JISC

Overview

This project will develop a suite of co-ordinated tools and services, which will use learner based timeline scenarios to assist staff to reflect upon and formalise innovative adjustments to the curriculum. These tools will utilise standard data schemas to:

• Permit the targeted querying of data rich resources such as course documents and student data.
• Export key information into downstream curriculum development tools.

The project will liaise with key institutional learning support departments including the Academic Office, Quality Assurance and Audit Unit, Library, Staff Development and the Centre for Higher Education Practice.

The project will work closely with Academic staff engaged in curriculum development work to ensure that project outputs are specified, developed and evaluated relative to the practitioner perspective and will draw on the development and evaluation processes of the CETL for Institutional E-learning Services.

Aims and objectives

To develop a suite of co-ordinated tools and services which will use learner based timeline scenarios to assist staff to reflect upon and formalise innovative adjustments to the curriculum.

The objectives of the project are:

1. To identify key principles of best practice to underpin the thematic tools.
2. To work with stakeholders to develop effective reflective questions for use within the timeline tools.
3. To establish an effective user interface that engages users and encourages reflection.
4. To create a range of outputs to assist the repurposing and reuse of captured data for a range of audiences.
5. To capture and evaluate how stakeholders use the project tools to support the introduction of innovative adjustments to the curriculum.
6. To capture and evaluate how project outputs are incorporated and embedded within the curriculum development policies, processes and support activities of the University of Ulster and the UK FHE sector.

Project methodology

The project is using an agile development methodology to engage with stakeholders throughout the design, development and implementation phases of its outputs (tools, services and resources). This inclusion of end users, key experts and stakeholders throughout the development process will best ensure that outputs are:

• educationally fit for purpose;
• usable and engaging for end users;
• recognised benefits for practitioners and other stakeholders;
• used by practitioners engaged in curriculum review / development activities;
• embedded within relevant institutional curriculum related processes, resources and services.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• Learner cohort profiles
• Assessment and feedback
• Information skills and resources
• Community and group work
• Teaching and knowledge provision
• Pathways and Flexible curricula

• Case studies, digital stories and practical guides that support the reflective tools
• Identification and visualization of institutional processes, procedures and influences that support decision-making and approval of curricula.
• Project engagement matrix which will map project activity against the institutional policies, processes, services and resources identified in the baseline review

Critical success factors

• Evidence of stakeholder engagement in the activities of the project
• Positive evaluation of project outputs in terms of educational effectiveness and usability
• Demonstrable usage of project outputs and services by staff within the University of Ulster to support course review / planning processes
• Embedding of Project outputs into institutional curriculum and pedagogic support processes and services

Technology / Standards used

The following data standards will be used as a reference point by the project team in the development of data hosting and integration methodologies.

• XCRI
• COVARM
• Emerging Learning Design standards arising from PHOEBE, LPP, LAMS, HLM etc initiatives
• Emerging educational schemas and ontologies

The project team will liaise with JISC-CETIS to ensue that appropriate standards are identified and referenced appropriately to ensure project tools can interact and integrate with other related tools and data-sources.