These slides summarise the process Manchester Metropolitan University went through when reviewing its learning technologies and outlines the direction it will be taking. Further details are available at http://lrt.mmu.ac.uk/ltreview

1. MMU’s learning
technologies review
Professor Mark Stubbs
Head of Learning & Research Technologies
m.stubbs@mmu.ac.uk | http://twitter.com/thestubbs
context & background | drivers & approach | scenarios & vision |
aspirations | review criteria & outcomes | next steps
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2. MMU background
• 33,000+ students | 1500+ courses | 8 faculties
• WebCT since 1998
• WebCT Vista since 2006, integrated with student records
Staff Students Sections Clicks
2006-07 367 8320 436 6M
2007-08 1050 21949 1711 19M
2008-09 1352 31904 4206 26M
2009-10 mid yr 1210 29997 5105 13M
http://lrt.mmu.ac.uk/ltreview/files/2010/01/RPT_WEBCT_USAGE_BY_SECTION.pdf
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3. Drivers for our learning tech review
• WebCT hardware  end-of-life Q3 2011
• BB9 more than just an upgrade
• New Learning Teaching and Assessment Strategy
• Threshold Standards for the Student Learning Experience
• Policy docs
– HEFCE 2009
– CLEX 2009
– ...
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4. Review approach
• Steering Group
– DVC Student Experience (Chair)
– Director of Learning & Research Information Systems
– Head of the Centre for Learning & Teaching
• Project Leads
– Head of Learning & Research Technologies
– Principal Lecturer in Learning Technologies
• Scope
– VLE + podcasting; classroom tech; e-assessment; e-pdp; support; analytics
• Inputs...
– System evaluation: usage & student achievement
– User requirements: focus groups, road-shows & scenarios
– User evaluation: BB9 versus Moodle
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5. Scenarios
• Scenario#1
– integration between classroom and online learning environments; varied
devices; varied preferences for paper; active interest in student engagement
• Scenario#2
– students’ consuming information in ways & on devices of their choosing;
use of Live@Edu, podcasting and IM; note-taking; appointment synching;
ubiquitous campus wifi
• Scenario#3
– student collaboration; students booking meeting rooms; social learning
zones; augmented classes + voting with twitter; laptop loan
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6. Scenarios  Vision
Learning technologies not isolated :
interaction with personal and
administrative systems and underlying
infrastructure are major determinants of
the quality of the overall experience
Approved: we set up & train staff to use
Recommended: staff set up & we train
to integrate
Recognised: watch how staff use them
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7. Aspirational ‘thresholds’
• All teaching staff will be provided with laptops (and a monitor, keyboard and mouse)
• All teaching rooms will have a means of plugging a laptop into a large screen or projector
• All staff and students will be able to access WiFi from anywhere within MMU
• All students will receive a personalised timetable and assignment submission deadlines
and be notified rapidly of any changes to either
• All students will be able to book small teaching rooms when rooms are not timetabled
• All students can expect their engagement to be monitored for active progress review
• All staff and students can expect institutional calendar appointments and news items to be
made available for use on personal devices where legally and technically possible
• Every Unit will have a presence in the VLE
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8. Aspirational integration
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9. Review criteria
• Fitness to vision
• Fitness to transformation timeline (EQAL now on scene!)
• Robustness and scalability
• Value-for-money
• Avoiding lock-in
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10. Review outcomes
• VLE
– Hosted Moodle + Equella repository
• Enhanced Learning Resources
– Talis Aspire reading lists
– Apple Podcast producer + Blueberry Flashback PC client
• Classroom tech
– Wifi + large-screen
• E-PDP / E-Portfolio
– Continue trials + decide Q1 2011
• Digital Literacy
– Define thresholds for staff + develop training
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11. Next steps #1
• VLE
– Moodle deployment linked to major curriculum review (EQAL)
• Moodle available October 2010 for staff teaching Jan 2011 starters
• Moodle populated with 2011/12 Units in March 2011 ...
– EQAL proposing threshold Unit presence in VLE
• timetable, reading list, hand-ins, marks ... agree in June
• exploring migration options in context of EQAL
– Looking initially at Equella to complement not replace Moodle file store
• Past papers, CLA scanned book chapters, campus-restricted video ...
• Learning Resources
– Talis Aspire – tighter control on book fund + smarter recommendation
– Podcast – Flashback on all staff PCs
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12. Next steps #2
Learning Technologies Review part 2 – Jan 2011
• collaborative conferencing technology
• mobile learning
• electronic library
• creation and commissioning of media-rich content; and
• development of an integrated staff portal
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13. Thanks for listening
Hope it was useful!
Read more at:
http://lrt.mmu.ac.uk/ltreview/
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