Using e-Learning to Improve Study Success Good Practice Examples from Germany SURF Onderwijsdagen 2007 Matching: supply and demand; education and e-Learning Jaarbeurs Utrecht, 13-14 Nov. 2007 Dr. Klaus Wannemacher Higher Education Information System Hanover

Content The ICT Enhanced Student Lifecycle Study Orientation and Management via ICT Campus Management Systems 4) Does e-Learning Foster Study Success? Entering Worklife 6) Conclusions

The ICT Enhanced Student Lifecycle

Study Orientation and Management via ICT

Campus Management Systems

4) Does e-Learning Foster Study Success?

Entering Worklife

6) Conclusions

1) T he ICT Enhanced Student Lifecycle In almost every part of the student lifecycle, IT systems for administration or learning enable successful studying: University Portals, Campus Mgmt. Systems, etc. as self-assessment tools for study orientation as marketing instruments for attracting students and as a source of information for prospective students (first time or further education) as study application and study support tools as a self-marketing instrument for graduates entering the job market (ePortfolios) Employability Courses, Exams, St. Counseling etc. First steps in Higher Ed. Admissions Pre-entry and application

In almost every part of the student lifecycle, IT systems for administration or learning enable successful studying:

University Portals, Campus Mgmt. Systems, etc.

as self-assessment tools for study orientation

as marketing instruments for attracting students and as a source of information for prospective students (first time or further education)

as study application and study support tools

as a self-marketing instrument for graduates entering the job market (ePortfolios)

T he ICT Enhanced Student Lifecycle e-Learning as course accompanying or exclusive self-study materials enabling active learning and knowledge construction processes as online exercise and test tools for a realistic self evaluation of students as student counseling modules as tracking tools on student performance for lecturers and as a means of online mentoring.

e-Learning

as course accompanying or exclusive self-study materials enabling active learning and knowledge construction processes

as online exercise and test tools for a realistic self evaluation of students

as student counseling modules

as tracking tools on student performance for lecturers and as a means of online mentoring.

ICT in German Higher Education An Empirical View Survey carried out in 2006 by HIS and Multimediakontor Hamburg Paper-based questionnaire sent to 337 German universities Main topics: IT management and e-learning (11 questions) type of university questionnaires # # rate of return (%) universities 102 77 75 universities of applied science 140 91 65 colleges of art and music 52 24 46 theological universities 43 9 21 Summe 337 201 60 responses

Survey carried out in 2006 by HIS and Multimediakontor Hamburg

Paper-based questionnaire sent to 337 German universities

Main topics: IT management and e-learning (11 questions)

Electronic services that universities offer students (in per cent) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 Library services Student generated information platforms General administrative services Subject-related information services Course-related services Alumni services Computer assisted exams Central self-service web portal Call center for student services 93 73 71 67 58 44 27 24 15 3 21 5 21 12 26 51 45 71 4 6 24 11 30 30 22 31 14 available not available intended

Different Types of Software-based Administrative Services (in per cent) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Electronic course programme Evaluation of courses Alumni management Online application Web-based administration of courses and rooms Data warehouse Online qualification test 76 64 50 47 47 22 10 8 17 17 24 22 46 75 16 19 33 29 31 32 15 available not available intended

2) Study Orientation and Study Guidance through ICT Second Life The University of Applied Science of the Mittelstand Bielefeld (FHM) offers a virtual meeting and consulting centre for study guidance aims in Second Life. Prospective students could gather information on two of FHM‘s B.A. programmes, Media Communication and Journalism and Media Economy. The study consulting took place online on May 14, 2007. Questions were answered by a lecturer, a student counsellor and successful FHM students.

The University of Applied Science of the Mittelstand Bielefeld (FHM) offers a virtual meeting and consulting centre for study guidance aims in Second Life.

Prospective students could gather information on two of FHM‘s B.A. programmes, Media Communication and Journalism and Media Economy.

