Technology-enhanced learning collaboratives: A faculty development initiative for the science, medicine, and health disciplines
Lightning talks 2
David Bruce Porter
University of Wollongong
@dbp1975
Helen Jamieson
University of Wollongong
Adrian Moody
University of Wollongong
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December, 12pm - 12.30pm
Stream 3
Room L206
Abstract
The University of Wollongong Faculty of Science, Medicine, and Health is interested in the strategic integration of technology. Using Wenger and Lave’s Communities of Practice as the foundation, SMAH has launched the Technology-Enhanced Learning Collaboratives (TELCs). Each of the four TELCs takes an academic-centred, blended learning approach to addressing topics in technology-enhanced learning and teaching. Evaluation of the TELCs will employ measures of academic engagement, academic surveys, and individual community outcomes. This presentation provides an overview of the TELCs and a status report of their progress.
About the authors
David Bruce Porter
Dr David Bruce Porter is Manager: Educational Technology in the University of Wollongong Faculty of Science, Medicine, & Health. David leads of team of technology-enhanced learning specialists to support and empower academics to use technology to innovate and transform student learning. David’s interests include educational technology leadership, academic support and development, and educational design.
Helen Jamieson
Mrs. Helen Jameson is the Educational Developer in the University of Wollongong Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health Educational Technology Team. Helen has a diverse background, including applied experience in the primary and tertiary education sectors. Prior to joining the team, Helen taught Web Design and Computer Support for TAFE Illawarra. Helen’s interests include Web, graphics, and multimedia design and Moodle and game development.
Adrian Moody
Mr Adrian Moody is the in the University of Wollongong Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health Educational Technology Team. In addition to 10 years as an instructor of Business Administration and Information Technology, Adrian’s diverse experience includes extensive time in both the complementary health and the entertainment sectors. Prior to joining UOW, Adrian worked in Digital Learning Services for TAFE Online where he wrote, created, and uploaded content.
Visualising mixed reality simulation for multiple users
Concise paper
Michael Cowling
CQUniversity Australia
@macowling
James Birt
Bond University
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 1.50pm - 2.10pm
Stream 1
Room H102
Abstract
Blended reality seeks to encourage co-presence in the classroom, blending student experience across virtual and physical worlds. In a similar way, Mixed Reality, a continuum between virtual and real environments, is now allowing learners to work in both the physical and the digital world simultaneously, especially when combined with an immersive headset experience. This experience provides innovative new experiences for learning, but faces the challenge that most of these experiences are single user, leaving others outside the new environment. The question therefore becomes, how can a mixed reality simulation be experienced by multiple users, and how can we present that simulation effectively to users to create a true blended reality environment? This paper proposes a study that uses existing screen production research into the user and spectator to produce a mixed reality simulation suitable for multiple users. A research method using Design Based Research is also presented to assess the usability of the approach.
About the authors
Michael Cowling
Dr Michael Cowling is an information technologist with a keen interest in educational technology and technology ubiquity in the digital age, and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering & Technology at CQUniversity Australia. He is currently a partner in an OLT Innovation and Development grant and is the recipient of 3 CQUniversity Learning and Teaching grants for teaching technology. He is a recipient of an Australian Government Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, and a three-time recipient of a CQUniversity Learning & Teaching Award.
Dr Cowling has a passion for the practical application of technology in the classroom, focusing on how technology can be weaved into the pedagogy of a classroom setting, rather than bolted on to the side. Living by the mantra “pedagogy before technology”, Michael helps teachers and academics to innovate with technology, leveraging it as a tool to improve the overall education process.
James Birt
James is an Assistant Professor of Interactive Media and Design in the Faculty of Society and Design at Bond University, where he runs the Mixed Reality Research Lab (www.mixedrealityresearch.com). His research spans computer science and visual arts, with an emphasis on applied design and development of interactive mixed reality (virtual reality, augmented reality, 3d printing, mobile) experiences assisting learning, skills acquisition and knowledge discovery. The distinctive contribution James brings to education scholarship is in digital media teaching and learning, where he received a 2014 Australian Office of Learning and Teaching citation for outstanding contributions to student learning. James utilises novel pedagogical approaches, curriculum and resources to balance the science and art predilections of his students, whilst supporting them with learning how to learn. His service to the university and wider community has formed around his experience in emerging technology, teaching and learning, where he takes an active role in supporting learners and peers through mentorship, presentations and expert judging.
