Approaches To E-Learning: The Users’ Perspective

1. Approaches To E-Learning:The Users’ Perspective • Contents • Session Aims • Hands-on Session • Discussion Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY Email B.Kelly@ukoln.ac.uk URL http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ UKOLN is supported by:

2. Session Aims • The aims of this session are: • To gain hands-on experience of key e-learning technologies • To reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the tools • To help to identify the technologies which may be appropriate for use in your organisation

3. Hands-On Exercises • You should now: • Work through the exercises in the handout • Work in pairs and discuss your findings • Start at different points in the handout: • Exercise 1 Online Tutorial • Exercise 2 Instant Messaging • Exercise 5 Application Areas (Blogs & Wikis) • Exercise 10 Formats (Flash & SMIL) • Exercise 11 Learning Environments • Bookmark <http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/trieste-2004/#urls> as this contains links to the resources in the handout

4. E Updates • In exercise 8.4 you can use: • Seedwiki at <http://www.seedwiki.com/> • Swiki at <http://www.swiki.net/~lisbk/ICTP-2004/1> • Use username / account ID ICTP-2004

5. Discussion • Have you come across anything new? • Are there any technologies which seem very useful? • Are there any technologies which disappoint you?

6. Exercise 1 Using An Online Tutorial • The Virtual Training Suite (VTS): • Funded by the JISC for the UK Higher/ Further Education sector • Initially covered small range of subject areas, but due to popularity, coverage extended • Learning approach embedded (discover, review & reflect) What did you like about it and what could be improved?

7. Exercise 2 & 3 Using Instant Messaging (IM) • You’ve used the MSN Messenger Instant Messaging (IM) software: • IM can provide immediacy not available with email • IM can provide addition features, such as sharing applications • IM can be very interruptive • IM software is not interoperable (MSN and AOL IDs can’t easily communicate) What did you like about IM and what could be improved?

8. Exercise 4 Using Jabber Instant Messaging • Jabber: • Open source IM initiative, with variety of clients & servers • Not reliant on organisations such as Microsoft and AOL • Currently limited functionality • Interesting ideas under development such as BuddySpace from the Open University (UK) What did you like about Jabber and what could be improved?

9. Exercise 5 Using A Bulletin Board • phpBB: • A bulletin board application • Open source • Growing in popularity • How do I find out about such forums? • Is the data locked away? What did you like about phpBB and what could be improved?

10. Exercise 6 Using A Blog • Blog (Web log): • An online diary • Easy-to-use software for creating Blogs • Often use open standards (e.g. RSS) • Can be used: • For student learning logs • To develop collective memory on courses http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. What role can Blogs have in e-learning?

11. Exercise 8 An internal link Wikis • A Wiki: • Collaboratively-edited Web site • A Wiki: • Avoids need for students to spend valuable time in learning HTML tools • Develops community working and trust What role can Wikis have in e-learning?

12. Exercise 9 Orkut Social Network • Orkut: • Example of a social network • Social networks: • Further developcommunity working • Can be importance in distance learning and remote support What role can social networks have in e-learning?

13. Exercise 10 Flash • Flash: • Popular file format for creating interactive Web resources • Note: • Flash is a proprietary format • Does not easily integrate with W3C architecture • Problems withaccessibility What are the advantages and disadvantages of Flash?

14. Exercise 10 SMIL And SVG • SMIL and SVG: • Open standards for synchronised multimedia and vector graphics • Based on XML • But: • How mature are they? • Are tools and expertise readily available? • Do they have a role to play in your e-learning environment? What are the advantages and disadvantages of SMIL?

15. Exercise 12 MTS Open Courseware • Why bother developing e-learning resources? • It is expensive • You might be better using your scarce resources for other activities • Quality e-learning resources are available for free! • But: • The learning resource isn't the only factor • Learning support is also needed What other issues did you consider?

16. Exercise 13 VLEs • VLEs: • Virtual Learning Environments • Is this the solution to your e-learning? • How do you go about evaluating VLEs? • Or should you using CMSs, Blogs, Wikis, … to develop your own e-learning environment?

17. Exercise 14 MLEs • MLE: • Managed Learning Environment • "refers to the whole range of information systems and processes of a college or university (including its VLE if it has one) that contribute directly, or indirectly, to learning and the management of that learning."<http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=mle_overview> • A VLE can be one component of an MLE

18. Exercise 14 MSc Healthcare Informatics (1) • Applicants will need: • Information about course, requirements, costs, support, … • Advice on technical requirements for (a) online application process & (b) course itself

19. Exercise 14 MSc Healthcare Informatics (2) • Students will need information on: • Course • Progress • Fellow students • Support • …

20. Exercise 14 MSc Healthcare Informatics (3) • Course administrators will need to monitor: • Course modules • Students' progress • Posting to bulletin boards • Support queries • …

21. Exercise 14 MSc Healthcare Informatics (3) • Course administrators will need to monitor: • Students' progress • Posting to bulletin boards • Support queries • …

22. Questions