JISC

This project has changed it's name from Joining Academic Curriculum Design and Workflow (JACDAW)

Overview

The University of Cambridge's devolved organisation and traditions of small-group and cross-departmental teaching are prized by academics and students, for their flexibility and focus on the individual. The University wishes to retain this system while also increasing student numbers and subject diversity.

Originally known as JACDAW (Joining Academic Curriculum Design and Workflow), the project was renamed Course Tools in mid 2009 in order to better reflect its scope and objectives.

Aims and objectives

Create IT support for curriculum design, update and organisation, which reduces administrative burdens and sustains flexibility. Investigate Kuali Student as a platform for delivering such support, including integration with existing IT systems. Conform with new local guidelines for teaching and learning support projects.

Project methodology

The project will engage widely in the University while working closely with a small group of partner teaching institutions to develop IT support tools. CARET will provide development resource and project management. A steering committee will be formed in consultaton with project partners, to ensure the project meets their needs and conforms with the University's strategies for teaching and learning and IT.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

New IT support for curriculum management, offering improvements in flexibility and use of resources, in use by a number of course organisers, lecturers and students in partner institutions and available by opt-in throughout the University. Availability to UK HE institutions of local expertise and experience of Kuali Student.

Technology / Standards used

The project will investigate and evaluate the Phoebe Pedagogic Planner, and the Kuali Student Learning Unit Management system. It will where appropriate draw on the COVARM course validation reference model, the P-SPEX domain map of programme specification, the XCRI programme specification schema and the OpenSyllabus course management system for Sakai VLEs.