WEB-BASED CONFERENCING SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT PBL AND GROUP WORK IN RADIOTHERAPY

Bev Ball, Holly Davenport and Matthew RedfernDirectorate of Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy

Overview of Talk• Blended T&L approaches• PBL and group work – integral to delivery on

both PG and UG programmes• Retaining student interest and participation• Response to evaluations• Convenience for students and staff• ADOBE demo

Blended Teaching and Learning Approaches• All of our programmes embrace a variety of

methods to deliver the curriculum• Include

• Group work• PBL• Lectures• Tutorials / seminars• SDL• DPS

(Reece and Walker, 2007)

PBL and Group Work• To encourage independent learning• Team working• Self motivated learners• Ownership for learning• Professionalism

Retaining Student Interest and Participation• Students familiar with e-communicator

systems • Something comfortable for our generation of

learners• Lecturer experience• Centre for Life-Long Learning at Liverpool• Adobe communicator suggested

Pilot Project Development• Classroom demonstration to use with PBL• Sent invites and web link via outlook• Students all made sure they could access the system

and their PCs supported the software• Chat / upload documents• Planned a pilot with yr 3 UG for a PBL session

Meeting Screen

Demo

• http://communicator.liv.ac.uk

• Sends invites via outlook• Link to adobe via outlook• Log on remotely• Access the chat room• Pods – layouts / sizes / function – can alter to

Pilot Outcomes

• Positive response on the whole• Efficient and user friendly• Planned for other PBL sessions• Evaluations highlighted weaknesses in

accessing the system • Not for all PBL sessions – still prefer to have

at least 1 face-to-face• Screen layouts commented on

Practice• Timetabling issues – don't like Adobe if other

sessions scheduled on same day at University

• Used for group work with UG• PGDip students for PBL – very successfully• Carry on using and integrating• Mindful of numbers in groups and to gain

optimum benefit

The Student View – Positives

• Students were keen, especially those travelling long distances to the university.

• Great tool to share resources.• Once familiar, easy to use.• Shy students more able to contribute.• More flexibility and good to see alternative

teaching methods being embraced.

The Student View – Points to Work On

• More training initially would be beneficial.• Only useful if no other sessions in university

that day.• Scribing – key points must be noted as full

conversation history is not saved.• Large groups can be hard to manage.• They also allow for people to keep quiet and

escape making any contribution.

The Student View – Overall• Good, alternative learning.• Flexibility was valuable.• Simple to use system.

• Had to take care with group sizes.

• Overall, very positive experience.• Students feel that with our feedback, use of this tool can

be streamlined and used more widely.• Students feel that e-learning will be valuable for vocational

courses such as Radiotherapy.

Future• Continue to integrate but evaluate and

monitor use• Encourage other staff to use• Maybe use web-cam and audio

Any Questions????