VLEs and meeting student expectations

1. VLEs and meeting student expectations

2. Maria Tannant – Learning Technologist mtannant@ucreative.ac.uk Tony Reeves – Learning Technologist treeves2@ucreative.ac.uk University for the Creative Arts Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone & Rochester VLEs and meeting student expectations

3. tackling negative perceptions • Towards technology and infrastructure • Multiple passwords • Bad experience with VLE • No sense of ownership or control • No identity or flexibility Led to a rebrand exercise and new start VLEs and meeting student expectations

4. VLEs and meeting student expectations

5. VLEs and meeting student expectations

6. evaluation: audit and dialogue • VLE Use Audit of course and module areas • Elearning champions and best practice identified • Areas of low or no use identified • What Works, What Doesn’t workshops with course reps • Feedback from staff Provides evidence of strengths and weakness VLEs and meeting student expectations

7. evaluation: audit and dialogue VLEs and meeting student expectations

8. parity and consistency • Inconsistent layout from module to module • Inconsistent content from course to course • Mixed expectations • Frustration and poor experience from students • No clear guidance to staff or enforcement measures Students where getting different experiences from course to course VLEs and meeting student expectations

9. using a framework for guidance • Module and course template to address inconsistencies • Minimum requirements to guide staff on content • Provides a model to build into staff induction training • Setting a standard to meet at least a basic level of expectation VLEs are more than document repositories! VLEs and meeting student expectations

10. changing the culture • Addressing staff and students concerns head on • Providing better ‘video on demand’ help and support for staff • Working with support departments • Showcasing best practice for others to learn from • Embrace cloud technologies to work alongside the VLE Review, evaluate and improve VLEs and meeting student expectations

11. workshop activities – indentify and discuss Group 1 - Evaluation How is the VLE used at your institution - what activities are occurring and by whom? What methods of evaluating the VLE are used and how do you capture various activities? Group 2 – Parity & Consistency How is inconsistent use of the VLE being addressed, and how is parity achieved at your institution? What are the advantages/disadvantages of inconsistency? E.g. does consistency stifle innovation? You have 10 minutes – write down findings and nominate group speaker VLEs and meeting student expectations

12. workshop activities – indentify and discuss Group 1 – Frameworks What measures does your institution put in place to ensure there is a minimum content requirement for the VLE. If a framework to meet students’ online expectations has been implemented, what is it and how was it achieved? Group 2 – Changing the Culture How has your institution developed a more positive approach to the VLE How have you tackled pockets of resistance with using the VLE, and what (if any) compromises have you made? You have 10 minutes – write down findings and nominate group speaker VLEs and meeting student expectations