Dramaturgy: A sociological perspective for conceptualising Me. Us. IT in the context of online learning
Experimental session
Dawn Gilmore
Swinburne University of Technology, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design
@dawngilmore9
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Stream 1
Room H102
Abstract
A dramaturgical analysis seeks to understand people’s everyday lives through the aspects of a theatre. I propose that this is a useful analogy for illustrating how students experience learning in an online subject. Based on this analogy, an online student is an actor who crafts performances within the front stage and backstage of a particular university subject.
At the start of this session attendees are introduced to three theatre stages. These stages are defined as the front stage (the LMS), the backstage online (internet websites and social media), and the backstage offline (conversations with family, friends, and colleagues). Following this, attendees will meet student-avatars who play the theatre roles of performer, cameo, extra, and stagehand. The creation of the student-avatars was informed by a fourteen-month study of online university students. During this time data was collected from 224 student observations, 120 questionnaires, 26 interviews, and the content analysis of 1,857 discussion board posts.
Each student-avatar will communicate their learning journey by briefly sharing how they experience learning in the front stage, backstage online, and backstage offline. Through their stories, their preferences and patterns for individual experiences, group experiences, and the tools they most commonly use for university related tasks come to light. With the student-avatars in mind, attendees will design a short learning experience that acknowledges how students enact multiple identities across the three performance stages. The learning experiences will be collated into an online book that will be shared with conference attendees. This book symbolises how we can harness our collective intelligence to support online students.
About the authors
Dawn Gilmore
Dawn Gilmore has over 15 years of practice and research in teaching and learning in higher education. She has worked in institutions in the United States, Australia, Japan, England, China, and most recently South Africa. She has a M.S.Ed. in Intercultural Communication from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S.Ed. in Social Sciences from Temple University. Her Ph.D. research explored where and with whom university students experience learning. During her doctoral candidature she was a Visiting Scholar at in the Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Development at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), where she researched the role of communities of practices in a Post Graduate Diploma of Higher Education. Overall, her research seeks to understand how students’ learning is situated across time and spaces. She also has broader interests in learning, community, and technology. Dawn is currently writing a book that is largely based on the content from this presentation.
CMALT cMOOC: Developing a scalable lecturer professional development framework
Full paper
Thomas Cochrane
Auckland University of Technology
@thomcochrane
Vickel Narayan
Auckland University of Technology
@vnarayan
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 11am - 11.30am
Stream 2
Room R113
Abstract
This paper outlines the design stage of a project that reimagines lecturer professional development around a network of communities of practice scaffolded by a cMOOC (connectivist Massive Open Online Course), where sustained collaborative engagement with innovative teaching practice is recognised via established international peer-based professional accreditation pathways such as CMALT (Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology). Informed by a design based research methodology, the CMALT cMOOC leverages a network of national and international collaboration and innovative teaching expertise, providing an agile and scalable framework to support the development of participants’ CMALT portfolios as evidence of critical engagement with new modes of practice and enhanced student outcomes. The cMOOC is designed based upon up-scaling the researchers’ community of practice (COP) model of lecturer professional development (Cochrane & Narayan, 2016c). Key to this model is the embedding of the scholarship of technology enhanced learning or SOTEL (Haynes, 2016), within lecturer praxis supported by a collaborative curriculum design process. The cMOOC provides a framework to support the development of lecturer COPs across a series of several weeks of participation throughout the academic year. The cMOOC is not conceptualised as a professional development course in the traditional sense, rather a mutual and collaborative initiative of willing participants to work together in order to enhance their understanding and knowledge of technology enhanced learning and teaching. Participation in the cMOOC is open, free and largely participant driven.
About the authors
Thomas Cochrane
Dr Thomas Cochrane is an academic advisor and senior lecturer in educational technology, the Centre for Learning And Teaching, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Thomas is the coordinator of the Ascilite mobile learning special interest group, and a mobile learning researcher/practitioner. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0192-6118
Vickel Narayan
Vickel Narayan is a Learning and Teaching Consultant at the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CfLAT) at the Auckland University of Technology.
PhD (Murdoch), MComp, PGDComp, GDHE, BSc (Comp Sc & Info Sys)
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6833-706X
Future happens: Hack your way to influencing and changing pedagogical and technological strategy and practice
Experimental session
Peter Bryant
London School of Economics and Political Science
@peterbryantHE
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Stream 4
Room L209
Abstract
Using the changehack approach successfully run in the UK for the last two years by Future Happens (http://www.futurehappens.org - a collaboration between two leading UK institutions, the London School of Economics and the University of the Arts, London), this experimental session is designed to collectively engage participants in changing the discourses around the role of technology in shaping institutional/faculty wide pedagogical change. This lightning changehack will generate approaches to scaling and sustaining the lessons and innovations that arise from grassroots practice into approaches that can be included in strategic thinking across disciplines, levels, cohorts and potentially across the whole institution.
