Slides for a talk on "E-Learning at SHU" given by Paul Helm at the IWMW 2001 event held at Queen's University Belfast on 25-27 June 2001. See http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2001/sessions.html#speaker-2

1. 1
elearning@SHU – a case study
Paul Helm
Associate Head: Learning Technology
p.a.helm@shu.ac.uk
www.shu.ac.uk/e-learning

2. 2
A bit of context
– There is a need for research on university teaching,
including the application of the new methods of
communication made available by modern technology.
The need is now for experiment
– Conventional teaching procedures are based on
lectures – there needs to be a re-examination of both the
purposes and techniques involved and more extensive
use made of new methods
– The programme was launched to encourage the higher
education sector to work collaboratively and explore
how new technologies could be exploited to improve
and maintain quality within teaching

3. 3
SHU Learning, Teaching and
Assessment Strategy
• Teaching Quality Enhancement
– Flexible learning opportunities
– Appropriate use of ICTs
– Support for a diversity of learners

4. 4
Drivers
• External
– Govt initiatives, LLL, LearnDirect, e-university
– Employers
– Competition in HE sector
• Internal
– Pedagogy
– Student expectations
– Staff interest
• Contradictory – quality, cost, effectiveness

5. 5
Choices
• The do nothing university
• Borderless education
• The add on solution
• Full integration
• Partial integration
• Phased?

6. 6
Choices
• Learner strategies
• Student support
• Staff development
• Balance between conventional and e-
learning approaches
• Quality and standards
• Selective and developmental change

7. 7
Barriers
• Infrastructure
– Support IT? Or learning and teaching?
• Time
• Academic view of e-learning:
– Different vocabulary; relies on IT; academic
dependent on expertise of others; privacy and
ownership; disaggregate the teaching role;
another weapon in the armoury;

8. 8
Successes
• Hybrids, breaking down barriers
• Secondments
• Different types of support, (different
types of dependency)
• Student feedback
• Low tech innovations
• Devolved approach

9. 9
Could do better
• Portal wars
• The enthusiasts
• Staff feeling exposed
• CAA
• Devolved approach

10. 10
Trends
• Face to face learning opportunities
will continue for most students
• Viral growth in web
enabled/supported learning
• The imperative of the networked
university
• Opportunities and challenges of
(dis)investment

11. 11
A glimpse of the future
• The “new” students
• From enquiry and application to enrolment
• Cohort management, records, progress files
• Synchronous and asynchronous interaction
• Timed release of content/activities
• Assessment (self, formative, summative)