improving student expectations of learning using course templates

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Improving student expectations of learning with course templates

Jacqui Nicol

Isobel Gordon

Andrew Penman

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Background

• Used Moodle for six years

• 16,000 students

• 30% are online distance learners

• Postgraduate, in work, professional

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Student Survey 2012

• Improve ODL dropout rate

• Improve online student experience

• Expand provision

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Student Feedback (ODL)

• Expectations of course

– What to expect from us

• Tutors & Central Support

– What is expected of them

• Time, Level, Effort - it’s hard!

•Need to prepare and be organised

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Student feedback (on-campus)

• Where to go

• What to bring

• Too many communications

• Over 10 letters and emails

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Student Feedback (Moodle)

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• Variability across modules within their course i.e. Moodle courses

– Layout

– Approaches

– Use of technology

Student Feedback (Moodle)

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Solutions

• Institutional initiatives

• Academic led

• Course Welcome Areas

• Learning Expectations Project

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Course Welcome Areas

• Moodle course with set template

• Each academic course

• Available to all students before enrolment/arrival

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Course Welcome Areas

• Standardised template

• Courses available spring/summer

• Set deadlines - released July and January for September and January course starts

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Course Welcome Area Template

• Welcome from Course Leader or Head of School

• Key information about start of course –online or on-campus

• Discussion and social area (link)

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Course Welcome Areas

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Course Welcome Areas

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Course Welcome Areas

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• Access rates high > 80%

• Feedback positive

• Administration reduced – 2 to 3 communication points

Course Welcome Areas

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Learning Expectations

• Institutional project led by Deans

• Improve student understanding of learning experience

• Recommended baseline information to introduce each module

• To encourage consistency of layout

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Learning Expectations

• 5 standard headings using tabs

• Pre-formatted with base content

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School Templates

• Worked with each School to develop templates

• Included

– Learning Expectations resource

– Contacts block

– Other School or course specific information

• Default institutional template as fall back

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School Templates

• Text 467120 and your message to 020 3322 5822

• Submit responses at PollEv.com/jacquinicol

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Examples

• From

– Aberdeen Business School and

– School or Engineering

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Custom Template Tool

• Customised backup and restore

• Available as a block

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Custom Template Tool

• Linked to our rollover script

• Can assign a template for each Academic School and stage

• External consultants and internal developers

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Demonstration

• Templates tool

• Tabs and Accordions resource

• Contacts block

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• 2000 modules created with templates

• 8 Schools using Learning Expectations

• Variety of approaches

– Content

– Templates by course stage

• School discussions about consistency

Annual rollover 2013

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• Key information always in the same place

• Addressed feedback from students

• School discussions about consistency

Annual rollover 2013

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Annual rollover 2014

• Still a long way to go

• Refine templates with Schools

• Refine Learning Expectations based on feedback from 2013

• Workshops to encourage consistency across courses

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Poll resultsLink

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