This workshop will challenge you to think about the ways you are able to influence your institutions strategic direction and commitments to technology and learning and be a part of the conversation that shapes how they do it. Attendees will participate in a collective hack that draws on the power of the crowd to solve problems. Previous Future Happens hacks in the UK have collectively generated insightful, useful and pragmatic ways to bridge the discourses between the practices of learning technology and how they can be scaled up to be part of the institutional, faculty or School wide strategic approach to innovative pedagogy. Attendees will collectively own the outputs which will be shared globally as part of the Future Happens movement.
About the authors
Peter Bryant
Peter Bryant is the Head of Learning Technology and Innovation at the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. He leads programmes and initiatives to transform the educational experience at the LSE through the innovative use of technology and digital pedagogies. His team recently was the Overall Gold Award for Innovative Pedagogy at the Wharton-QS Stars Reimagine Education awards. He was previously a Principal Lecturer in Educational Technology and Development at the University of Greenwich. Peter has over twenty years’ experience as a lecturer, Head of Department and curriculum designer, working into two countries (in HE and VET). He is an active researcher in both educational technology and pedagogy. Peter is the co-founder of the Future Happens initiative which uses innovative approaches to problem-solving and change management to engage the wider sector in debates around technology, pedagogy and the future of the University.
Challenges and tensions in the role of the LMS for medical education: Time for the "next generation LMS"?
Full paper
Jill Lyall
Australian National University
@JillACTS
Katharina Freund
Australian National University
@katiedigc
Alexandra Webb
Australian National University
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 11.30am - 12pm
Stream 1
Room H102 Allison Dickson Lecture Theatre
Abstract
In the context of discussions of a “next generation LMS” and other contemporary challenges in higher education, this case study looks at the iterative process a team of educational designers and Medical School academics used in a review of the Medical School LMS sites. Adopting the framework of the actor network theory, this reflective process discovered the tensions, dynamics and issues involved, and worked to gain and maintain key Medical School staff engagement and support for the review and for any changes that might be recommended. This paper reflects on emerging possible models for technology-enhanced learning beyond our current institutional LMS while acknowledging the institutional constraints on learning innovation within the global higher education context. Next generation LMS models may provide a more flexible future solution that could be applicable not just to medical education, but to higher education generally.
About the authors
Jill Lyall
Jill has a background in social sciences, community services, and adult education. Jill has worked for many years in Vocational Education and Training in a TAFE environment in Western Australia. During that time she developed an interest in technology for learning, and developed her skills for online learning. Since early 2015, Jill has been working on a range of projects with ANU Online, helping to create online materials for post-graduate courses and creating support and training resources in technology enhanced learning for academics at ANU.
Katharina Freund
Katie advises academics on eLearning design and initiatives, researches innovative solutions in education technology, creates digital media resources, and trains staff on Wattle (Moodle) learning management system and other digital tools for teaching and learning. She is also a researcher in education technology and digital communication.
Alexandra Webb
Dr Webb has more than 20 years experience teaching anatomy into undergraduate & postgraduate medicine, allied health & science programs in Australia & the United Kingdom. She has extensive proficiencies in leading the development & implementation of new curricula & resources. She is an innovative educator & educational researcher who takes measured risks in trialling the effectiveness of novel teaching & learning approaches such as serious games, touchscreen technology, adaptive learning, virtual patients & eBooks. In her current role, she is leading the development & implementation of technology enhanced learning & teaching for the School’s MChD as well as creating a flexible collaborative Professional Development program to build capacity in teaching & learning. Dr Webb’s educational practice has been recognised with multiple awards, including Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy & a national Australian Award for University Teaching.
Playing the education system: Competing, exploring, socialising, distrupting, but always engaging
Experimental session
Dan Laurence
La Trobe University
@D4n_
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Stream 6
Room T120
Abstract
Through discovering your ‘gamer type’ as part of this experimental session participants will actively explore, compete, socialise and disrupt their way into the enquiry: what aspects of the education system are ‘gameful’, and how do different students play?
