The Learning and Research Technologies (LRT) team at Manchester Metropolitan University supports the adoption and embedding of technology enhanced learning across the institution. The LRT team develops, supports, and integrates a range of systems including the Moodle virtual learning environment, video streaming services, and mobile apps. The team is divided into those who support student and learning systems, and those in the learning innovation team who help staff effectively utilize technologies to support teaching. E-learning support officers are embedded in each faculty to help academic staff integrate learning technologies in their practice in a pedagogically focused way. The LRT team offers extensive training and resources to support staff adoption of technology enhanced learning.

1. Embedding Technology Enhanced
Learning
Dr Neil Ringan
Learning & Research Technologies

2. Institutional Support for TEL
• Located within Learning & Research Technologies (LRT)
• Provides, develops, supports and embeds adoption of
applications and systems to facilitate learning, teaching &
assessment and student & curriculum management
• Part of LRIS - Learning & Research Information Services
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IT Services
Library
Learning & Research Technologies
Business Improvement Team

3. What do LRT do ?
• Two broad areas of work
– Student and Learning Systems
– Learning Innovation
Head of LRT
Prof Mark Stubbs
Assistant Head of LRT
Assistant Head of LRT
(Student & Learning Systems)
(Learning Innovation)
Richard McKenna
Dr Neil Ringan
Applications Architect
Sam Rowley

4. Student & Learning Systems
• LRT supports a range of systems which are operated by
other areas of the University, usually Student & Academic
Services (SAS) :
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University Student Records System
Business Intelligence & Reporting Systems
Online Enrolment and Options Selection Database
Unit Specification Database
Coursework Receipting System

5. Student & Learning Systems
• A number of staff and student-facing systems are entirely
supported and operated by LRT :
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Moodle Virtual Learning Environment
MMUTube Video Streaming Service
myMMU Student Portal
myMMU smartphone app

6. Learning Innovation Team
• Responsible for supporting staff in
– Effective utilisation of online technologies to support all aspects of
learning, teaching and assessment
• VLE | video streaming | repository | academic integrity | e-marking | efeedback | e-submission | mobile apps | e-portfolio
– Effective embedding of classroom technologies to support face-toface teaching
• voting | feedback | audio & video | session capture | mobile devices |
classroom interactivity |
– Designing the curriculum to maximise benefits of technology in faceto-face, blended or distance learning, teaching and assessment
– Developing resources, case studies and activities to support
lecturers in effective integration of technology within the curriculum

7. Team Integration
• Enables us to develop systems and process in response to
identified staff and student need
• Integration between VLE and other corporate systems
• Responsive to emerging demands
– Electronic Management of Assessment
– Automated logging of online submissions alongside paper-based
– Automated feed of marks between Moodle and SRS
• Provide all information via the VLE and myMMU app

9. Recognised
Flickr Skype Ning GoogleDocs WordPress
Blogger Facebook Adobe Connect Dropbox Screenr
PollEverywhere Diigo PaperShow
TextWall MbClick iTunesU
iPadApps
Recognised
We encourage tutors to
experiment with these but no
critical mass to research and
prescribe integration and
training. No MMU account
creation or management
Recommended
Mahara
Flashback
YouTube
Recommended
iTunes via RSS Box of Broadcasts
Active Inspire
& Pods
Chatzy
Respondus
Bristol Online
Surveys
Twitter
Grademark
NetSupportSchool
Arranged
Talis Aspire
Office 365 &
Skydrive
Equella
Turnitin
Classroom LT
Infrastructure
MMUTube
EndNote
Core
integrated
VLE
Audacity
We develop training and
support materials to facilitate
bringing these seamlessly
into the core. No expectation
all staff will utilise in their
practice
Arranged
We create accounts, ensures
access, provide full support
and training. Expectation the
majority of staff will be able to
utilise within their practice
The MMU Core+
Model

10. E-Learning Support Officers
• Part of LRT but physically based in each Faculty
• Support academic staff in the effective integration of learning
technologies to support learning, teaching & assessment
– Focus on pedagogy, not technology
– Help staff embed technology in the curriculum to enhance student
experience
– Roles cover all learning technologies, not just Moodle
• ELSOs do not provide
– General IT help, student support, admin/SRS support, technical
support, helpline
– Support for these is located in other areas of MMU
• ELSOs will help direct staff appropriately to resolve problems

11. Head of LRT
Prof Mark Stubbs
Assistant Head of LRT
(Student & Learning Systems)
Richard McKenna
Assistant Head of LRT
(Learning Innovation)
Dr Neil Ringan
Applications Architect
Sam Rowley
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Classroom Technology
Development Advisor
Dr Rod Cullen
Susan Gregory
Mark Roche
Dee Vyas
E-Learning Support
Officers
Chris Meadows
Art & Design
Calum Thomson
Business & Law
Emily Webb
Cheshire
Phil Danby
Education
Irfan Mulla
HLSS
Hannah Crumleholme
HPSC
Catherine Wasiuk
Hollings
Colin McAllister-Gibson
Science & Engineering

12. What we offer
• Staff Resource Area on Moodle
• Wide range of support guides for Moodle and other learning
technologies
• Faculty and central staff development sessions
• Departmental drop-in events
• Webinar events
• Short courses : face-to-face and online
• Accredited units as part of PGCert & Masters in Academic
Practice
• Learning Innovation website to launch this term

13. Some Headlines
• Over 40 self-paced training guides in core learning technologies
– Supported by screencasts where appropriate
• Range of resources to support students and student induction events
• In 2013 so far :
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130 workshops illustrating pedagogic use of learning technologies
20 institutional showcase events illustrating how staff embed TEL
25 course review / curriculum design workshops
150+ hours of local drop-in sessions
350+ hours of one-to-one support in faculties/departments

14. Action Research
• Focus of everything we do is illustrating the pedagogic benefits or
affordances of specific technologies
• Producing case studies of how academics are using various tools to
solve specific ‘pedagogic challenges’
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Using a Learning Analytics approach to explore how our engagement with staff
relates to quantitative and qualitative data :
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Metrics of Moodle area population
Quantitative data from NSS and ISS data
Qualitative data from ISS
Action plans from ISS

15. Working With Staff
• We work with staff to :
• Collaborate in action research to evaluate the effectiveness of different
learning technologies within the curriculum
• Ensure effective integration of online and F2F activities, irrespective of
the technologies being utilised
• Participate in curriculum design and development to ensure the use of
technology is designed in ‘from the ground up’ to enhance learning,
teaching and assessment, and the overall student experience
• Explore ways in which mobile devices can be used within and outside
the classroom to enhance student learning
• Develop teaching and learning spaces so they have appropriate
technologies, and staff can effectively embed these in their practice