Engaging hearts and minds Best Practice Guide

 Resources  No Responses »
Dec 092011
 

This Best Practice Guide has been put together by the UCISA (UK Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association) Academic Support Group to provide examples of good practice in engaging academics, and other staff, in the use of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL).

The guide contains ten case studies which look at a variety of methods for engaging academics such as:

  • setting up communities of practice
  • developing intensive training and support programmes
  • incorporating TEL into Postgraduate Certificate courses
  • encouraging academics to publish their research in TEL.

Each case study describes the activity and the approach taken, provides an evaluation of the activity and discusses future developments and transferability.

Free download from http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/publications/engaging.aspx

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , ,

e-learning: The Threat and the Promise

 Articles  No Responses »
Jul 202010
 

e-learning refers to any learning process that partly or wholly uses computer technology for delivery and or support.

The concept of e-learning is not new. Psychology professor Sidney Pressey developed a mechanical teaching machine in the early 1920s. Numerous computer-based training (CBT) applications were developed in the 1980s to exploit the evolution of the personal computer. However, the proliferation of the Internet has fuelled the growth in both volume and scope of what is now known as e-learning. Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , ,

Learning Technology: The Myths and Facts

 Accessibility, Articles, Techniques  No Responses »
Jul 202010
 

This paper considers some of the major issues in the field of learning technology. It seeks to identify areas in which technology has greatest potential to contribute to the learning process, and also those areas in which the application of technology is inappropriate or detrimental.

Issues described include the support of different kinds of learner, learning environments, reusability and accessibility. Questions raised include the changing role of learning in the information age, the extent to which learning materials may be re-used and how misunderstandings between the various contributors to learning technology projects may be overcome.

The paper concludes with a description of a hypothetical example of an effective application of learning technology. Continue reading »

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5
DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Assessment

 Articles, Assessment, Techniques  No Responses »
Jul 152010
 

The only way learners can really know whether they have understood the concepts they have studied is by trying to apply those concepts, ie through some form of self assessment. Instructors too need to gauge learner understanding of course content in order to tailor review and revision activities and ultimately to award certification.

Computers are very efficient at administering a wide range of assessment types, eg multiple choice, multiple answer, numerical and short answer questions. Short answer questions require a word or short phrase as an answer and are marked by pattern-matching learner input against required answer(s). Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , , ,

Sychronous Conferencing in Distance Education

 Articles, Distance Learning, Support, Techniques  No Responses »
Jul 152010
 

A major drawback of distance education is the isolation experienced by learners. In traditional education it’s easy to seek the guidance of instructors and fellow students. Students often form informal study groups and merely being present in an academic institution can boost motivation.

e-learning technologies can help overcome the isolation of lone learners by enabling communication with instructors and peers.

Such technologies can be asynchronous, ie essentially bulletin boards where users post messages for others to view and respond to in their own time; or synchronous, ie communications take place in real time. Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , , , ,

PowerPoint Lectures

 Articles, Lectures, Techniques  No Responses »
Jul 142010
 

The use of PowerPoint and other digital media CAN greatly enhance a traditional lecture.

Pre-preparing visual aids in PowerPoint allows the instructor to select the best possible aids to support his/her message.

And once prepared presentations may be re-used or re-purposed. Use of colour, animation, sound, video clips etc can provide a highly stimulating experience for the audience. Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , , , ,

Course Material in Electronic form

 Articles, Digital content, Techniques  No Responses »
Jul 142010
 

Provision of course material in electronic form is probably the simplest application of educational technology. But is there any benefit beyond saving photocopying costs? I believe there are several.

Having material available online provides access to learning materials 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Notes cannot be forgotten or lost. And today’s busy learners can study anywhere they have Internet access.

Furthermore, material in electronic form is easily searchable. Thus learners working on assignments or revising for exams can quickly find all relevant content. Searching can also serve to identify connections between different topics, eg by demonstrating that a phrase appears prominently in several different and seemingly unconnected sections. Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with: , ,

The Benefits of Educational Technology and e-learning

 Articles  No Responses »
Jul 142010
 

Educational Technology empowers the learner. Traditionally learners enrol on a course and are given a timetable of classes which are held in a particular venue at a particular time. If the learner cannot attend, the opportunity is lost. Through technology learning resources are globally available 24/7.

Traditional classes are delivered at a pace determined by the instructor. The instructor also makes assumptions about learners expectations and prior knowledge. It is unlikely the instructor’s assumptions will be valid for every learner.

e-learning technology allows learners to access learning materials when and where they choose. If the learner already knows a topic s/he can skip the lesson, or jump straight to the assessment, just to be sure. If the learner needs to repeat a particular item s/he can do so as often as needed – without fear of embarrassment. Continue reading »

DeliciousFacebookStumbleUponDiggRedditTwitterShare
 Tagged with:
© 2011 Educational Technology Insight Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha