Learning MattersJune 2016

Learning and Teaching Report

In this Newsletter

• Animation and Game Design Major

• CurtinX Team Profile

• Distributed Learning

• CurtinX MOOCs in 2016

• Adoption of the Cherwell Service Management System

• Digital Learning@Curtin Implementation Plan

June 2016

Animation and Game Design MajorThe Course Design team has recently assisted in the development of a new School of Design and Art offering - the Animation and Game Design Major. Planned for delivery in 2017, the Major focuses on important sectors of the digital economy, leveraging new technologies and processes for students to enhance their learning and practice. The new Major will provide increased opportunities for graduates, equipping them with skills for the future.

It will also make use of externally produced online education modules such as those from Lynda.com to allow flexibility in learning for students. The ‘anywhere, anytime’ platform for learning will enable them to study anywhere in the world, at any time, with immediate access to supporting material to enhance their learning experience.

An important element in the Major has been the embedding of Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum. Collaboration between Jonathan Bullen, CLT Learning Designer – Indigenous Curriculum and Pedagogy, and co-ordinator for the Major, Jarrad Gittos, has resulted in the embedding of Indigenous perspectives into the 3rd Year Visual Narrative Studio unit. As part of their assessable learning outcomes students will incorporate Indigenous Australian cultural perspectives into narrative based projects. It is envisaged that this will provide a model for embedding an Indigenous element in all the Bachelor of Arts majors.

Learning and Teaching Report June 2016

CurtinX Team ProfileThe CurtinX team (within Digital Learning and Design in CLT) provides expertise in instructional design, graphic and multimedia design, educational video, project management, marketing, online learning, usertesting, course authoring and moderation in the edX LMS. The team also implement the processes for evaluation and selection of potential edX courses.

Keep up to date with behind the scenes footage and what’s new by liking the CurtinX Facebook page.

Nicole David, Jacqui Kelly and Judy SchrapeProject Management and Educational Design

Nicole, Jacqui and Judy, in conjunction with Faculty staff, project manage the design, development and implementation of CurtinX courses on edX.

Their role involves conducting content analysis, educational design, storyboarding and user testing of all CurtinX online courses. In addition, Nicole, Jacqui and Judy coordinate the marketing of CurtinX courses in conjunction with University Marketing, and also provide training and assistance to faculty staff regarding the moderation and facilitation of edX courses.

Currently, the team is working with a wide range of staff across Curtin on the following CurtinX courses:

• Nicole is working with Demetrios Sampson (School of Education) on EDU1x - Introduction to Learning and Teaching Analytics (Working Title);

• Judy is working with Teri Balser (Dean, Learning and Teaching, Science and Engineering) and Joseli Macedo (Head, School of Built Environment) on ENV1x - Environmental Studies: A Global Perspective; and

• Jacqui has just finalised MKT2x - Reputation Management in a Digital World with Bridget Tombleson, Lydia Gallant and Katharina Wolf (School of Marketing) which is now open (30 May-22 July 2016)

The team also supports the implementation of the Digital Learning@Curtin Strategy and are actively engaged in the Digital Futures Project on Digital Learning Activation.

Learning and Teaching Report June 2016

Patrice WilliamsDigital Design and Social Media

As a Digital Designer, Patrice’s role involves taking the design requirements and storyboards created by the Educational Designers to conceptualise, design and develop accessible and engaging learning media and course assets within the edX platform.

This includes:

• creating educational content graphics and taking photographs

• developing accessible web pages (templates, style sheets, edX pages)

• coordinating video shoots (recording, editing, publishing) and

• sourcing copyright materials.

Along with James and Jacqui, Patrice also looks after various aspects of CurtinX’s social media accounts.

James HollowayedX Studio Specialist and Social Media

James provides technical support for the CurtinX team including quality assurance testing, feature testing and user acceptance testing. He also regularly monitors the edX discussion boards and liaises with CurtinX’s Community Teaching Assistants (former edX learners who assist in administering the re-running of the MOOCs).

In conjunction with Patrice and Jacqui, James also curates and administers CurtinX’s various social media pages to drive student engagement and ensure compliance with Curtin’s overall social media strategy. So if James is on Facebook he is actually diligently working.

James is also the edX ‘data czar’ for Curtin, a role that is responsible for ensuring secure transference of the edX data packages to researchers and other interested parties.

Learning and Teaching Report June 2016

CurtinX MOOCs in 2016• ENV1x - Environmental Studies: a Global Perspective opened for enrolments at the end of

May and the course start date is 22 August. The course instructors are Professor Teri Balser, Dean Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Science and Engineering and Associate Professor Joseli Macedo, the newly appointed Head, School of Built Environment. The course will draw on cross-Faculty expertise and highlight Curtin research in multiple disciplines.

