study support in one place via Academic Support Online

  • Book online personal tutorials and wider UAL workshops with specialist tutors
  • Join activities to meet and collaborate with students from your College and across UAL.
  • Explore online materials to improve your research, writing and study skills, such as introduction to team-working and collaboration online
  • Support is available for all levels of study, from Foundation to PhD.

Use your UAL login to find your tutorial notes, browse upcoming workshops and book sessions in one place.

Two women sitting a blue booth laughing beside a laptop

Using online library services

Find out more about library services and book a study space online.

All courses have a dedicated librarian to support them. They can help you find resources for your research and also support you with referencing. Ask your Academic Support Librarian a question by email or arrange a video chat.

Photo of man sitting in a chair under the stairs reading a large pink, yellow and red book

Language Support

If you speak English as an additional language you can get English language development support for your main course. Choose from tailored classes, individual tutorials, and speaking and writing workshops to help you directly with your studies.

The team also offer classes in other modern languages and intercultural training online.

Female student with flame red hair sitting at table in studio

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