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The Way Forward. The future use of Learning Technologies in the University of Brighton Dr R Stanier. The past & the present. The past Bill Atkinson - a man with a vision The present A variety of sophisticated technologies that allow the creation of a rich learning & teaching
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The Way Forward The future use of Learning Technologies in the University of Brighton Dr R Stanier
The past & the present • The past Bill Atkinson - a man with a vision • The present A variety of sophisticated technologies that allow the creation of a rich learning & teaching environment
Mind Reading... Please mentally select a card and concentrate on it. I will perform this feat via mind control...
Mind Reading... And now, whisper the name of your card out loud.Please don't skip this part, it is very important.
Mind Reading... I have selected your card and have removed it from the pile. Surprised?
The Human Factor • It’s the Human input that counts • Learning technologies are simply a set of tools for humans to create with • Bill Atkinson saw the potential for ordinary people to drive the technology
So why bother? • Student expectations • JISC, QAA & RAE • Marketing • Keeping up with other institutions • Not forgetting learning & teaching & the student experience!
What have we got already? • Student Intranet - cheap & cheerful • Minimal Realisable Expectation • Standard Technologies • Lots of enthusiasm • But we need more...
Online … calendars Discussion groups Structured content assessment Revision systems Email & News communities Student tracking Information Access Information Management Consider this... • All information accessible on & off campus • A simple mechanism for creating online courses, content & assessment • Discussion groups for student/tutor & student/student communication • A student centred environment to aid information management
Information Management • Learning is now about information management as much as it is about subject matter • Average 52,000 hits for parasitology • Huge variety of different information sources
What’s needed... • We need to increase staff IT Skills • We need to be able to make appropriate choices about the technology • To respond to student expectations & adapt to changes in learning cultures • All this needs appropriate support...
Learning Technologies Group • Providing Learning Technology services • Academic Liaison • Training • Design • Help define standards
LTSOs • Facilitating the process • Local knowledge • Enthusiasm
Learning Technologies Network • Drawn from all subject areas • Early adopters • Subject-specific knowledge • Enthusiasm
Site Information Services Support • Computer Officers & Course Resource Officers • Site-based service • Support academic use of technologies in the learning & teaching process
What's available outside the University • JISC - Joint Information Systems Council • LTSN - Learning & Teaching Support Network • E-University
The importance of JISC as a driving force in UKHE • DNER • MLE • JANET • Advice • Support? • MANs • Innovation • International Relations
How do we go forward? • Big Bang? or • Planned Cultural Evolution
The Big Bang Theory - Coventry • £1m over 3 years • Driven by directorate • 30 strong task force • All modules listed
The Big Bang Theory - Coventry “I cried when they made me use WebCT” • Resistance from staff • Take up greatest where high level of technical support • QAA average = 20.1
University of Brighton • We have £60,000 over 2 years • Task force of 11 (LTSOs & steering group) • Policy of facilitation rather than dictation • QAA average = 21.6
The way forward • Capitalise on what we’re good at - Teaching • Planned Cultural Evolution • Make best use of the support available -LTSOs & LTG • Being able to make appropriate choices • Using content NOT developing it
The future • Richer and more interactive content & learning support • Easier content production & access • Mobile Communications - the prefered method of communication • Digital TV - ubiquitous technology