Supporting further and higher education Setting the scene Rhona Sharpe Learner Experience Support Project

e-learning and Pedagogy Overall aim: ensure that e- learning in UK post-16 sector is pedagogically sound, learner-focused and accessible. First theme: design for learning –Practitioner planning perspective Second theme: understanding my learning (learners experience of learning) –Learner participating perspective

Aims learner experience strand Review and investigate how learners experience and participate in e-learning Help practitioners support learners with different needs, experiences and preferences Help developers to design systems that: –support a wide range of learning tasks/interactions –meet different learner needs (access, competence) –and enable positive learning experiences Helping other researchers and e-learning experts gather information about learners experiences of e-learning Helping learners improve their personal practice and effectiveness in e-learning contexts

Key research questions How do learners experience [a particular approach or activity] in e-learning? What do they actually do when required to learn in this way? What makes for an effective e-learner/ effective e-learning in this kind of situation? What aspects of the learner merit closer scrutiny, beyond their observable behaviours? What aspects of the learner experience /approach seem particularly effective and can possibly be built upon further?

Scoping, Support & Synthesis Learner Experience of e-Learning (LEX) Experiences of e-Learning: Exploring subject differences (Learner XP) and, funded by Higher Education Academy, Review of the undergraduate experience of blended e-learning Learner experience projects

The scoping study literature review confirmed that the learner perspective on e-learning has been largely overlooked in research and development projects. It was found that much of the existing literature is teacher focused and focused on evaluations of specific courses and/or technologies. This study made recommendations for the research questions and methodology to be undertaken by subsequent projects. Scoping, support & synthesis

Learners take a holistic view of their learning Learners respond differently in the same situation Generalisations: learning experience is dominated by issues of emotionality, time and (e-)learning skills Differentiations: learning experience is dominated by issues of difference e.g. prior experience, culture, disability Scoping, support & synthesis

Key questions How do learners engage with and experience e-learning? What strategies do e-learners use? What might characterise effective learners in an e-learning context? What are appropriate methodologies for capturing the e-learners experience?

This project is conducting interviews and focus groups with learners across the post-16 educational sectors in order to capture the role and impact of technology to their learning. The project views e-learners as experts on their own experience, and is using interpretative phenomenological analysis to elicit the nature of that experience. Learner Experience of e-learning (LEX)

holistic views of e-learning To me its just learning, the fact that its online as opposed to in a classroom is irrelevant. Its just another way of accessing it. Its all just learning... I think it depends on where youre coming from what it means to you, but for me I just think of it as learning and I dont use the term [e- learning]. (Experienced e-learner in LEX study, Creanor et al, 2006)

This project will explore how learners' experiences with e-learning differ in different learning and teaching contexts. The project is working in collaboration with a number of HEA subject centres to develop in-depth learner studies. Learners' experiences and beliefs will be captured using audio-logs, observations, and structured interviews based around artefacts produced by learners themselves, as well as focus groups. Learner experiences of e- learning: exploring subject differences (LearnerXP)

1.How is the term blended learning being used in higher education? 2.What are the underlying rationales being used for promoting blended learning? 3.What monitoring and evaluation strategies are being adopted for ensuring and enhancing the quality of blended learning? 4.What impact is blended learning having on the student experience? 5.What are the success factors for blended learning? HEA review of undergraduate experiences of blended e-learning

learner experience studies These projects are intended to complement the practitioner planning/designing perspective (intentional, curriculum-based, modular) with learner participating perspective, which is: –holistic –longitudinal –developmental –affective –differentiated

Recommendations for practitioners support learners with different needs, experiences and preferences for developers to design systems for other researchers and e-learning experts gather information about learners experiences of e-learning for learners improve their personal practice and effectiveness in e-learning contexts

Methodological issues Aiming for a methodology other projects can use. How do we elicit learners experiences of e- learning, without using this term or asking directly? (elicitation techniques, interviewing tips and tricks) How should data gathered from learners be analysed to ensure we do justice to the learners own perspective and voice, while addressing our key research questions (methodological tension)?

Consultation questions Do the accounts of learners experience of e-learning fit with your expectations and experience? What new light does it shed? What are the really significant findings? How effective is the developing methodology and the techniques for data collection? How could they be improved? How should we interpret these findings in relation to (a) learner-centred practice (b) learner-centred policies and organisational strategies? What gaps are there? Which questions/ techniques/learners need further study? What forms should final outcomes and recommendations take?