The study consulting took place online on May 14, 2007. Questions were answered by a lecturer, a student counsellor and successful FHM students.

‚ Conventional‘ Online Study Guidance 3/2007 Im Test: 23 Internet-Tests

Study Guidance through Wikis

3) Campus Management Systems Online Application and Admission as Self Services

Online Registration for Foreign Applicants

Course Management for Students Course Registration, Study Schedule and Official Transcript

New Media in Education – Higher Education Sector (2001-2004) Content and tools development: 100 projects Notebook university: 25 projects Virtuelle Fachhochschule 4) e-Learning History: Initiatives and Funding Programmes Vernetztes Studium Chemie

New Media in Education – Higher Education Sector (2001-2004)

Content and tools development: 100 projects

Notebook university: 25 projects

4) Does e-Learning Foster Study Success? e-Learning Services at Universities (in per cent) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 web-based learning material interactive learning environments virtual seminars and tutorials e-lectures virtual laboratories and practical courses online degree programmes 87 66 36 31 21 16 10 22 47 59 65 68 3 12 17 10 14 16 available not available planned

Strategic Use of e-Learning: Aims of Higher Education Institutions (in per cent) 77 63 60 56 37 36 31 30 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 increase of student satisfaction increase of university reputation quality improvement of teaching addressing of new target groups facilitation of teaching compensating capacity constraints (Bologna process) revenues from online courses in continuing education use of courses/content from other providers

e-Learning and Study Success Established Approachs Online study programmes, courses, course-accompanying and other materials contribute to successful learning through structured online course information retainment-effective multimedia-based learning easy access to exercises and assignments strong student exchange on learning items through communication tools continuous e-tutor support for online courses.

Online study programmes, courses, course-accompanying and other materials contribute to successful learning through

structured online course information

retainment-effective multimedia-based learning

easy access to exercises and assignments

strong student exchange on learning items through communication tools

continuous e-tutor support for online courses.

e-Learning at the Freie Universität Berlin Blended learning strategy E-learning project FUeL funded by the BMBF (1.7 Mio €) Internal e-learning support programme (> 170 projects financed) Support through CeDiS – service centre for e-learning and multimedia at the FU Awards such as MedidaPrix

Blended learning strategy

E-learning project FUeL funded by the BMBF (1.7 Mio €)

Internal e-learning support programme (> 170 projects financed)

Support through CeDiS – service centre for e-learning and multimedia at the FU

Awards such as MedidaPrix

e-Learning at the Freie Universität Berlin Student and Psychological Counselling Offices offer an e-learning information service for students (Info-Service FUB) multimedia modules on studying: providing central information on studying and common questions (before studying, university work, etc.) graduation network: a course for students in the examination phase (Internet-based counsel-ling and mentoring services plus classroom courses)

Student and Psychological Counselling Offices offer an e-learning information service for students (Info-Service FUB)

multimedia modules on studying: providing central information on studying and common questions (before studying, university work, etc.)

graduation network: a course for students in the examination phase (Internet-based counsel-ling and mentoring services plus classroom courses)

RUBeL – Ruhr University of Bochum BORAKEL: self-assessments for prospective students e-learning contributes to organising student‘s everyday life (e.g. through LMS) module eTutoring: online tutor training RUBel Team: staff unit e-learning and multimedia support centre use of tools Blackboard, Presenter (PowerPoint) and Connect (web conf.)

BORAKEL: self-assessments for prospective students

e-learning contributes to organising student‘s everyday life (e.g. through LMS)

module eTutoring: online tutor training

RUBel Team: staff unit e-learning and multimedia support centre

use of tools Blackboard, Presenter (PowerPoint) and Connect (web conf.)

RUBeL – Ruhr University of Bochum RUBcast service: lecture recording as MP3 files Free of charge for students, lecturers pay a one-time fee for technical equipment and support. 75% of students said in a 2007 evaluation: „Great for going through learning matter again or for missed lectures.“ Lecture recordings improve the exam preparation.

