The conclusion

Your achievement of the intended outcomes of this workshop

Four intended learning outcomes were identified for participants in this workshop:

1. Make informed decisions about the use of TEL when planning and designing courses
2. Identify personal development requirements for the use of TEL approaches in teaching practice
3. Plan for using TEL methods to support students
4. Contribute to discussions about the future of TEL within the University

During the past two days you have been introduced to theories of learning and concepts for the design and evaluation of online learning materials and taken part in practical tasks focused on some of the key issues involved in preparing to implement technology enhanced learning. Now that you have finished you are asked to undergo some self-reflection and self-assessment of your achievement of these intended learning outcomes.

Your evaluation on achievement of intended outcome:

1. This was certainly touched on by the group. We considered the VLE and how the courses would be delivered, length etc... It could possibly have gone into other technologies but time did not allow for further discussion
2. Yes we did (well presented in Group 2 and 3)
3. We discussed using activities, quizzes, for engaging the students
4.  We didn't actually touch on the future at all although I did get the impression that this giant was being awoken. There seems to be much miore awareness of the need for some sort of online learning - whether for short courses purely online or for supporting existing MScs as blended learning.
5. Although we created a framework for Sarah I felt that this was lacking in some of the details which were picked up on in the other groups.  I was impressed how all groups picked out the major focus points and formed a workable document on which courses could have been built. This is a good base for an online course template.
  

   Your overall reflection:

1. Some of the most important lessons and insights that you have gained from the workshop:
Probably the most important for me was actually taking the significant role in a forum at the start anyway. Usually I say very little - in awe of those who have had more experience, better education and an impressive job title. It felt good. I might even do it again sometime - if I know the subject! 
   2. Questions that you still have regarding designing and implementing good quality technology enhanced learning:

   How do you communicate complex issues in an online environment - also mathematical problems - I don't have the answer to this unless you just have to have some f2f sessions for this.
   3. Actions that you will take to try and answer these questions:

I have taken some actions to this aim in the past - sought opinons of others and see how they manage. Things constantly change and update so perhaps the answer is 'out there' now
   4. What is your intention to implement technology enhanced learning in your future teaching? Put a cross on the continuum to indicate your position: I maintain Blackboard so I have a vested interest in supporting and promoting online learning in all its forms. 

Online course design task

This went better than I anticipated. I am not naturally a great participant so was intially hoping that someone would come up with a good plan and I could run along with it. In the end I decided that as I knew quite alot about online learning courses (well a bit) I would at least put down my experiences (before anyone else said anything) and see how the group reacted. This went well and I had encouraging feedback so I added more.

In the end we all contributed well in our own way and very quickly came up with a plan and divvied up the work. I decided to do 'Quality' which ironically has followed me through every work place I have ever been in. Quality really encompasses every aspect in course design as in order to be a good course quality must be applied to the planning and design.

We even managed to get it under the required word count.
  

Online learning - TEL

Must admit that being a student on an online course is for some reason much harder than creating and running one. Not sure why that it is. I much prefer being on the other side anyway.

I am struggling to use Google blogs - not the writing of one  - just finding my blog is a total pain - there seems to be no specific button or option to click on to go to my Blog! . Anyway, I have eventually succeeded in tracking done the Google doc Piers has created so I feel I am progressing a little. 

I would have preferred to use the Blackboard Blog tool and save the to-ing and fro-ing. But it isn't as pretty as Google! Not sure how private a Google blog is though?  



 

Task 1

Think about your own training and education.

• My own training was mainly by classroom lectures. Some of the technical subjects at college were performed in a computer lab as workshops.

Ask yourself if you only ever teach in the same way you were taught.

• Yes - Probably very similar as it is my only reference point - certainly to start with anyway. I can build on this though based on seeing other methods of teaching and learning styles.

Can you identify which of the main theories were in use during your training and education?

Can you discern why they might have been used?

State the extent to which you able to apply theoretical principles to the design of any kinds of teaching materials?

What might you have to think about if you were to design TEL materials?

• The nature and content of the material being taught - is it pure maths equations ? 
• The learning styles of the students
• Whose technology ? Lecturers tech and / or students tech? and whether it is used to benefit the teaching or just because it exists (shiney new gimick)
• How do I test their knowledge retention, and how often?
• Is it engaging, clear, informative, relevant