JISC

Start date: 31 March 2008

End date: 1 April 2009

Funding programme: e-Learning Capital programme

Project website: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/health/research/jiscprojects/atlas.html

JISC theme(s): e-Learning

Committees: JISC Learning and Teaching committee

Background

The project focuses on the work of a university-wide, interdisciplinary team involved in the development and delivery of professional development within University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). The project exploits expertise of the course team built up around delivery of the HE Teaching Toolkit, a 20 credit award for new HE staff in learning and teaching support at UCLan. This course is well established within UCLan, is nationally accredited by the HE Academy, and has been running since 2003.

Professional development needs of hourly paid and part-time staff are recognised as high priority for the sector. The bid will rework core elements of the Toolkit to create an e-delivered Teaching Toolkit for this group of staff. It exploits the experience and work of subject centres and CETLs, as well as JORUM, as a resource for materials which reflect discipline needs, professional standards and a strong practical focus on supporting the students learning experience.

Technology has the potential to enhance the learning of students if used appropriately. It can encourage more independent and active learning as well as being an efficient means of delivering course materials. This project therefore explores additionally the experience of staff learning as e-students in order to enhance capacity of staff to deliver valid and engaging student learning using blended experiences.

Aims and Objectives

The objective of the proposal is to address the need for educational development of the growing numbers of staff, teaching on higher education awards, for whom attendance on a traditional course, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, proves impractical. This will be addressed through

• Production of a series of independent learning objects for JISC that combine materials from the Uclan Teaching Toolkit and from open access e-resources;
• Validation of a new module for delivering an e-Teaching toolkit aligned to the SEDA award ‘Supporting Learning’
• Delivery of a pilot module creating a distance taught experience framing the independent learning objects and leading to an award
• Evaluation of the E-course using action research methodology and amending it in the light of the evaluation
• Dissemination of learning from the experience and the materials created through JISC and for use by the sector
  

Project Methodology

Outline of key activities:

1. Design revised module for e-delivery, reworking materials already identified, from in-house and external sources
2. Recruit cohort of students for pilot course
3. Develop course ready for piloting
4. Validation of new course
5. Delivery of pilot online course
6. Refinement of module in light of pilot.
7. Up-loading of course elements/materials onto Jorum for distribution to the sector

Research underpinning

Project will utilise an action research approach and evaluation of the pilot involving:

1. On-going evaluation of materials and processes
2. Use of Blogs to facilitate the action research approach to evaluation, and structured reflection on the project, the process of reworking, and exploration of pedagogic issues raised
3. On-going write up and reflection as part of action research
4. Development of case studies including reflections on teaching and learning of the participants, and on elements within the process for distribution to the sector

The above processes will be supported by a research assistant

Continuation

• On-going refinement of module and evaluation
• Preparation for next cycle of delivery and new cohort
• Inclusion of materials within existing toolkit programme as learning enhancement

Deliverables

1. A set of independent learning objects using materials from UCLan and general e-resources addressing the following areas:

• Introduction to the module will encourage participants to develop learning and supportive relationships, appraise their current learning needs and identify a local mentor
• Introduction to the curriculum will enable participants to explore how a higher education curriculum is crafted
• Curriculum delivery will raise awareness of how students learn and the creation of a supportive and effective learning environment
• Assessment and feedback will explore the contribution of assessment and feedback to learning and its enhancement.
• Professional development will enable participants to identify their strengths and areas for further professional development

2. A publication for practitioners that presents summary findings including the collective case study.

3. A series of workshops held collaboratively with other agencies, including the JISC, ALT, RSCs, FDTLs, SEDA and the HEA Subject Centres. These will cascade the findings to developers and practitioners in the form of usable outcomes and tools, and a workshop pack for institutional use.

4. The final report and other appropriate summaries circulated via the project website as well as the JISC website.

5. Academic articles and the presentation of conference papers at national conferences and events such as ALT-C, JISC and the HEA Conference. This will explore the project experience, the methodology and the outcomes for managing the embedding of e-learning.

Stakeholders

• Academic Staff (HPLs, part-time, HE in FE, international partners)
• Project and course team
• Heads of Department, line managers
• UCLan change managers
• HE Academy, Subject Centres
• Educational and staff development community