The Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory in Higher Education

Project: at Worcester

John Peters, Heather Barrett, Scott Buckler, Josh Cooprider, Helen Shaw and Rose Watson

Learning Outcomes

• Outline Worcester’s part in the ELLI in HE project

• Discuss the research underpinning the ELLI• Introduce the 7 dimensions of learning power• Study graphic representations of learning power

produced by ELLI• Examine student responses to ELLI at

Worcester

Plan• Brief outline of the ELLI in HE project

• Brief outline of Worcester ELLI project

• Overview of the Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory

• Introduction to the 7 dimensions of learning power

• A look at example ELLI graphic reports

• Interim Results

ELLI in HE Project• ELLI developed by Bristol University

with a schools focus

• A consortium of 14 HEIs led by Northumbria to look at ELLI’s value for:– PDP– Employability– Discussion of informal learning

• To customise ELLI materials for HE

ELLI @ Worcester• Innovation and development grant 2007/8• 4 Institutes

– Business [28 students on careers and PD module, level 5/6]

– Education [level 4 Ed Studies & level 3 FDLS]– Sport [100 students on WBL modules, level 5 HND &

level 6 UMS]– ASGA [level 4 UMS geography mandatory module]

• ELLI pre and post test • students to discuss initial results and undertake a

personal intervention• Evaluation of student responses

Interim Results at Worcester • Some practical problems

– Obtaining detail of log-ons– Housing groups at computers to do the test– Printing individual graphs– Re-taking / accessing the test

• Positive engagement reported by large majority• Establishes a language for discussing learning• Limited evidence that interventions ‘worked’

Student feedback: issues• I really didn’t like completing the

questionnaire

• I learnt that I am not as creative as I thought I was. I have also learnt I have low resilience, something to think about improving

• Resilience is lower [2nd time] – end of term?

Student feedback: positives• My profile was no surprise to me• It made me see more of myself• ELLI did make me realise that ‘feeling

the fear’ and doing it anyway may actually be a good way to deal with my studies

• It made me realise there are ways of improving learning domains by concentrating on that certain area

An Uncertain Future?• Valuable but there are cost implications

• ELLI is probably moving from Bristol to Gloucestershire

• Expected changes to organisation, pricing and operation

• ELLI in HE project ongoing and customisation of ELLI for HE still an issue