Start date: 1 March 2007
End date: 1 February 2009
Funding programme: e-Learning Pedagogy programme
Project website:
http://www.herts.ac.uk/blu
Committees: JISC Learning and Teaching committee
This project will capture the learning journeys for 36 students, chosen from
FE students through to
HE students graduating at the end of their BSc/BA programme, over 18 months focusing in particular on the students’ engagement in e.learning. The project builds on previous studies at
University of
Hertfordshire’s Blended Learning Unit into e.learning provision and students’ interaction with a variety of learning environments, which have included The Student Video Diaries project and Designing Learning for the iPOD Generation.
The University of Hertfordshire’s campus based programmes all include a blended learning approach and the university’s bespoke managed learning environment, StudyNet, which offers wide opportunities for staff and students to engage with learning online will be key to supporting this project.
Aims and objectives
As the student learning experience now typically extends beyond the traditional 9-5 working day to a 24/7 engagement with learning, the project will provide insight into the way students now use their time throughout the week. The aim is to provide valuable insight into the personal learning journeys of the students, selected from a variety of different learning backgrounds.
The objective is to answer the following research questions:
- How do learners access learning with technology, including ways not specifically supported by their institutions?
- How do learners describe their experience of learning in technology-rich environments?
- Is there a relationship between learners’ conceptions of learning and their success?
- What critical choices do learners make in their use of technologies for learning and what consequences do these have in their personal journeys?
- What skills do different learners bring to e-learning, including highly skilled e-communicators? How do their experiences differ?
- What barriers and difficulties do different learners perceive in their learning with technologies? What opportunities do they perceive? How do their experiences differ?
- How are learners personalising their learning tools and environments, and how are they involving ‘personal’ technologies in their learning? What kinds of personalisation and adaptation would they value in their learning?
Project methodology
We will recruit a total of at least 45 students from 3 cohorts – Year 0 (At Hertford Regional College), Year 1 and Year 2 – and monitor their learning journeys over 18 months using the following methods:
- The use of video-diaries via webcams over short concentrated periods of time, typically one teaching week, on 4 occasions over the 18 month project
- Regular use of the existing ‘blog’ provision through StudyNet and to encourage reflection by individuals on their learning, especially when the webcams are not being used
- One to one interviews with the students at 2 key stages in the project, to ensure that all areas of the research questions are covered.
Evaluation activities
The project team has wide experience of disseminating their research and practice in evaluating the student learning experience at major education and learning technology conferences in the UK, Europe and further afield. They will further build on these activities in their dissemination of the outcomes from the STROLL project through 2007 to 2009. A project website has been set up locally to inform visitors and supporting case study material will be made available at the end of the project on DVDs as well as through the planned reports.
Anticipated impact
The project will provide valuable insight into the personal e.learning journeys of the students selected from a variety of different learning backgrounds. From this institution’s point of view the work of the project will further contribute to its well regarded position in promoting a blended learning agenda in FE and HE via the students’ own use of a fully integrated MLE.
We anticipate this project will be of great benefit to other institutions as they will have access to the summaries of these students’ reflective practice in their use of personal learning technologies which will also provide insight into the way students now use their time throughout the week.
Deliverables
- Series of 36 scenarios describing the learners’ individual journeys and the role technology has played in them
- DVD including clips of the student reflections organised according to the research themes
- Summary report detailing how the scenarios shed light on the research questions especially in relation to differences in the learners’ experiences and including a set of recommendations and additional guidance for colleagues in peer institutions
- Short methodological report outlining the tools and techniques used and the transcripts produced
- Critique of the chosen methodology to identify its strengths and weaknesses
Lead institution
- University of Hertfordshire, Blended Learning Unit (BLU) (Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)
Project partner
Project plan
Project plan (Word)