Kate Dickens

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India-UK Conference on Information Technology
(ICT) in Education Training

• Kate Dickens
• Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs) English for
  Academic Purposes
• eLanguages, University of Southampton, UK

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Overview

• Introduction
• eLanguages at Southampton
• Learning objects
• Concepts of re-usability and re-purposing (RLOs)
• Southampton as a case study
• Feedback from students and tutors
• Future direction

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Introduction

• Consortium of 6 UK universities led by
  Southampton Bristol, Leeds, Manchester,
  Sheffield, York
• Funded to develop e-tutor supported online
  English for Academic Purposes (EAP) modules
  (IELTS 5.5 6.5)
• Initially designed for use on newly developed
  learning environment (SUN systems)
• Successfully used on UKeU/ Blackboard/
  WebCT/Moodle virtual learning environments (VLEs)
  in both blended and distance modes

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E-learning material

• Developed in the form of reusable learning
  objects (RLOs)
• The building blocks for stand-alone online
  modules in EAP or online support programs in
  blended learning environments
• Designed to be interoperable and therefore,
  platform-independent

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Learning Objects

• are internally contextualised
• are activity-based
• use text, audio. Video, animation, interactive
  exercises, threaded discussion, real-time voice
  and text chat

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Learning Object Production
Create LOs
Submit for editorial comment
Carry out any revisions
Checklist LOs
Submit LOs to Southampton
Final editing
Final checklisting
Move LOs from working to master folders
Upload to web-based learning environment
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Reusing and repurposing
Retrieve suitable LOs from existing bank
Design new course
Carry out any revisions
Create any new LOs needed
Edit and checklist new LOs
Review and revise course structure and content
Create course structure in VLE
Move LOs from working to master folders
Upload LOs to VLE
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Use by tutors and students

• Tutor-supported online courses
• Distance
• On campus
• Online resource materials banks
• Course enhancement by tutors
• Independent study, guided by tutor
• Self-access by students
• In the classroom with the tutor

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Current stage of development

• 1300 learning objects (30 - 45 mins each)
• 4 x 12 week EAP modules (150 hours)
• 3 x 9 week skills-based short courses (50 hours)
• 5 x advanced skills self-access courses (up to 25
  hours)
• Resource-banks of LOs for independent study (up
  to 150 hours)

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Use at the University of Southampton

• 400 University of Southampton students will have
  used the materials 2004-2005
• Conducted research with students and tutors
• Received feedback from over 200 students who have
  already completed courses

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Research methodology

• 58 observations of student online use of resource
  bank
• 194 student questionnaires
• 21 tutor questionnaires
• Up to 100 student comments from self-access
  learning logs
• Data from tracking within VLE

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Feedback

• Overwhelmingly positive response to the learning
  materials
• Majority of users used them with both specific
  aim in mind and for browsing
• Emphasis on ease of use (90)
• Most popular resources (in order)
• Writing
• Listening and notetaking
• Reading and critical thinking

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Students comments Tutor Comments
I feel that this is much more than useful and helpful They have been a real help!
I want to keep on using the online materials after the course please make it possible The materials were useful in addressing the specific difficulties students had
I very much appreciate the quality of the course, the structure of the material and the logic of the content Would you support the use of the online materials if they were available in a future course? Yes, definitely