Removing barriers and driving change at La Trobe University

Poster 12

Brian Dunell
La Trobe University

Simon Knight
La Trobe University

View this poster

Tuesday 5 December 3pm – 3.45pm
Refectory

Download the poster [PPT 35MB]

Vote for this poster

This is poster number 12. Vote using the pink voting form in your name tag. Drop your voting form at the poster viewing session.

Abstract

The move toward blended learning in higher education teaching, together with the growth in the use of mobile technology in society, has seen an increase in the demand for video production and online courseware. Online assessments also benefit from the ability of students to self-produce video rather than being limited to traditional written submissions.

In 2015 La Trobe University began an Australian first project to roll out ten One Button Studios across six campuses. Based on the Penn State University model (http://onebutton.psu.edu) with technical enhancements and dedicated acoustically treated rooms, the studios provide a self-service video recording facility that removes the requirement to have detailed knowledge about the technical aspects of video production. Designed primarily for academic teaching staff and students to produce ‘just in time’ high-quality web-ready video, the studios are accompanied by a Digital Learning Strategy focused on building the capacity of staff to integrate technology into their learning and teaching activities.

Care was taken to ensure development of the technical and functional affordances of the studio design aligned to the foreseeable requirements of digitally enhanced teaching. Ongoing feedback has been sought from a range of stakeholders in an effort to ensure successful and effective implementation of this technology across the entire institution. Eales and Davis (2007) suggest that in an environment of cultural change associated with the take up of new technology, ‘learning technologists’ play an important part in interpreting pedagogical/academic requirements. In this capacity educational designers fulfilled a number of roles outside the traditional expectation of multimedia creators.

References:
Davis, H. & Eales, S. (2007). Editorial introduction: BJET special issue on critical success factors in institutional change. British Journal of Educational Technology, 38(5), 769-772.

About the authors

Brian Dunell

Brian is a Senior Educational Designer in the central Learning and Teaching department at La Trobe University. Brian’s background is in web design, filming, and audiovisual post-production. During his 7 years at La Trobe University he has transitioned to an educational design role to provide both design advice and technical assistance to academic teaching staff. Brian is involved in curriculum redesign projects and sits on two advisory panels for educational technologies at La Trobe. In 2015 he undertook the lead technical role on La Trobe’s strategic ‘One Button Studio’ project and performed the project management role for much of the project.

Simon Knight

Simon is an Educational Technologist in the Learning and Teaching department at La Trobe University. Simon has had a long career in audio and video production including studio and live events. He has an academic background in Philosophy and is interested in enhancing communications systems with the use of multimedia so it enriches the learning experience. Simon was the co-designer on the One Button Studio project and was particularly involved in user testing and developing the user support guides such as the website and video guides.