JISC

Overview

This project uses initial diagnostics to target a series of appropriate repackaged content towards students taking a module in Applied Technology and Finance in the first weeks of their first year of study. This tackles a number of difficult areas including a diverse set of students from the Hospitality, Leisure Sport and Tourism Subject area for whom this module is regarded with considerable trepidation. Regular diagnostic testing will ensure students are on target and give them an early indication of the level worthiness of their first efforts in H.E. New materials produced will include video case studies embedded into appropriate learning resources that set the students learning in context.

Aims & objectives

The aim is to produce a module structure that is adaptable, and allows flexibility in Assessment, Learning and Teaching using diagnostic assessment to deliver appropriate Reuseable Learning Objects. This is based on the following objectives:

• to make extensive use of diagnostic assessment and feedback systems and learning objects to inform module delivery and development
• to deliver case studies and learning materials that provide contextualisation of the material throughout
• to source or produce a bank of supporting activities and materials that allows tutors to cope with variations of ability, experience and expectation

to produce a series of 'software shells' to providing easily customisable 'containers' for different courses and/or institutions to incorporate their own activities, objectives or branding into the materials.

Project methodology

The project team will undertake discussions on strengths and weaknesses of the module with staff, students, employers and partners. Produce a development plan. Complete a wide ranging trawl of repositories to select and categorise appropriate objects along with a thorough investigation of software and hardware tools for this project. To allow flexibility in deployment of the learning objects the team will investigate and test approaches to development and re-purposing of learning objects.

Research underpinning

This will include:

• An on-going evaluation of approaches and materials
• Use of Blogs to facilitate evaluation, and dissemination.

Frequent evaluation of staff and student reactions to the project outputs.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

1. The project will deliver tested, viable materials that cover the following:

Detailed Case studies usable by a wide range of courses; Interactive and paper based teaching and study materials usable by a wide range and increasing number of courses; Diagnostic, formative and summative assessments; Software shells to act as customisable containers for other courses to populate with their own materials

2. In addition reports and documentation will be freely available to the wider educational community, including:

A reflective blog giving details of the project will be kept throughout the project; Project websites will be created to provide progress reports and invite comment from the educational community; Practice guidelines (written and as video podcasts) for practitioners wishing to use digital audio for feedback to students; Advice on integration of digital audio feedback into a widely-used virtual learning environment (Blackboard Vista); Conference and workshop presentations ; At least one paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal; A case study identifying key areas success factors for use by JISC members; Project report