Start date: 1 September 2002
End date: 31 July 2004
Funding programme: Exchange for Learning (X4L) programme
Project website:
http://www.x4l.nct.ac.uk
JISC theme(s): e-Learning
Introduction
Stars and Literature as part of the JISC X4L (Exchange for Learning) project is designed to re-purpose existing JISC on-line materials to pedagogic ends. The project will focus on two curriculum areas, English Literature and Cosmology (a Physics A level module). It uses the experience of New College teaching and support staff who have been involved in ILT projects in the past.
Teaching staff in physics area are already familiar with using the internet to deliver teaching materials, using flat HTML pages. This project will allow teaching staff to develop interactive online learning activities. English Literature has links to other subject areas including Key Skills. Teaching staff in this area are now being introduced to using ICT as a teaching tool for the first time, spreading knowledge further through the college.
The e-learning material created through this project will be used within the college and the JISC community to inspire other teaching staff to use the Internet as a teaching tool.
Aims and Objectives
The purpose of the project is to enable New College Telford to:
- Evaluate suitable curriculum materials for development as on-line materials
-
Develop learning materials by re-purposing existing JISC materials and discovering new uses for materials.
- Pilot and document the evaluation of developed learning materials via College Intranet/Internet or College VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
Aims
The project aims are to:
- Develop friendly electronic learning materials that can be used as part of a teaching and learning process.
- Enhance use of ICT/ILT within New College and JISC communities
- Enrich learning experiences of students
The project will yield usable modules of learning materials from the curriculum areas of Physics (Cosmology) and English Literature. The learning modules will be in the form of electronic materials that can be integrated directly into the above curriculum areas or used in a wider context. The materials will be a deliverable format via integration with institutions Intranet/Internet web sites and or easily converted for use within a VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
Objectives
The project will focus on developing materials around the College curriculum subjects of Cosmology and English Literature.
Cosmology Measurable Achievement
The Internet provides access to the world of the astronomer (star maps and vast numbers of telescope images). It is intended that some concepts of cosmology can be supported though the integration of interactive diagrams into learning materials in ways that could never be achieved via static whiteboard diagrams.
The internet provides access to a vast number of star maps, data and images used by cosmologists. It is intended that some of the concepts on the cosmology module
syllabus (OCR A specification) can be taught through the integration of interactive online learning, including interactive diagrams and questions, thus utilizing technology to facilitate teaching/learning techniques that are not possible via static whiteboard or paper means.
The online unit of work will cover a range of techniques used by cosmologists to measure the distance to various astronomical bodies in the universe. It is anticipated that the unit will have three main sections; parallax, spectroscopic parallax and Cepheid variables. Each section will include activities, questions and information, presented in a way that takes full advantage of interactivity and animation to aid the learners understanding of the required concepts. Questions will be based on accurate stellar data sourced from JISC funded/subsidized resources. Some of the information will also be obtained from JISC funded/subsidized materials, but the rest developed in-house using a range of other sources. The design of the materials will be influenced by current epistemological ideas, particularly constructivist theories to stretch able students and support weaker students.
The materials will be thoroughly piloted and evaluated after completion of the design phase with A2 Physics students.
An evaluation of JISC funded / subsidised materials available for this subject appropriate for re-purposing for A-level standard physics will also be written.
English Literature Measurable Achievements
It is intended to use images to enhance learning materials, the aim of which is to increase understanding of literature texts.
The new AS and A2 specifications in English Literature and English Language & Literature make it clear that texts cannot be studied in isolation. Texts must be read and understood in context: biographical, historical, geographical, social, political, literary or artistic.
The Internet provides access to a huge number of images and sounds which can provide a context for the texts studied for English Literature. Images include photographs, newsreel, paintings, architecture, fashion and scientific illustrations and objects. Sound resources might include songs, music or writers reading their own work. These resources can be harnessed to create additional interactive teaching and learning materials which would not be so easily understood using paper means.
Imagery is used in writing poetry and the internet can be used to explore in a three-dimensional way images of objects and anything else which might constitute subject matter for poetry. An image of a landscape or wildlife could enable the student to appreciate the ‘poet’s eye’.
The online unit of work will have a number of sections, each of which will deal with a text or group of texts currently being taught as part of English Literature or English Language & Literature. Each section will include images, information, activities and questions which will make the context of the text more understandable and alive and makes good use of the interactive and three-dimensional nature of ILT.
Information will be obtained form JISC resources and some from other sources where appropriate. The structure of the activities will support weaker students and challenge more able learners.
Once created, the materials will be piloted and evaluated with English Literature students. The materials will be made available to the JISC community.
JISC materials suitable for re-purposing in English Literature will be evaluated at the end of the project.
This project has ended. The final report is appended to this page as a WORD document.