Planning for success in blended learning

Dr Janet Macdonald & Dr Lore Gallastegi

OU in Scotland

GTC Education Conference, Stirling, May 2009

Agenda• Blended learning: what does it mean?• Examples of blended learning at the OU

– Courses and resources for teaching staff– Young Applicants in Schools

About blended learning

What does it mean to you?

Why would you go blended?

What might influence the blend?

Course objectives

Purpose ofinteraction

F to F+ online

Which tool?

Studentneeds

Environment

Thinking about purpose

Your intention:

• meeting the group

• keeping in touch

• allowing flexible study

• explaining difficult concepts

• maintaining motivation

• issuing timely reminders?

Flexibility

“Our cohort has become increasingly diverse, with many students having to juggle work and family commitments alongside study...”

(Griffeth Univ, Australia)

Building confidence

“…[for students] at entry

level, a mix of contacts,

but face to face, or voice

to voice has the most

compelling effect in group

cohesion and motivation.” (Arts tutor)

Dialogue

“I had one telephone contact

concerning a late assignment

submission. When I quizzed

her about what she had

already done, I realised that

she was on the wrong track…”

(Social Science tutor)

Time for reflection

“It’s nice to have time to

compose a meaningful

message rather than

responding [without time to

think] – as at face to face or

on the phone.”

(Social Sciences tutor)

The Open University 1969-2009 • Flexible part-time study• Largest University in the UK• Choice of 360 degrees• 200,000 students• Over 2 million have studied

with OU • A quarter of UK’s HE part-

time population are OU students

Supported open learning• Course materials

- texts and course books, CD-Rom, DVD

• Structured calendar (with deadlines!)

• Regular assignments• Course website• StudentHome

Student Home

Library resources

• 14,000 electronic journal

titles

• 7,500 e-books

• 255 databases

• 93 courses integrating

e-resources

OU tutors/study advisors

• Pastoral care: the realities of

part time study

• Academic support: facilitating

understanding of course

material

• Formative feedback on

assignments

• Supporting interaction

• Appropriate use technologies

Collaborative tools

Forums Blogs Wikis

IM

E assessment

E portfolio

Library resourcesRSS

Calendars, tracking

The largest Moodle VLE user in the world

Video conf

Courses and resources for teaching staff

Open Learn www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/get-started/get-started-educator

Open Learn www.open.ac.uk/openlearn

Open Learn www.open.ac.uk/openlearn

Teach and Learn www.teachandlearn.net

www.open.ac.uk/cpd

Young Applicants in Schools

Young Applicants in Schools www.open.ac.uk/yass-in-scotland

YASS – What is it?• A quality, genuine HE experience

• A partnership between the OU and schools

• A wide range of courses at first year university level

• For students in S6

• An opportunity to stretch able and motivated students

• Study alongside school curriculum

Modules on Offer

• Over 50 courses: arts, business studies, science, health and social care, law, maths, computing, social science, technology and engineering, and so on

• 10, 15, 30 or 60 points at SCQF Level 7

• Multiple start dates

• From 10 weeks to 9 months

• Short courses most popular (70%) especially Science (55%)

Benefits for students• Excellent learning experience:

• complements other subject choices • supports a hobby or special interest

• helps with career choices

• Broadens their academic profile• Develops HE study skills, online study skills • Demonstration of academic potential • Builds confidence and self esteem• Helps with the transition from school to university

or college

YASS support network

OU ScotlandYASS

Co-ordinator and Educational Adviser

SchoolCoordinator

StudentParents OU Tutor/StudyAdviser

Science Courses

• Series of short courses (10 points) – including astronomy, Darwin and evolution, fossils, forensic science, archaeology, human genetics, molecules, medicines and drugs, and nutrition

• Four presentations a year• Telephone support with study advisers

• Choice of 2 alternative end of course assessment dates, last 8-20 weeks

Blended learning..• Allows flexibility to accommodate part-time study in or

out of the classroom

• Can be responsive to student needs and a variety of purposes in intervention

Learning Development TeamOU in Scotlandwww.open.ac.uk/scotlandhttp://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/learndevdist/