enabling remote access for mobility-impaired students on ou fieldwork courses trevor collins 1, john...
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Enabling remote access for mobility-impaired students on OU fieldwork courses
Trevor Collins1, John Lea1, Mark Gaved2, Sarah Davies3 and Jessica Bartlett3
1 Knowledge Media Institute2 Institute of Educational Technology3 Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems
Purpose: Remote access• Access to difficult to reach locations
–Accessibility: spectrum of approaches
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inclusive curriculum
exclusive curriculum
Adjusting objectives / outcomes
Adjusting fieldtrips / destinations
Modifying practices
Offering alternatives - surrogates / virtual fieldtrips
(Healey, Jenkins, Leach and Roberts, 2001)
Fieldwork: Problem based learning• Student-centred approach,
students collaboratively solve problems and reflect on their progress –Learning driven by practical
problems–Tutors’ role as facilitators of
learning– Instructional activities to develop
interpretation and reasoning skills 4
Teaching & learning requirements• Inclusive curriculum
–Complete existing course activities (in groups)
• Vicarious fieldwork• See, hear, feel... be there
–Seeing: live photos and video–Hearing: (walkie talkies) VoIP–Feeling: rock samples
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Iterative development• Collaborate with tutors and students to find out what
works (experience > functionality + usability)–Spaghetti wiring
• USB and Ethernet cables to Bluetooth and WiFi–Critical voice communication
• Walkie talkies to VoIP servers–Fieldwork in all weathers (rain, hail and shine)
• Clear plastic bags, shades and big screens
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Portable communications toolkit
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2baM2JUEI8MHowick Haven (August 2009)
Further information• Enabling Remote Activity project
–http://projects.kmi.open.ac.uk/era• The JISC toolshed
–http://ie-repository.jisc.ac.uk/450 • ERA (VoWLAN) technical report
–http://projects.kmi.open.ac.uk/era/vowlan/report
• Trevor Collins ([email protected])9