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EQAL Access : Driving VLE Adoption Through Curriculum and Business

Process Review

Dr Neil Ringan – Assistant Head (Learning Innovation)Navdeep Hundal – E-Learning Support Officer

Learning & Research TechnologiesManchester Metropolitan University

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• Background Context

• Process

• What Have We Achieved

• Impacts and Challenges

• Ongoing Development

Session Overview

Background Context

Learning Technologies Review (Nov 2009 – Feb 2010)

• Replacement for existing VLE (Blackboard WebCT Vista)• Online support for assessment & feedback• Rich media creation, storage and discovery• Electronic Library services integration• Mobile technologies• Classroom technologies• Seamless systems integration• Scenarios and use-cases to model

http://lrt.mmu.ac.uk/ltreview/

Background Context

EQAL Initiative (June 2010 – present)

• Comprehensive curriculum and business process review• Focus on achieving step change in academic provision • Entire undergraduate curriculum remodelled and rewritten

– Levels 3 and 4 implementation : 2011-12 academic year– Level 5 : 2012-13, Level 6 : 2013-14

• Simpler, higher quality structures and processes• New ways of delivering learning and academic provision

http://www.celt.mmu.ac.uk/eqal/

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Strand 3 : Seamless, Personalised Student Experience

New integrated VLE Personal Timetables & Assessment PDPs and showcasing talent

Strand 2 : Organisational InfrastructureTimetables Assessment Academic Database Student hubs & SIPs Supporting processes

& regulations

Strand 4 : Quality Assurance & Enhancement of ProvisionSimplified QA Academic calendar

Strand 1 : Curriculum Structure & DeliveryCurriculum Programmes

EQAL Overview

EQAL Strand 3 Objectives• New integrated VLE• More effective use of the VLE for active learning, with all modules

in the VLE, and all teaching staff having appropriate skills in its use• Reliable personalised information for students, readily accessible

by multiple means • e.g. personal timetables & assessment schedules on mobile devices

• Active support for student employability through facilitating PDP and showcasing student talent

• Ensure staff can take full advantage of the tools to support learning

Process• Learning technology review to support EQAL implementation

• Curriculum design starting point for all downstream activities

• Unit Specification pro-forma to capture all core data

• Data recorded and stored once, used repeatedly

• Choosing systems to support seamless integration

• Centrally co-ordinated, faculty-based e-learning support officers

• Staff development focussed on technology supporting new learning outcomes and assessment strategies

What Have We Achieved ?• Moodle implemented as new institutional VLE• Seamless integration with other MMU systems

• Student Records• Coursework Receipting• Timetabling• Library and e-resources• Rich media server• Content repository

• Automated links between systems based on internal tagging• No requirement for academic staff to manage links

Monday, May 1, 2023 IoE Staff Development DayJuly 4th 2011

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Unit Specification Pro-forma

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ELSO role and impact on staff• One ELSO per Faculty• Centralised team located in Faculty• Supporting academics colleagues embedding Moodle into their

practice• Support and advice from a pedagogic viewpoint• Providing hands on staff training sessions, covering basics,

advanced, assessment, plagiarism, podcasting • Creating centralised training resources • Staff were able to receive one-to-one support and guidance• ELSO’s were able to collect feedback directly from the ground

Impacts• Threshold Standard “Technology to Support & Enhance Learning”

• In excess of 95% of Level 3 & 4 EQAL units at or above threshold

• Staff digital literacy strategy, embedded in annual review process

• Increases in student perception of course organisation and learning resources (internal and NSS)

• Greater integration between online and face-to-face activities

Challenges• Consistency between units and across programmes• Accuracy of data and understanding of how/where to correct• Moving beyond the VLE as a content repository• Staff engagement and motivation• Time• Varying degrees of understanding and expertise• Confidence

Lessons Learned• Timing and preparation • Staff buy in - involvement of Faculty academic leads in

testing feature releases key in highlighting issues arising• Keeping it short and simple• ELSO team model success • Basic computer literacy

Monday, May 1, 2023 IoE Staff Development DayJuly 4th 2011

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Ongoing Developments• Rollout to Levels 5 and 6 of EQAL

• Accuracy of data and understanding of how/where to correct

Recognised

Recommended

Arranged

Core integrate

d VLE

Apple Podcast

Turnitin Plagiarism

Equella

Windows Live

MaharaiTunes via RSS

YouTubeTwitter

SkyDrive

GoogleDocsWordPress

Facebook

Ning

Screenr

AudacityGrademarkFlashback

Classroom LT Infrastructure

iTunesU

Bristol Online Surveys

Active Inspire

Adobe Connect

PollEverywhere

Blogger

Talis Aspire

SkypeFlickr

MbClick

Dropbox

PebblePad

EndNote

Windows Movie Maker