RUBcast service: lecture recording as MP3 files

Free of charge for students, lecturers pay a one-time fee for technical equipment and support.

75% of students said in a 2007 evaluation: „Great for going through learning matter again or for missed lectures.“

Lecture recordings improve the exam preparation.

Computer-based Exercise and Test Tools k-MED (Knowledge in Medical Education), e-learning service provider with 200+ medical courses Studying, exercises, exams all take place in LMS ILIAS Exercises, exams and course evaluations are handled with ILIAS Online Exam tool Result: intense confrontation with learning matter and the active involvement of students University of Marburg Learning Exercising Exams Standard LMS Evaluation sector

k-MED (Knowledge in Medical Education), e-learning service provider with 200+ medical courses

Studying, exercises, exams all take place in LMS ILIAS

Exercises, exams and course evaluations are handled with ILIAS Online Exam tool

Result: intense confrontation with learning matter and the active involvement of students

e-Learning and Study Success State of the Art Approachs e-Learning paves the way for constructivist learning, in which the learner actively constructs new ideas or concepts based upon current knowledge The teacher acts as a facilitator who encourages students to construct knowledge by working to solve realistic problems. The involvement of students as active knowledge builders yields better learning results (cf. e-Learning 2.0 applications such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc.).

e-Learning paves the way for constructivist learning, in which the learner actively constructs new ideas or concepts based upon current knowledge

The teacher acts as a facilitator who encourages students to construct knowledge by working to solve realistic problems.

The involvement of students as active knowledge builders yields better learning results (cf. e-Learning 2.0 applications such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, etc.).

Wikis, Blogs, Podcasts, 2nd Life

5) Entering Worklife e-Portfolios, Online Career Services, Alumni Portals Universities provide e-Portfolio servi-ces (digital competency profiles). They help students reflect their learning process. Online career services of universities provide advice on applications, applicant profiles, job fairs, start-up support etc. Alumni management systems serve to keep or establish contact to former students (and further education users).

Universities provide e-Portfolio servi-ces (digital competency profiles). They help students reflect their learning process.

Online career services of universities provide advice on applications, applicant profiles, job fairs, start-up support etc.

Alumni management systems serve to keep or establish contact to former students (and further education users).

6) Conclusions Media competency plays a growing role on the part of students as well as administrators and lecturers. The Bologna Process fosters the permeation of the whole student lifecycle with ICT: pre-study self-assessments, study application; study guidance; transition to worklife. e-Learning is seen by university managers as a means to improve teaching quality and as a marketing issue. e-Learning is increasingly used to foster study satisfaction as well as study success (e.g. through online student counselling services and graduation networks). Will interactive E-learning 2.0 applications have significant effects on study success?

Media competency plays a growing role on the part of students as well as administrators and lecturers.

The Bologna Process fosters the permeation of the whole student lifecycle with ICT: pre-study self-assessments, study application; study guidance; transition to worklife.

e-Learning is seen by university managers as a means to improve teaching quality and as a marketing issue.

e-Learning is increasingly used to foster study satisfaction as well as study success (e.g. through online student counselling services and graduation networks).

Will interactive E-learning 2.0 applications have significant effects on study success?

Thank you for your attention Dr. Klaus Wannemacher HIS Higher Education Information System GmbH Hanover, Germany E-Mail: [email_address]

6) Further Education Portals for Marketing Study Programmes Universities act as suppliers of online academic studies and degrees and of knowledge resources (online courses). A few postgraduate continuing educa-tion programmes are successful (Busi-ness Informatics, MBA, New Media, etc.). Commercial content-sharing suppliers distribute e-learning courses as well (e.g. Copendia, formerly LERNET).

Universities act as suppliers of online academic studies and degrees and of knowledge resources (online courses).

A few postgraduate continuing educa-tion programmes are successful (Busi-ness Informatics, MBA, New Media, etc.).

Commercial content-sharing suppliers distribute e-learning courses as well (e.g. Copendia, formerly LERNET).