The KASTANET Project Kingston Access to Science Teaching Across New and Emerging Technologies

What is KASTANET? Funding: JISC HE in FE E-Learning 2 years Purpose: evaluate impact of mobile learning Learning support Learning Assessment Focus: Science Degree Foundation Science focus Large number of learners Complex provision

Funding: JISC

HE in FE E-Learning

2 years

Purpose: evaluate impact of mobile learning

Learning support

Learning

Assessment

Focus: Science Degree Foundation

Science focus

Large number of learners

Complex provision

Mobile Services Core technologies SMS services Podcast creation, hosting and distribution Mobile web (project website and Moodle) Secondary technologies KCOD development Blackboard Kingston College Online portal

Core technologies

SMS services

Podcast creation, hosting and distribution

Mobile web (project website and Moodle)

Secondary technologies

KCOD development

Blackboard

Kingston College Online portal

Podcasts Generic – made by ILT and support staff Subject specific – made by SDF tutors Mentors – first year KU students Expert – anyone

Generic – made by ILT and support staff

Subject specific – made by SDF tutors

Mentors – first year KU students

Expert – anyone

Podcasts Title Minutes Format No. Author(s) Welcome 7 enhanced 1 SDF tutors Orientation 2 x 10 enhanced 2 SDF tutors & KU Health & Safety 14 enhanced 1 Chemistry tutor Study Skills series 25/30 audio 8 ILT & various Chemistry experiments 4-6 video 4 Chemistry tutor Chemistry 10 audio 2 Chemistry tutor Biology 5-7 audio 5 Biology tutor Revision various audio 5 Maths & Biology tutors Mentor profiles 1-2 audio 4 Mentors KU Course Directors various audio 2 KU tutors Total 34

Progress Length of podcasts Production quality Formats Display Branding Automation

Length of podcasts

Production quality

Formats

Display

Branding

Automation

SMS technology Relationship established with PageOne SMS provider for JanetTXT SOAP service developed XML messaging protocol No knowledge of SMS technology required SMS messages initiated/received as HTML KCOD integration KC’s curriculum management system Two-way web-based SMS functions Available through electronic register interface

Relationship established with PageOne

SMS provider for JanetTXT

SOAP service developed

XML messaging protocol

No knowledge of SMS technology required

SMS messages initiated/received as HTML

KCOD integration

KC’s curriculum management system

Two-way web-based SMS functions

Available through electronic register interface

SMS services Manual outbound Send to individuals, groups of whole SDF cohort Can dispatch to absent students only Inbound SMS registration Technically feasible but delays cause problems Call and response service Key word triggers personalised response SMS timetables SMS quizzes Automated outbound Under development: attendance alerts

Manual outbound

Send to individuals, groups of whole SDF cohort

Can dispatch to absent students only

Inbound SMS registration

Technically feasible but delays cause problems

Call and response service

Key word triggers personalised response

SMS timetables

SMS quizzes

Automated outbound

Under development: attendance alerts

SMS applications Pedagogic SMS quizzes have had limited impact Pastoral/learning support Provision of compressed timetable data is popular Other applications will be tested (e.g. exam schedule) Future developments Student response very positive SMS remains a cheap, accessible and popular technology Scope for refining and developing services Key phase will be September 08 induction

Pedagogic

SMS quizzes have had limited impact

Pastoral/learning support

Provision of compressed timetable data is popular

Other applications will be tested (e.g. exam schedule)

Future developments

Student response very positive

SMS remains a cheap, accessible and popular technology

Scope for refining and developing services

Key phase will be September 08 induction

What the students think How would you rate the extent to which your lecturers used podcasting audio appropriately? Used somewhat appropriately & Used appropriately 86% To what extent do you think having access to podcasts can have an impact on your experience as a student? A somewhat positive impact & A positive impact 87% How useful are the Study Skills podcasts to you? Somewhat useful, Useful & Very useful 90%

Students’ Comments What is the most positive aspect of the KASTANET program? “ You learn outside college as well as inside” “ the ease of access” “ ability to access info anywhere at any time” “ more convenient as you can access it at home and everywhere” “ keeps me organised” “ it’s trying to engage with a generation which is extremely tied to their technology”

What is the most positive aspect of the KASTANET program?

“ You learn outside college as well as inside”

“ the ease of access”

“ ability to access info anywhere at any time”

“ more convenient as you can access it at home and everywhere”

“ keeps me organised”

“ it’s trying to engage with a generation which is extremely tied to their technology”

Staff Comments What are your thoughts on KASTANET and progress? “ Automated register has been a godsend” “ podcasts might save me more time this year” “ it’s handy to have someone to give us a kick every now and again” “ would like to explore SMS quizzes more next year”

What are your thoughts on KASTANET and progress?

“ Automated register has been a godsend”

“ podcasts might save me more time this year”

“ it’s handy to have someone to give us a kick every now and again”

“ would like to explore SMS quizzes more next year”

Future Student response positive Key phase induction 08 Refining services IT training Impact on uptake Maths Network recording Sustainable model Tutors’ time

Student response positive

Key phase induction 08

Refining services

IT training

Impact on uptake

Maths

Network recording

Sustainable model

Tutors’ time