Welcome!
My name is Chris Rowell and I work as the Deputy Learning Technology Manager at Regent’s University.
My main responsibility is to oversee the provision of learning Technology training for academic staff.
3 main challenges:
Quality/ Consistancy.
Ensure its good quality, eg resources/ artefacts – instructional design.
Consistency - esp. where so many of are course are in modules
and is based on sound pedagogy.
Help with evaluation.
Where quality exists ….we need to seek out innovative and effective practice….disseminate it ….eg TOTT sessions, or faculty, Staff conferences, publications.
2. Dealing with ‘worry’ amongst the teaching staff.
Why does this view exist?
Phobia
Reluctance
time,
focus on research
3. Learning analytics
More for the future….
How can it help with students at risk…retention…help with student progression
How is the data used?…ethical dimension need to be explored.
is it integrated into the tutorial system?
1. Balance between teaching/research.
Missed opportunity to give recognition to teaching and to put it on a par with research funding.
Does the TEF do this? It puts teaching on the agenda ….but does it really reward good teaching?
2. TEL and CPD
Need to think about how learning technology teaching is delivered?
Are old ways of doing things sufficient? Online training makes CPD
3. Developing digital literacy – (Or capabilities/fluency)
All too often this is seen as an ‘add on’ – Digital literacy is now a life skill for staff and students.
Having those skills embedded in the university teaching is not about adding a discussion board or wiki into the vle – it about developing them in the curriculum
Conclusion
Thanks for listening to my short presentation.
I’ve talked about the challenges and opportunities …but not about any of the solutions but I’m sure you will want to ask some questions.
Solutions:
Targeted interventions….go to the faculty eg instructional design.
Training – workshops
Dissemination of good practice….Show and Tell
But something I can bring that is unique to me….
Online and Blended CPD courses and events: 10 Days of Twitter – introducing why Twitter can be used in HE
BYOD4L Courses – Run over 5 days – blended delivery – using mobile devices in and outside of the classroom.
LTHEchat – Twitter conversation about teaching and learning every Weds eve.
12 Apps of Christmas – Online CPD MOOC.
Workshop for Departments/schools or course…
Still a need for workshop that lecturers bool up to but this works better often…
Tricks of the trade…
Run for 5 years – every weds 1 to 2pm
Show and tell where lecturers show what they are doing…
I just ask people….
