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Internationalisation of Modules: A Blended Online Learning Approach

Internationalisation of Modules: A Blended Online Learning Approach. Dr. Julie Greensmith School of Computer Science University of Nottingham. Overview. Introductions Collaboration with UNMC G53NMD: An Online Module Technological Constraints A reflection of challenges and successes

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Internationalisation of Modules: A Blended Online Learning Approach

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  1. Internationalisation of Modules:A Blended Online Learning Approach • Dr. Julie Greensmith • School of Computer Science • University of Nottingham

  2. Overview • Introductions • Collaboration with UNMC • G53NMD: An Online Module • Technological Constraints • A reflection of challenges and successes • Future blended learning approaches

  3. Who am I? • Lecturer in Computer Science - 5 years • Research in Artificial Immune Systems • PhD, Anne-McLaren Fellow • Teaching modules at all levels • Software Engineering (Level 1) - FSE • New Media Design (Level 3/4) - NMD

  4. What is G53NMD • New Media Design covers: • interaction design • graphic design for computer scientists • emerging new and social media technologies • advanced webdev and content management • 10 Credit Module for final year/PGT • 100% Coursework assessment • 75% Group Project, 25% Individual component

  5. Forming a Collaboration • Collaboration formed almost by chance • A member of our teaching staff was seconded to UNMC • Assigned the same two modules of software engineering and new media design • Decided to combine our experience to deliver the modules together

  6. My Collaborator

  7. Past History • My collaborator is Dr. Tim Brailsford • Head of School on UNMC • Tim taught the predecessor module - Principles of Multi-Media (2002-2008) • Had already recorded a series of online lectures as .avi movies • used screen capture on powerpoint and talked over the slides • Had experimented previously pairing lecture videos with online learning environment via a class forum

  8. A tradition of technology • Tim had set a precedence to “teach multi-media with multimedia” • The video slide lectures were hard to follow • a disembodied voice is hard to listen to for a long period of time • Used videocasts instead of formal lectures • used the lecture time to hold group meetings and workshops

  9. A Blended Learning Approach • Initially aimed at MSc Management of Information Technology students • Provided a more mature and flexible approach to learning for postgrads • Weekly video slide lectures supported by an online forum • discuss the material • provide additional resources • A small amount of credits available for participation in the online forum discussions

  10. Internationalisation • Teaching materials online • easily shared between campuses • Web based wiki or forum • can be accessed by both UK and MY students • Work on the same coursework assignments • halved the workload of setting assessments

  11. Team Teaching • Not a purely online course • needs some local supervision • running labs and workshops • Prepare all online materials together • makes for better online material • Local coordinator on each campus • simply ‘shepherding’ the material

  12. Making It Work • Get together twice per year • content review • setting assessments • recording new and updated materials • Try to keep in close contact during the teaching semester • weekly email, frequent skype

  13. It’s great!

  14. Technical Challenges • Could not run our own server for hosting our videos due to firewall restrictions • needed remote access for flexible learning • to be available for both cohorts • Were encouraged to use WebCT • could not access the same resources from UNMC • restricted to a different forum • Video editing and production may require more specialist software

  15. Our First Cross Campus Attempt • Use web 2.0 to teach web 2.0 • Used many different public web-based services: • blog at blogger.com to release each video • forum at google groups for discussion • videos hosted on youtube (comments off!!) • course updates via twitter

  16. Shared Assessment • Main group coursework to build an interactive multi-media website • Use a ‘real’ client • musicians, artists, local charity • Videolink interview with the client • Students at UNMC could discuss ideas with students from UNUK

  17. Things that worked • Using these high profile services meant better dependability • rather than maintaining a server ourselves • Did not have the cross campus restrictions as to who could register for the forum • Students from both campuses could discuss topical issues • increase student awareness of cross cultural design • Quite easy to set up!

  18. Things that didn’t work • Semesters are not synchronised • UNMC start the semester later • Set different hand in dates for the assignments • Can lead to confusion on the forums • Had to get students to sign up to services using a google ID • not ideal if someone has issue with google’s terms and conditions • and worse..

  19. ... you get busy! • It can be hard to be diligent and keep in touch with each other throughout the semester • (especially if you are a Head of School so I’m told!) • Particularly difficult as I need to set my assessment much earlier in the year • need to keep talking!

  20. 2012-13: The Moodle Years • Integrated virtual learning environment • host and serve the videos • have a main discussion forum • set a quiz to unlock online material • have a discussion forum per video resource • Both cohorts can see the same online material and can interact with each other

  21. Its a lot of effort...who benefits? • Can help introduce more specialist teaching into UNMC - big advantage • local convenor need not know all the material for the video casts (it can help) • technical questions can be forward to the specialist at UNUK • Share the teaching load with a colleague • can even ‘exchange’ with each other for a semester • Students have different backgrounds which can enhance discussions • (I won a Staff Oscar last year - looks good on my PDPR!)

  22. Leaving A Legacy • Once the technology is in place and the material is compiled its quite engaging as a convenor • spend more time working directly with your students • Update of material each year does not take too long • In theory its a simple transfer in moodle • this is a bit techy, even for me!

  23. The Future • I’m moving on to teach a new module • Plan to also use a blended learning approach, to run in parallel to formal lectures • Get online material in place first before making another internationalised module • will also try this out with UNNC

  24. Top Tips • Find a good collaborator who you know you can work with consistently • Use online material as the basis of teaching • Find a delivery mechanism that you feel you can cope with, allowing access to both cohorts • there is tech support if you chose moodle • Support online lectures with interactive workshops • Be aware of timing differences and local cultural issues

  25. The local facilitator is key!

  26. G53NMDThank you • Dr. Julie Greensmith • School of Computer Science • University of Nottingham • UK (and sometimes UNMC)

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