Report on JISC L&T experts group meeting 23rd March 2011 (#jiscexperts11)

Report on L&T experts group meeting 23rd March 2011 (#jiscexperts11)

Attended by Rob Howe

The main aims of the day were:

• To update the group on the findings from the Supporting Learners in a Digital Age (SLiDA) study
• To update and consult with the Experts on emerging findings from the Lifelong Learning and Workforce development programme
• To update and consult with the Experts on emerging findings from the e-Portfolio Implementations Study

Rhona Sharpe presented on the SLiDA project and interim findings. A number of breakout sessions allowed members to explore some key themes in more depth. I attended the session on ‘strategic emphasis on course design for blended learning.’ The group noted the importance of the correct departmental setup and good promotion of this. Robust technology should be available and staff need to be competent in its use — staff digital competence may need to be addressed (noted that there may be subject differences in enthusiasm and adoption). The use of the CAIeRO process at Northampton does help address a number of the previously mentioned issues. Case studies were noted as valuable but often difficult to obtain. Example from Winchester at wblb.wordpress.com

The group indicated that induction should not be an option and it does impact on retention.

Rhona concluded by indicating that the next digital literacy workshops are now advertised.

The next main block covered how technology is supporting lifelong learning and workforce development. Two points noted in the introduction were the need for flexible institutional policies and a policy on information sharing. Xcri was mentioned several times as a standard for sharing course information between sites. Other potential sites useful to follow up were the maturity toolkit and the Pineapple project. (Apel processes). The projects represented were:

• Workforce engagement in lifelong learning -maturity toolkit³ , Peter Chatterton, University of Bradford
• Partnership investigations into accredited prior/previous learning⁴, Neil Witt, University of Plymouth
• Middlesex University skills & education planning tool⁵ , George Dafoulas, Middlesex University                  
• e-Portfolio based pedagogy for SMEs⁶, Alison Felce, University of Wolverhampton
• Technology enhanced learning to support a welsh centre for workforce development and Building Capacity project⁷ , Loretta Newman-Ford, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC)                          
• Culture Campus Liverpool Portal⁸, Trish Lunt, University of Liverpool

A detailed discussion on the e-portfolio implementation study followed. This raised a number of questions which may be of use for Northampton’s own strategy within this area.

The final 3 sessions covered :

Circuit Warz – virtual worlds within Moodle

Aston’s development of a CMS similar to BITE

Concept linkage through C-link. This is a search and concept map builder which searches for links between two concepts and builds a map of the relationship. This tool could have potential use within a number of subject areas at Northampton.

Other points of note during the day:

The Jisc on air radio show – JISC’s L:earning and Teaching Radio show

Poss future call for digital literacy development site wide