Empowering, encouraging and engaging staff with learning technology: A case study of flexible and developing modes of staff development Rachel Challen, Jon Rhodes and Paul Towers, University of Wolverhampton JISC RSC 24 th February 2012 Online Webinar

Todays team Rachel Jon Paul

Todays session Background to UoW and where BLU sit in the Institution Three approaches to staff development Building blocks Menus Blended Learning weeks Lessons learnt Future plans

Background to the University of Wolverhampton students 2500 staff 8 academic schools 4 teaching campuses Support departments, including IT services, LIS, Marketing and ILE

The Institute for Learning Enhancement

The Blended Learning Unit (BLU) Advisors 5 BLU Advisors All qualified teachers and all with Certified Membership of the Association of Learning Technologists (CMALT)

Law, Social Sciences and Communications School of Art and Design School of Applied Science School of Education Wolverhampton Business School School of Technology School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure School of Health and Wellbeing

Learning Works: Refocusing the Curriculum Aims Focused on student need and demand Supported by consistently good teaching Underpinned by effective resources, physical and virtual Integrated with technology To improve the student experience

Opportunities of LW for staff development Building up communication channels Shifting perception of BLU Access to discipline-based module teams

Questions from the floor

Approach 1: Building Blocks platform-related activity-based 'learner-centric'

Questions from the floor

Approach 2: Menu of Choice

Questions from the floor

Approach 3: BL weeks. Whole-team intervention, entitled ‘Blended Learning Weeks’ Migration of all BLU members Pooling resources, knowledge and expertise.

The School of Art & Design 30 staff attending sessions Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching staff

The Wolverhampton Business School 50 staff attended sessions Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching staff An undergraduate BL week followed by a postgraduate BL week

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.  The introduction of staff e-Mentors, supporting the development of early adopters.

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.  The introduction of staff e-Mentors, supporting the development of early adopters.  The development of School-specific BL strategies.

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.  The introduction of staff e-Mentors, supporting the development of early adopters.  The development of School-specific BL strategies.  Ongoing relationships which were initially built with staff during the BL Weeks.

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.  The introduction of staff e-Mentors, supporting the development of early adopters.  The development of School-specific BL strategies.  On-going relationships which were initially built with staff during the BL Weeks.  Building new relationships with other staff following the ‘ripple- effect’ of impact felt from the BL Weeks.

Unexpected and exciting outcomes that have evidenced the weight of change within the University and individual Schools has been:  The staging of School ‘BL Festivals,’ in which staff showcase innovative practice for adoption by others.  The introduction of staff e-Mentors, supporting the development of early adopters.  The development of School-specific BL strategies.  Ongoing relationships which were initially built with staff during the BL Weeks.  Building new relationships with other staff following the ‘ripple- effect’ of impact felt from the BL Weeks.  The continued engagement of staff already adopting blended approaches to learning and teaching and also the engagement of academics for whom blended learning is a new approach.

Questions from the floor

Challenges Resistance Sharing Fear

Engaging staff in Blended Learning: lessons learnt Enhance Unpack Integrate Trust Understanding Buy-in

Questions from the floor

Conclusion Constant reviewing Reflective and reflexive nature Embedding numerous factors

Questions from the floor

Rachel Challen Jon Rhodes Paul Towers