The document outlines a session led by Catherine O’Donnell on the Viewpoints project, designed to foster creativity and reflection in curriculum design through various learner engagement principles. It details tasks for participants to collaboratively explore and implement strategies for improving learner engagement, information skills, and feedback methods, using specific principles and tools. Additionally, it provides resources and links for further information on the project and its objectives.

1. Encouraging creativity and reflection in your curriculum Viewpoints session Facilitator: Catherine O’Donnell 18 th April 2011

2. Session Outline An Introduction to Viewpoints. Viewpoints themes and perspectives. Learner Engagement, Information Skills, Assessment and Feedback and Creativity and Innovation. Course and module view. Some team tasks.

3. A short video introduction on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watchv=rV_DE_0fPJ0 An Introduction to Viewpoints Viewpoints is a JISC funded curriculum design project. It has a remit to create a series of reflective tools to promote & enhance effective curriculum design. The tools use a learner timeline with established principles to help staff consider areas such as: learner engagement, information skills, assessment and feedback and creativity and innovation while considering the learner perspective.

4. Learner Engagement Principles HLM ( http://cetl.ulster.ac.uk/elearning/hlm.php ) 8LEM Receive. Create. Debate. Explore. Imitate. Experiment. Practice. Meta-Learn. *Implementation ideas for each principle on back of cards. http://www.flickr.com/photos/viewpointsproject/

5. Information Skills Principles SCONUL 7 Pillars ( http://www.sconul.ac.uk ) Define the task and understand the topic. Identify appropriate resources. Search effectively. Find and extract information. Compare and analyse information. Organise and share information ethically. Interpret information and create new content. *Implementation ideas for each principle on back of cards.

6. Assessment and Feedback Principles REAP ( http://www.reap.ac.uk/ ) Clarify good performance. Encourage time and effort on task. Deliver high quality feedback. Provide opportunities to act on feedback. Encourage interaction and dialogue. Develop self-assessment and reflection. Give assessment choice. Encourage positive motivational beliefs. Inform and shape your teaching. *Implementation ideas for each principle on back of cards.

7. Creativity and Innovation Principles CHEP creativity working group ( http://www.ulster.ac.uk/centrehep/creativity_curriculum.html ) Collaborative learning ‘ Open-box’ modules Negotiation ‘ Real-life’ learning situations Novel approaches to learning Assessment that focuses on process Use of debates Beyond the discipline *Implementation ideas for each principle on back of card have still to be added.

8. Course Level Perspective Supports those who wish to look at Course View.

9. A Course Level Worksheet Example

10. Module Level Perspective Supports those who wish to look at Module View.

11. A Module Level Worksheet Example

12. These can be orderly or messy – it’s up to the team. Users/teams define the outputs

13. Over to you An opportunity for you to use some of the Viewpoints resources.

14. Task 1: Agree challenge/objective (5 minutes) Consider the key challenges of your project and agree an objective to focus on during this short session. R ecord brief details in the ‘objective’ space provided. E.g. improve learner engagement or redesign an information skills strategy. Choose which Viewpoints theme you think would suit the objective you have chosen. Choose which level you would like to focus on. key

15. Task 2 – Select principles (5 minutes) Spend about 5 minutes e xploring the principles provided on the front of cards you have chosen to focus on and choose any that may help you address your objective.

16. Task 3 – Map principles to student learning timeline (15 minutes) Place the cards on the student timeline, where you think relevant, considering your objective and also the student perspective. Note: you can place the same cards in more than one place on the timeline .

17. Task 4 – Select Implementation Ideas (20 minutes ) Turn over the most important card(s) and select ideas that could help your group achieve your agreed objective. Discuss how your ideas could be used in practice. Make notes using post-its or markers on the worksheet. Note any overall action points and reflections.

18. Task 5 – Share plans (5 minutes) Each group is requested to briefly share their progress during the ‘Summary’ session later. Spend about 5 minutes now deciding what your group would like to share. Try to share the key features of your groups Viewpoints output and/or any key reflections/decisions made.

19. Conclusions By now you should: Be aware of the Viewpoints project. Have had an opportunity to use some of the resources while considering your group’s challenge. Thanks for your participation!

20. Further information Project blog: http://viewpoints.ulster.ac.uk CIES R&R Programme: http://www.cetl.ulster.ac.uk/elearning/rrs/ RLO CETL: http://www.rlo-cetl.ac.uk Dr Alan Masson, Project Director - [email_address] Catherine O’Donnell, Academic E-Learning Consultant - [email_address] Karen Virapen, Instructional Technologist – [email_address] Jill Harrison, Instructional Technologist – [email_address] Dr Vilinda Ross, Research Fellow – [email_address]