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

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?

What does it mean to you?

Why would you go blended?

What might influence the blend?

Course objectives Purpose of interaction F to F + online Which tool? Student needs Environment

Thinking about purpose Your intention: meeting the group keeping in touch allowing flexible study explaining difficult concepts maintaining motivation issuing timely reminders?

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)

“ 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)

“… [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)

“ 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)

“ 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

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

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

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

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 resources RSS 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

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%)

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

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 Scotland YASS Co-ordinator and Educational Adviser School Coordinator Student Parents OU Tutor/Study Adviser

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

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

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 Team OU in Scotland www.open.ac.uk/scotland http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/learndevdist/

Learning Development Team

OU in Scotland

www.open.ac.uk/scotland

http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/learndevdist/