studentcentral what are we learning

1
studentcentral what are we learning?

• Katrina Miller Charlotte Ramage John Webber
  Mark Toole
• 16 July 2004

2
agenda

• Institutional level context lessons
• SC when little or no classroom contact
• SC supplementing face to face contact
• General discussion what are we all learning from
  our use of SC?
• Internationally lessons from abroad

3
Institutional stats

• studentcentral first available September 2002
• Used in 68 of ugrad modules
• Target for July 2004 is 50
• gt 17,000 registered users (ie ubiquitous)
• Used in all Faculties, incl BSMS

4
external stats comparison

• JISC MLE Landscape study (2002)
• one of the most integrated MLEs in UK HE
• integration rating 38 cf. sector ave 34
• Blackboard Framework for deploying educational
  technology
• 5 levels exploratory(1) -gt transformative (5)
• level of usage and characteristics imply Brighton
  at level 4 to 5
• according to Bb UK sector ave levels 2 to 3

5
What is the institution learning?

• Congratulations!
• We can do big scale L T projects!
• Manage students expectations
• Variability and consistency
• When can we justify for pedagogical reasons?
• When cant we justify (admin)?
• Minimum realisable expectation policy
• Student induction what is expected use in this
  module, not IT skills required

6
What is the institution learning?

• Continuous pedagogical support programme required
• LTSO programme successor
• Moving on from the electronic filing cabinet
• Continuous ICT skills development support
  programme required
• LTAs
• Beyond attending a standard training course

7
What is the institution learning?

• Improve quality of admin data
• needs synchronising from the various sources
• timeliness and accuracy
• reflect changes quickly
• exposing when its wrong!
• Sustainability
• Do we know how to retain enthusiasm and move on
  to the next levels?
• Reliability and continuity of access

8
(No Transcript)
9
Learning from International Experience

• University of Wisconsin System Survey
• (15 institutions)
• Rapid increase in use after launch
• Focus on content presentation tools
• 80 use complements face to face
• Academics initially use principally to manage
  mundane teaching tasks

10
Learning from International Experience (UWS)

• Start using, then
• see more possibilities
• begin rethink restructure course
• accidental pedagogy
• Concerns on control, change, IT skills
• Want tools easier to use, more sophisticated and
  more flexible

11
Learning from International Experience

• US Learning Technology Consortium
• (7 institutions)
• Reasons for initial use
• Pragmatic goals
• cited by most academics
• focus on efficient material distribution
• Pedagogical goals
• cited by small proportion

12
Learning from International Experience (LTC)

• Over time pragmatic ? pedagogic goals
• more use more aware of pedagogic benefits
• Students more comfortable in classroom if used
  early in course better communication?
• Concerns need to teach students to be more
  discriminating of on-line resources

13
Learning from International Experience

• Next Generation Tools Wish List (US)
• Better instructional design tools built-in
• encourage good pedagogic use (wizards?)
• Better assessment tools
• Seamless access to share resources
• Better integration with other tools, systems
• Simplified navigation

14
studentcentral what are we learning?

• Thank You