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Topic: Learner Experience
DIY augmented reality apps
A recent survey suggests that over 71% of 16-24 year olds use smart phones in the UK. And with all the recent advancements in technology you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to create engaging resources for these hand-held … Read more
The year MOOCs got real?
If 2012 was ‘The Year of the MOOC’ then 2013 seems to be the year that the MOOC got real. Announcements from FutureLearn and the EU, and moves into offering academic credit and proctored examinations from Coursera and Udacity take … Read more
No need for angst over analytics
You know those words that gradually start to crop up more and more frequently until you feel you really should find out more? In academic circles, ‘analytics’ is probably one of those words. The Wikipedia definition is a bit dry … Read more
How digitised ‘special’ collections are boosting experiences of teaching and learning
The recent media frenzy that surrounded the launch of the Jisc-funded Bomb Sight website, which saw visitor numbers soar to about 200k in just one day, is testimony to the wide-spread public interest in the type of content that is, … Read more
Feline the effects of OERs
As very small children we are taught that it’s good to share and as adults, academics get lots of recognition when they do share their teaching resources openly. Initiatives like the HEFCE-funded UKOER programme, Open Education Week and OER13 all … Read more
MOOCs and Open Courses – what’s the difference?
The term Massively Open Online Course (MOOC) is increasingly being used generically – covering all forms on online learning at scale. But to do this makes a number of unsafe assumptions around intent and pedagogy – simply grouping everything by … Read more
5 top tips to enhance your students’ experience
The student experience is always high on the agenda for any educational establishment. Word of mouth plays a big part in the marketing of any product and education is no different. If students don’t have a positive and enjoyable experience, … Read more
Technology in education – new battle lines
With recent news of a school in Bolton ditching pens and paper for iPads, is the e-learning ‘battle’ being won? Peter Shukie, programme leader of education studies at University Centre, Blackburn College, argues that, ‘whatever is being done with technology … Read more
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
Many of us are aware of the potential benefits mobile learning can offer. It can allow learners to communicate with tutors and peers, as well as providing access to learning resources whenever needed. However, utilising technology to offer such a … Read more
Who’s afraid of the big bad Wolf? – Advice on curriculum planning for further education management
I was working late in my office the other night, at Chesterfield College when there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer in strolled a furry looking chap who put the kettle on and settled himself … Read more
Is embedding digital literacy in your curriculum working for you?
I believe that developing digital literacies within your organization is key to providing a dynamic and engaging experience for every learner, but we all know that co-ordinating this across the whole college can sometimes be a challenge, so what’s the … Read more
How e-portfolios helped us to improve our college’s digital literacy
I am the learning zone and e-learning manager at Deeside College. I work with an extremely dedicated group of people with a passion for taking the student forward and developing real world skills. The students too are a wonderful group, … Read more
Harnessing new technologies to boost engagement for library instruction
Times have changed beyond recognition for college librarians: we are no longer thought of as softly-spoken, book stamping people with a bun and a cardigan, and our job titles have changed too: research/information specialists, learning resources tutors, e-librarians and more. … Read more
Wikipedia in universities and colleges?
Here at JISC we are lucky enough to have a view across the education sectors in teaching, learning and research. I’m delighted to be at the EduWiki Conference this week, which is run by the Wikimedia UK Foundation and brings … Read more
Two universities share experience of curriculum redesign
Savvy students will choose to attend universities and colleges that offer them an excellent student experience. As learners become more discerning about their choice of course they will make use of services such as Unistats to compare courses and the … Read more
No such thing as a free MOOC
In his recent JISC blog, David Kernohan asks: ‘Why bother paying inflated fees to attend university? …What if you could get it all for free, online?’ Of course, it is tongue in cheek, because as my title above suggests, you … Read more
Behind the headlines of the new JISC Techdis tools – a personal view
It isn’t often that when I am delivering a plenary session at a conference that the audience is moved to tears, but that is exactly what happened at ND2012. Let me explain what happened…. It was the final plenary on … Read more
Developing digitial literacies for working in a digital world
We heard this week that too many young people lack the social skills needed to get their first job. The report by the Work Foundation (PDF) doesn’t explicitly mention digital literacy, but perhaps it should. With an estimated 90% of … Read more
Where there’s MOOC, there’s brass?
Why bother paying inflated fees to attend university? Why pay to spend three years living on a campus, attending seminars and tutorials, running up debts? What if you could get it all for free, online? This is the compelling pitch … Read more
Blackboard’s new open source strategy: how virtual learning environments became commodities
Unthinkable a couple of years ago, and it still feels a bit April 1st: Blackboard has taken over two other virtual learning environment organisations: the Moodlerooms and NetSpot Moodle support companies in the US and Australia. Arguably as important is … Read more
How important are open ebook standards to universities?
Ebook standards may lack the glamour that the technology attracts, but the arrival of ePub3 has the potential to transform how the academy creates and delivers its content to students and researchers. Just weeks into the New Year and already … Read more
Apple’s new iBooks: a force for good?
JISC has long been associated with licensing and exploring ebooks for education, and research by JISC Collections has shown increasing numbers of students enthusiastic about such resources as publishers and librarians seek to find suitable business models in a changing … Read more
Remembrance Day: an opportunity to revisit our cultural heritage around WW1
The legacy of World War One in terms of social, economic and political global change cannot be overstated; it changed the individual’s view of society and their place within it with far-reaching effects into their future and our past. In … Read more
OER in the field: institutions solving problems openly
Is your institution ‘open’? Open education resources are becoming an essential component of academic practice. With the uncertainties of a new funding model to deal with, it is becoming harder than ever to convince institutional managers to support nice-to-have projects. … Read more
Looking to transform your curriculum?
It is a challenging time to be educating the next generation of learners. As fees increase, so do the expectations of learners who need top-quality courses with a broad appeal that equip them effectively for future employment. Keeping the curriculum … Read more
Imagine Google without a search box
If you are looking for audiovisual content it is hard to know where to start. Google can search vast amounts but there is a whole section on the web that is only available to education, and Google by itself is … Read more
Engage students through blogging
Blogging is a well-established vehicle for personal reflection and commentary and can play an effective part in the delivery of formal curricula. But blogs and social networking sites also have the potential to engage students and improve the quality of … Read more
Why we can’t afford not to invest in technology
At JISC’s recent annual conference, both Professor Eric Thomas (Vice Chancellor of Bristol University) and I stressed that higher education cannot afford to slow down in its adoption of information and communications technology (ICT). Quite the contrary: the challenging financial … Read more
Using digital media to improve teaching and learning
Accessing freely available media digital content and tools can be an effective way to improve educational provision and maximize resources in difficult times. On the other hand, without support, a sharing of best practice and awareness what we’re getting into … Read more
Meeting students’ needs to improve retention
There are clear financial benefits for universities and colleges in ensuring that as many students as possible complete their course. Equally learners are paying more than ever for their education, so will be keen to see a return on their … Read more
Online Distance Learning: whose future?
To me, one of the enormous surprises regarding the Browne review of Higher Education funding was the complete absence of any mention of online or blended delivery. Here was a report about the future of the delivery of education at … Read more
NUS report on technology: a personal response
This report to the Higher Education Funding Council for England by the National Union of Students had the remit to ‘gain a broad overview of the level of demand from students – new and potential – for online learning provision … Read more
JISC on Air – new online broadcast explores student recruitment
Today, another round of UCAS applications gets underway with the first of the application deadlines. Meanwhile, new students are settling into universities up and down the country. But how many of them will have embarked upon the right course? Lord … Read more
