Session at the University of Leeds Annual Student education Conference in 2015. An insight into the design and development of a new Discovery Theme module; providing a blended learning approach through the VLE. Developed in collaboration by Professor William Young, Students, the Digital Learning Team and SDDU.

1. SEC4 2015
The Leeds Graduate – the distinctive journey
A blended approach to Discovery
Theme module development
Carol Elston, James Little, Gareth Walker,
Kirsten Thompson and Gillian Snape
SDDU and Digital Learning Team

2. Overview
An insight into the design and development of a new
Discovery Theme module; providing a blended learning
approach through the VLE. Developed in collaboration by
Professor William Young, Students, the Digital Learning
Team and SDDU
1. Background
2. Drawing On Experience
3. Module Showcase & Future

3. Background

4. • Leeds has always been active in promoting study outside the core of a
chosen degree via additional elective modules
• Discovery modules (previously known as electives) have been grouped
into 10 interdisciplinary Discovery Themes.
• Discovery Themes enable students to explore and choose from over
1,000 modules on offer outside their course
• Supported by a comprehensive website providing choice and
information
(adapted from: https://leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/Broadening)
What are Discovery Themes?

5. • Discovery modules (previously known as electives) have been grouped
into 10 interdisciplinary Discovery Themes.
• Discovery Themes enable students to explore and choose from over
1,000 modules on offer outside their course
(adapted from: https://leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/Broadening)
Ten Themes
(Image from: https://leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/Broadening)

6. Discovering A New Approach…
New
Module
Fit with
timetabling
pressures?
Can
students
attend face-
to-face?
Provide
support off-
campus?
How to
provide
high-quality
resources?
To enable a rich, high-quality
experience whilst enabling students to
fit study most easily around their
existing course commitments.
Considerations affecting creating a new module

7. Funding from Discovery
Theme leaders was pooled
to enable some modules to
be created using recent
developments in blended
learning approaches in use
around the University
Discovering A New Approach…
New
Module
(Blended Approach)
Rich
resources –
video,
discussion,
activities
Potential for
seminar and
lecture time to
be used
differently
(flipped
learning )
Face-to-face
grounds the
online
sections
Course
materials,
resources and
some
interactions
via the VLE
Accessible off-
campus:
Potential advantages of using new blended approaches to
creating a new module

8. Drawing on Experience

9. Massive Open Online Course
(MOOC) portfolio
FREE
ONLINE
COURSE
Sign up at futurelearn.com
https://futurelearn.com/courses/when-worlds-collide
Sign up to ‘Exploring anatomy:
the human abdomen’
http://futurelearn.com
Coursestartson 10 February2014
For 3 weeks, 4 hoursper week
Explore the inner workings of the human abdomen with experienced anatomy lecturer Dr James Pickering
http://twitter.com/accessanatomy #FLanatomy
Learn about the structure and function of vital organs, and through discussion relate this
to common surgical scenarios and current research.
Interested in the anatomy of the human body?This course is for you.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/anatomy

10. The learning journey

11. Using green screen

12. Learner discussions

13. Animation

14. Expert discussion & debate

15. Interactive elements
• Exercises
• Quizzes
• Online polls

16. MOOCs – lessons learned
97% found the structure of the course fairly/very clear
97% found the educator(s) engaging
95% believed the course had fulfilled their
expectations
92% rated the overall experience as good or excellent

17. Translating the MOOC approach to the taught student
education context:
• Consultation with subject matter experts
• Instructional design: repurposing for online and blended
learning delivery
• Guidance: pedagogical and technical relating to best use
of the VLE
SDDU’s Experience
SEC4 2015
The Leeds Graduate – the distinctive journey

18. Pedagogy first
Constructive
alignment (Biggs,
99):
• Module approval
form
• Module handbook
SEC4 2015
The Leeds Graduate – the distinctive journey
Learning
outcomes
Assessment
Learning
resources and
activities

19. Development also informed by:
• Lecturer’s pedagogical approach and time
• Requirements of learners
• Capabilities of VLE tools
• Good practice in relation to usability, accessibility and
mobile
• ULTRA and ULTA1
SEC4 2015
The Leeds Graduate – the distinctive journey

20. Module Showcase & Future

21. Digital learning on campus
New discovery theme
module created in a
‘MOOC’ style

22. Design elements
support module navigability & learner journey

23. Lesson overviews
presentation of learning outcomes

24. Case studies
video materials and activities to investigate issues

25. Interactive presentations/activities
promote engagement and introduce complex principles

26. Blogs and social tools
encourage user interaction, debate and discussion

27. Cross-platform testing
usability across student devices

28. Re-use of assets - digital learning on
campus
Content re-used in
existing modules
FREE
ONLINE
COURSE
Sign up at futurelearn.com
https://futurelearn.com/courses/when-worlds-collide
Sign up to ‘Exploring anatomy:
the human abdomen’
http://futurelearn.com
Coursestartson 10 February2014
For 3 weeks, 4 hoursper week
Explore the inner workings of the human abdomen with experienced anatomy lecturer Dr James Pickering
http://twitter.com/accessanatomy #FLanatomy
Learn about the structure and function of vital organs, and through discussion relate this
to common surgical scenarios and current research.
Interested in the anatomy of the human body?This course is for you.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/anatomy

29. Re-use of assets – Discovery Theme
modules
Content re-used in new
discovery theme module

30. Re-use of assets - iTunes U portfolio

31. Questions?
SEC4 2015
The Leeds Graduate – the distinctive journey