Effective Practice for eLearning: A Learning Technologists Perspective

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Effective Practice for e-LearningA Learning
Technologists Perspective

• Alice Bird
• Learning Technology Manager
• Liverpool John Moores University

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Outline of presentation

• LJMU context
• E-Learning at LJMU
• Intentions for using the Effective Practice with
  e-Learning guide
• General feedback on the guide

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Liverpool JMU

• A new university (1992)
• Formerly Liverpool Polytechnic
• Amalgamation of colleges
• 22,000 students (17,000 full-time equivalent)
• 800 academic staff
• 6 Faculties with a total of 26 Schools
• 3 main campuses
• 2 near city centre
• 1 towards south of city

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E-Learning at LJMU

• History of promoting the use of ICT in learning
  and teaching (integral to LTA strategies)
• Good infrastructure and range of local /
  institutionally available learning technologies
• Established technical training / support
  provision
• Responsive approach to new interventions
• Implement, evaluate, make recommendations, seek
  additional funding (if necessary)

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E-Learning support at LJMU

• LDU Learning Technology Team

• Staffing
• 1 manager / 3 others
• Responsible for
• Promotion of ICT in learning and teaching
• Pedagogical staff development
• Staff support resources
• LT admin. support (manual)

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Current LDU e-learning priorities

• Continuing to promote adoption of technology in
  learning
• Increased focus on pedagogical staff development

I can see areas where it may be of use
(continual peer and self-assessment) however
there needs to be a wider (possibly publicised)
avocation of the educational philosophy behind it
and a debate as to its strengths and weaknesses.
The nuts and bolts of the operation are very
effectively dealt with but staff (I) need input
as to what its good at and not so good at in
providing a supportive learning environment to
the students . Staff comment, VLE user
evaluation, 2003
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Current LDU strategies

• How is LDU addressing the current priorities?
• Dissemination
• LT Conference, Web, Press, e-Learning Forum,
  VLE Ready Reference and CD-ROM
• Additional local support
• HR funded mentor project in Faculties
• Professional Development
• Embedding Learning Technology programme (SEDA)
• Learning from Research in Education series
• One-off sessions
• Staff self-development

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How the Effective Practice guide will be used

• As an additional support resource for
  professional development activities
• For general dissemination and awareness-raising
  via LJMU LT website
• As a general resources for staff self-development

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Why use the Effective Practice guide?

• To help staff design learning activities
  incorporating learning technologies
• To provide staff with case study exemplars
• To inform design for learning, generally
• To provide additional, independent support
  resources

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General feedback on guide

• Positive
• Text, case studies and planner / evaluator
  templates all accessible and useful
• Good to have high quality printed format as well
  as electronic format
• Not so positive
• Need for more HE case study exemplars

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General feedback on guide

• More not so positive
• Focus on individual learning activities
• Lack of emphasis on overall curriculum design
• Lesson plan without overarching Scheme of
  work
• Potential fragmented student learning technology
  experience
• Need a programme team planning approach
  (otherwise potential for tutors own personal
  bias)

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Tutor personal bias?

• Adherence to yesterdays technologies learning
  technology inertia
• Tutor-focused rather than student-focused
  approach

I think some module leaders have their own
personal agenda about Blackboard and prefer to
have us use a website for information. Other
lecturers use it but none to its full intended
extent. Student comment, VLE User Evaluation,
2003