In July 2015, we released new functionality for Slice that gave users more flexibility in the types of activities they conducted in practical classes and lectures.

Here we run through the basics of the new features:

Making annotations can now be a group activity

• Click the ‘INVITE’ button to generate a link specific to the annotation layer that can be shared via Moodle, email, or social media.

Control the way members interact

• Under the “Edit Layer” Menu, settings can be adjusted for an activity either, before, during or after an activity.

Using the Member settings

• Decide whether layer members will see each other’s annotations
• This setting provides layer owners with the option of giving members time to complete an activity on their own (A), with no influence from other members and to later change that setting so all member responses are revealed to all layer members (B).
• Alternatively allow all members to see each other’s annotations from the start of the activity to make it truly collaborative.

(A) - Members cannot see each other's annotations

(B) - Members can see each other's annotations

• Decide whether member’s annotations are anonymous, or whether members can see each other’s names.
• This facilitates small group annotation layers where members work collaboratively or large class groups of less confident members can attempt an exercise knowing that no one will know who made the annotation.

When reviewing member annotations

• Click the blank space next to the title of an annotation, or on the description of the annotation to ‘jump to’ and highlight each annotation. This allows for fast review of the annotations.

• Click the Toggle focus button to highlight annotations made by individual member. This option works best when annotations from multiple members are not anonymous.

Review our other blog posts for examples of learning activities trialled using the collaborative annotation tool.