Digital Campus eLearning Services

Key Issues● Students demanding more technology based course materials and activities● Teachers need skills in how to use technology effectively● Rapid teaching staff turnover● Increasing student numbers● The need to improve teaching and learning experience http://digital-campus.org © 2011

What is eLearning? ● "E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-learning) ● Technology enhanced learning: technology to improve the student learning experience ● Combined with face to face teaching to form blended learning ● More about improving pedagogy, less about the actual technology http://digital-campus.org © 2011

What eLearning is not...● Not simply uploading powerpoint presentations/documents● Not simply giving students a list of internet links● Not only for distance learning● Not dependent on internet connection (can be run on a local network)● Not to replace the teacher http://digital-campus.org © 2011

eLearning Strengths ● Improve student collaboration through the use for forums, discussions, blogs, wikis and other tools ● Reuse existing high quality content (e.g. Open Educational Resources) ● Online student assignment submission ● Multimedia delivery (videos, animations, images, podcasts) http://digital-campus.org © 2011

eLearning Weaknesses● Doesnt guarantee the quality of courses produced● Teachers need training/support in how to use elearning effectively● Wont necessarily reduce costs (in the short term)● Requires reliable and robust ICT infrastructure and open access computer labs for students http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Opportunities● Chalk and talk style lectures can be replaced with more active and participatory teaching and learning methods● Better handover between lecturers of course materials.● Better quality control management of courses● Learners (not just teachers) contribute to the educational experience● More consistent course delivery for courses taught by several teachers (all can use the same content and activities)● Open many other opportunities for digital classrooms, lecture capture and publishing http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Moodle● Moodle is one of the most widely used course management systems, used by some of the biggest universities (eg Open University UK)● Free and open source, runs on a standard web server (can be installed on a local network)● Can support 1000s of users and courses● Provides activities such as forums, chat, wikis, quizzes, assignments plus many more● Well supported and with active user community for teaching and technical advice/support http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Training delivered● 2 years of delivering elearning training to teachers at Mekelle University● 40 teachers completed● Blended learning course● Over 50 courses developed (28 from HS, 21 from Tech, 4 from Pedagogy)● Over 25 elearning specialists from other Ethiopian Universities trained http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Recommendations● Requires elearning strategy/policy from the University● Recognition for training participants● Blended learning approach works better than online only● Student engagement depends on recognition (e.g. count towards their course grades)● Essential that students get open access to computer labs http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Training and Certification● Certification for teachers (Masters level course from Alcalá University, Spain)● Creative commons licensed course content● Support/training for elearning teams● Support/training for ICT teams● Student Inductions http://digital-campus.org © 2011

● Focus on practical issues and skills● Using Moodle course management software● For teachers new to online or blended learning● 3 month (1 semester), part time (approx 100 hours)● Blended learning approach (face to face workshops and online)● View the course at: http://moodle.alexlittle.net/course/view.php?id=13 http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Certification Content ● How to create a well structured and formatted online/blended course ● How to upload existing content in appropriate formats ● Creating online activities, quizzes, assignments etc ● Using multimedia, videos, animations ● Current issues around use of elearning and web 2.0 technologies ● Enhancing course content using open educational resources http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Strategy and Policy Development ● University wide elearning strategy ● Based on best practice from UK Universities ● Supporting university elearning teams to deliver the strategy http://digital-campus.org © 2011

ICT Infrastructure● elearning is worthless if students dont have the means to access● 24 hour 7 days a week open access computer labs● Focus on the key tools: web browser, email and office● All students have their own account and desktop environment http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Focus on service, not hardware ● Reliable, well maintained ICT infrastructure with service level agreement ● Use thin client technology ● Hyper-scalable and flexible: build in new/existing hardware ● Modular but integrated elearning systems ● Using Open Source software (no license fee) http://digital-campus.org © 2011

For the university● Well trained staff producing quality course materials and activities● Improved student learning experience● Better course content management with high staff turnover● Managed and supported ICT infrastructure http://digital-campus.org © 2011

Our Services● eLearning training and certification for all staff involved in elearning delivery● Facilitated elearning training course, either through blended learning or online only● Integrated with robust and scalable ICT infrastructure● eLearning server installation, training, support and administration (using Moodle) http://digital-campus.org © 2011

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Digital Campus eLearning Services

by digital-campus on Jun 17, 2011

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