Towards blended and distance learning Dr Mark O’Connor, Distance Learning Technologist Curriculum Development Team, Unit for the Enhancement of Learning & Teaching

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 2 Outline Introduction  Blended / distance learning  The PGT DL pilot Example from MA Advanced Child Protection  Structure & design  Resources  Reflections Issues; further developments / next steps Questions & discussion

Introduction: Blended / distance learning Lots of issues to consider when developing distance courses: ‘Technical’ – hardware & software, multimedia, training, Internet access… Legal: accessibility, copyright, intellectual property… Practical: impact of different time zones, assessment submission, office hours… Focus today is on how Moodle can be used to support distance learners Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 3

Introduction: The PGT DL Pilot Initially looking at ~10 taught postgraduate programmes Varying degrees of ‘distance’ – some have on- campus induction, some may also include face- to-face evening or weekend sessions First modules launched in January 2013 – Child Protection programme (CCP / SSPSSR) Interest in smaller scale – modules & CPD rather than programmes Longer term: building in increased flexibility for ‘standard’ on-campus modules & programmes Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 4

Example: MA Advanced Child Protection Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 5 2 modules launched Jan 2013: SO926 “Understanding Social Research” SO926 “Understanding Social Research” SO927 “Definitions, Prevalence, Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect” SO927 “Definitions, Prevalence, Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect” Students attended on-campus Induction Week (w/b 7 th Jan 2013) Further modules: SO928 ran in Spring 2013 SO928 SO929 just started (Sept 2013) SO929

Issues Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 6 Use of ‘webinars’ - GoToMeeting Use of elearning packages (Articulate) Smaller projects – individual modules, CPD offerings, ‘tasters’ Integration / ‘mainstreaming’  Moodle, SDS, Reading Lists…  Validation / QA processes  Workload allocation Student feedback

Further developments Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 7 Continuing developments for MA Advanced Child Protection Social Policy, Value Chain Management, Conservation Biology, CPP modules Other possibilities include individual modules to increase flexibility, ‘tasters’, ‘mooc’-like courses

Questions / discussion Mark O’Connor: ELFs: ELF on Distance Learning planned for October. Possibly with lunch! As a workshop…? Bring along your current module, develop it into a DL-style. What else? moocs? Using DL ideas for on-campus modules? Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013Page 8