Distance Blending Learning Aims of e Learning To

Distance & Blending Learning

Aims of e. Learning To provide additional educational material to traditional universities students in order to • • Improve teaching in relation to contact hours Facilitate team teaching Improve student accessibility Accommodate a wider range of learning modes

Aims of Distance Learning To provide educational material to those unable to take a traditional university course or module because of • • • Their Location Their home responsibilities Their work responsibilities A disability Their own preferences

What are VLEs? Collection of integrated tools enabling the management of online learning, providing a delivery mechanism, student tracking, assessment and access to resources. -JISC Many versions available including Moodle, Blackboard & HTML

Virtual Learning Environments Tools Knowledge Dissemination • Module Guide • Power. Point Archive • Podcasts • Vodcasts Student Collaboration: • Discussion Boards • Wikis • Blogs • Read and Response Assessment • Essay Submission & Feedback • Plagiarism Detection Activities • Surveys • Quizzes

Virtual Learning Environments Benefits • • • Save a Tree! Course information easily accessible Hyperlinked access to sources Use of subscription-based online resources Consistency among seminar groups Transferable skills (for you and students)

Graduate Transferable Skills • • Time management Administration Facilitation of small and large groups Organise different types of material Expanding knowledge in other disciplines Teaching outside the comfort zone Course design

Virtual Learning Environments Considerations Technological • Substantial initial investment of time • Hidden workload maintaining VLE • Reliance on technology beyond your control Human • Perception that technology will replace contact hours • Staff Resistance • Student Resistance and Excuses • Humanities students do not learn how to use library