• MKT2x - Reputation Marketing in a Digital World opened on 30 May and currently has 6,295 enrolled learners. The course instructors are Bridget Tombleson, Lydia Gallant and Dr Katharina Wolf, all from the School of Marketing. The course uses a range of social media platforms to engage students.

• MKT1x - Digital Branding and Engagement was re-offered in April 2016 and closed on 13 May. Total enrolments were 11,098 (with 263 verified certificates). The course is highly rated by learners with 59 unsolicited reviews.

Total edX enrolments to date are 48,706 learners with 958 verified certificates issued.

CurtinX now has a Facebook page which enables the University to maintain contact with edX learners and keep them updated on future Curtin courses and topics of interest. University Marketing created the page and it is maintained by the CurtinX team.

Distributed LearningSome of you would have met with Alison Barker from CLI who has been discussing the distributed mode of teaching delivery at the Faculty Learning and Teaching Committee meetings this month. Curtin University is now fortunate to have 18 classrooms at the Bentley campus that are able to distribute live classes to other Curtin campuses (Miri, CGSB, Law School City campus and Kalgoorlie plus Pilbara). With the distributed mode of delivery we can also offer the ability for students to participate in a live class through any device via WebEx. In Semester 2, 2016, Curtin is looking to expand our offering of classes that are taught in a distributed mode. This meets with Curtin’s goal of providing flexible learning offerings to students to enable them to engage in the classroom experience when they wouldn’t normally be able to if they are an online student or unable to make it to campus. Curtin will be offering all students scheduled in a distributed enabled classroom the ability to participate with the class via WebEx.

If you would like to know more about how to set this up and the professional learning support that is available please contact Alison.barker@cbs.curtin.edu.au.

Learning and Teaching Report

Adoption of the Cherwell Service Management SystemThe Learning Technologies Support team (including the Unit Outline Builder, iLecture and HUM-OTL) have all migrated to the new Cherwell Service Management System, from the previous online support system hp OpenView Service Desk. The new Cherwell system will allow staff to monitor and follow up on their current records via the “Self Help” portal. To put a call or help to LTS, UOB and others, look for the yellow “IT Self Service Portal” icon on your Windows desktop or use this direct link to the portal.

Within the portal, LTS have a web form that gathers relevant information required by the support team to diagnose issues, problem solve and service staff requests. Cherwell is a CITS initiative and they have started to bring other areas on-board with the overarching aim of providing a unified service model across Curtin.

June 2016

Digital Learning@Curtin Implementation PlanThe Digital Learning@Curtin Strategy, which was endorsed by Academic Board in September 2015, is intended to provide a roadmap for Curtin’s future in digital learning. It identifies the current position of digital learning at Curtin and where Curtin wants to be in 2020.

The Digital Learning@Curtin Implementation Plan identifies recommendations and actions for 2016 and the areas and projects responsible for achieving these actions. These have been collaboratively developed with key stakeholders from across the University as well as the Academic Portfolio Leadership Group. The main focus for 2016 is to expand the number and reach of Curtin’s digital offerings, whilst continuing to improve the platforms through which these are delivered, as detailed below.

Expand the number and reach of innovative Curtin digital offerings, including in collaboration with Global partners

1. Deliver the requisite number of MOOCs on edX

• Rerun The Business of Mining and Digital Branding and Engagement• Offer Reputation Management in a Digital World• Develop and deliver Environmental Studies: A Global Perspective• Call for EOIs in June for next round of MOOCs

2. Progress full digital delivery of identified Flagship courses (including workforce and pricing models, admission processes)

3. Progress the offering of unbundled units (not-for-degree), and ‘pick & mix’ graduate certificates.

Learning and Teaching Report June 2016

4. Progress International partnerships including:

• Global Fine Arts Degree with Arizona State University, the Smithsonian and the WA Museum.• Collaborative edX courses with IMFx (International Monetary Fund).• Master of Science (Global Subsea Engineering) with Aberdeen University.

5. Progressively implement Curtin’s Distributed Learning Roadmap.

Enhance the digital platforms Curtin uses to deliver its offerings and supporting systems, policies & procedures.

1. Digital Futures Digital Learning Activation:

• Development of a Single Landing Page for all Curtin online offerings• Blackboard – edX integration to enable re-use of edX material in Blackboard units• Policies and procedures for micro-credentialing

2. Digital Futures Challenge Platform:

• Content authoring system• Gamification• Collaboration/team-based learning

3. Learning Analytics Insight Centre

• Learning analytics (Challenge, edX, Blackboard)

The Digital Learning@Curtin Implementation Plan was discussed at the Science and Engineering Learning and Teaching Committee on Thursday 9 June and at the Humanities Digital Learning Strategy Planning Day on Friday 17 June. Following consultation with all Faculties the Plan will then be submitted to the University Learning and Teaching Committee for endorsement.

Professor Julianne ReidAssociate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching16 June 2016