altc2014 building a culture of flexible online learning one year on - james little

Building a culture of flexible online learning

James Little @jimjamyahaukUniversity of Leeds

Peter Shanks BotheredByBees Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/botheredbybees/245215927/

One Year On!

Overview – Last Year

The 2013 session identified the journey in building a culture of flexible learning from both a departmental,

learner and institutional perspective in order to deliver an enhanced

‘Welcome to the University’ orientation for staff and

build capacity for future developments.

Moyan Brenn Moyan_Brenn_BACK_FROM_ICELA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5849712695/

Overview – this session By returning to this project after a year the journey of learning to ride and

make use of new technologies in a specific context can be shared. Often projects are often presented as a one-off - revisiting and development of the

project enables ideas and understanding to be more fully shared.

1. What has now actually happened from a year ago?2. What is the experience like?3. Shows genuine iteration of process.4. Review and Hands-On Time

Moyan Brenn Moyan_Brenn_BACK_FROM_ICELA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5849712695/

One Year On!

Need for change:Enhancing accessibilityBetter mobile device support (responsive) Informal learningFeesProfessionalisation of HE workforceRedesign of accredited programmes Policies: OER / Social MediaMeeting increasing demand

Drivers

• Drivers still the same but now demand and quality can be met.

• High production values of MOOC provision have raised the bar for online resources at the University.

DriversOne Year O

n!

Evaluating Current Platform

Current bespoke platform wasn’t able to meet needs:

XCompatibilityX Lack of extendibility / needed featuresXUsability for content creators

Evaluating Current Platform

Platform (a bespoke website system) being retired/replaced and online resources migrated away.

Definitions provided to split content from corporate website to SDDU Online.

One Year On!

Project Aims

• Identify an effective and customisable technological solution to fulfill pedagogic requirements, now and in the future.

• Empower educators to create engaging online learning opportunities with minimal support.

• Foster a collaborative approach towards the development of online learning provision.

• Increase learner engagement with professional development.

Project Aims

Identify an effective and customisable technological solution to fulfill pedagogic requirements, now and in the future.

Empower educators to create engaging online learning opportunities with minimal support.

Foster a collaborative approach towards the development of online learning provision.

- Ongoing: Increase learner engagement with professional development.

One Year On!

How to implement?

Carried out comparison of available platforms:

Images copyright respective holders (linked images used)

How to implement?

Chosen: WordPressAlready some use on campusFlexibility of use/extendibility (plug-ins)Support for modern responsive web standardsSupported by established global community

Implementation

TechnicalNetwork of sitesPlug-ins (Security/Community/Collaboration/Social Media/Assessment)Access to content creation toolsEmbedding of third party content

Instructional AdviceAccessibilityUsabilityPedagogical

Picture from: http://wpmu.org/wordpress-multisite-guide/

Implementation CompleteTechnical

Network of sites Plug-ins (Security/Community/Collaboration/Social

Media/Assessment) Access to content creation tools

Embedding of third party content

Instructional Advice Accessibility Usability Pedagogical

Picture from: http://wpmu.org/wordpress-multisite-guide/

One Year On!

Example: Welcome to Leeds

Examples: VLE Training (before)

Examples: VLE Training (before)

Examples: VLE Training

Examples: VLE Training

Examples: Community Site

Examples: Community Site

Future Directions

• 12 Months– Launch of online CPD as separate from existing

departmental website– Migration of existing content– Collaborative spaces

• Long-term– Badges for staff development / accreditation– Links to other institutional systems– Some resources OER’d

Image By Nepenthes (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Future Directions

• 12 MonthsLaunch of online CPD as separate from existing

departmental websiteMigration of existing contentCollaborative spaces

• Long-term– Badges for staff development / accreditationLinks to other institutional systems (AD sign in)Some resources OER’d

Image By Nepenthes (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

One Year On!

Thoughts on journey so far Starting small but planning for future aims Existing content refreshed Department given time to familiarise with new platform Underpinnings enable future options already waiting in

wings (BuddyPress) Testing and selection of plug-ins Network of sites enables large amount of potential features

to be available – but enabled as appropriate for each resource.

Content creators given access to high quality tools both within WordPress and through laptop loaded with tools

Thoughts on journey so far Starting small but planning for future aims Existing content refreshed Department given time to familiarise with new platform Underpinnings enable future options already waiting in

wings (BuddyPress) Testing and selection of plug-ins Network of sites enables large amount of potential features

to be available – but enabled as appropriate for each resource.

Content creators given access to high quality tools both within WordPress and through laptop loaded with tools

One Year On!

Thoughts on journey so far

The first steps to enabling a new approach to delivering online self-directed professional

development and interaction is possible, which may inspire educators to model best practice in

their own work.

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

What happened next?

Thoughts on journey so far

1. Definitions/Workflow - two creation options:1. Template (self directed/standard set of features):

www.sdduonline.leeds.ac.uk/template/2. Bespoke Project

2. Support Site: www.sdduonline.leeds.ac.uk/getting-started/

1. How to use the online template2. Good practice in relation to online learning, accessibility,

mobile experience, copyright and other related issues.

3. Structure of the SDDU Online Homepage4. 27 resources createdhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

What happened next?

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Workflow - Definitions

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Workflow - Definitions

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Workflow - Template

Thoughts on journey so farProduced after consultation of staff needs by survey and meetings:The resource template so far comes with the ability to: • Create pages of content with an easy-

to-use editor • Accordions and Tabs for content

layout • Organise pages and create subpages

forming a hierarchy of content • A menu which automatically includes

pages as they are created • Ability to embed and/or upload video,

audio and Articulate Presentations

• Add links to social media services such as Twitter accounts

• Homepage with option for images to introduce the resource

• Analytics of accesses to resource and visitors

• Active-Directory Log-in • Enable you to overall create a blog or

a mini-website • Based upon quiz • Quiz

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Workflow - Template Options

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Support Site

Thoughts on journey so far

Guidance:1. How to use the online template and included suite

of tools 2. Good practice in relation to online learning 3. Types of online resources/courses you could develop 4. Mobile experience 5. Web Accessibility 6. Other legal Checklist to sign-off readiness to publish

on SDDU online https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Support Site

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Structure – Homepage

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Structure – Homepage

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Structure – HomepageOption (via BuddyPress) to record your access to areas and buld up a portfolio of learning.

Thoughts on journey so far

https://www.flickr.com/photos/26498881@N06/4022897085/in/photostream/Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

27 Resources CreatedEach time a resource is created it gets added to your personalised list.

Thoughts on journey so far

Progress slower than anticipated but this has enabled time for:

• Existing resources to be evaluated and updated (October 2014 deadline)

• Robust support and options for the creation of resources• Higher quality provision produced• Satisfaction in staff getting to grips with the content creation

process – time for seminars and buy-in from senior management

• New future options: Courseware / Blogs,wikis / Collaborative writing / Reflections/notes during resource

Thoughts on journey so far

• Initial feedback from staff using the resources is positive in terms of access, content, ability to access from personal mobile devices.– Will assess with a survey and and interviews

• Each resource has analytics enabled – currently collecting quantative data

What do you think / Playtime!

Ideas / Thoughts / Feedback

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