There is contention around the usefulness of the idea that learners fall into different types. Some research shows that curating teaching based on ‘learning styles’ (sensory processing) is of questionable value. However, evidence from learning analytics shows that there are radically differently behaviours exhibited by students and there are impassioned calls for increased personalisation in education.
After a very brief introduction to some leading theories on student engagement we quickly segue into a ‘Gamer Type’ quiz that will determine participants teams. The teams will then compete live using a series of leading game/learning apps as we delve deeper into the enquiry of what aspects of education are gameful, are there different ways students play and if so, does it matter?
BYO device or phone.
About the authors
Dan Laurence
Dan Laurence is a senior educational designer and has taught Graduate Certificate students on the subject of games in education. In 2015 Dan won the Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence award for his work designing and employing game principles at Swinburne University (and accounting for their impact). The following journal article [ http://rdcu.be/uOJG ] has been published detailing the implementation. Dan has a long prior history working in interactive media and has produced games that are used in in around 40 universities across the world.
By design: Facing the academic challenges of implementing technology enhanced learning in higher education and the example of a third year biology unit
Full paper
Brett Fyfield
Queensland University of Technology
@rainbowhill
Iwona Czaplinski
Queensland University of Technology
@IwonaCzaplinski
Catch this session
Wednesday 6 December, 11am - 11.30am
Stream 4
Room L209
Abstract
This paper takes a design research approach to the challenge of transforming learning and teaching in higher education (HE) as it is experienced at the level of an interdisciplinary team composed of content matter experts and specialists in education. It is based on the reflections of members of the team working collaboratively to transform an undergraduate biology unit to improve both student engagement and teaching staff satisfaction.
Using semi-structured interviews and reflective inquiry the authors attempt to uncover the salient features of the process of implementing technology enhanced learning, and generate constructive design solutions. The work is situated in the scholarship of learning and teaching as it encourages "reflection-in-action" and a commitment to sharing what works in STEM teaching and learning in contemporary environments. The teaching team focus on the complex problems of preparation, attendance, and engagement in a series of intensive labs, whilst the professional staff focus on the complex problems of innovation and student engagement in HE.
A number of known and hypothetical learning design principles are integrated with the affordances of the chosen learning environment (OneNote) and used to propose plausible solutions. These solutions are used to iteratively refine the learning environment and reveal new design principles. The paper emphasises the benefits of providing for and supporting the emergence of microcultures, and suggest strategies for those that wish to emulate the approach taken.
About the authors
Brett Fyfield
Brett Fyfield works with people and teams in education to improve learning and teaching through the appropriate use of technology. From his earliest beginnings as a multimedia developer he has designed and developed compelling user experiences in the classroom, online and in the real world that make the most of new media. Currently in his role as Instructional Multimedia Developer at QUT he works with academics, staff and students to develop and support technology enhanced learning. He is dedicated to transforming education through fostering personal and professional growth and promotes the use of design thinking in teams to produce new digital pedagogies. He is interested in understanding how casual conversations become the catalyst for change, and how their transformative power may be harnessed for broader organisational and social change.
Iwona Czaplinski
Iwona holds a Master in Applied Linguistics, an MPhil in Educational research and is currently enrolled in PhD programme in a School of Mathematical Sciences, at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In her research, Iwona is looking at the ways of assisting modern Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) undergraduate students in becoming expert learners, that is strategic, resourceful and self-regulated. To this end, Iwona investigates students’ learning networks, their networked learning habits and the potential of using better the social, educational and technological affordances offered by new technologies, in the context of ever-changing learning environment.
A cross-disciplinary evaluation of digitally recorded feedback in higher education
Full paper
Michael Phillips
Monash University
@thinkingmike
Tracii Ryan
Monash University
@traciiryan
Michael Henderson
Monash University
@mjhenderson
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 11.30am - 12pm
Stream 3
Room L206
Abstract
Research demonstrates that assessment feedback created using audio, video, and screencast recordings can offer advantages over text-based feedback. However, the majority of research and experience in this domain has largely been limited to a single disciplinary or cohort context. This project aimed to empirically investigate if recorded feedback (i.e. audio, video, and screencast) could be effectively implemented across different contexts, including disciplines. As part of this, teaching staff from five discrete subjects provided digitally recorded feedback to students on at least one assessment task. Assessment types included various forms of written assignments, completed by individuals or groups of students.
This paper reports on survey data collected from 351 students who received recorded feedback or text-based feedback. Survey respondents were enrolled in five subjects across four disciplines (Education, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Management). To triangulate the survey findings, interview data from nine students are also included. Overall, the findings indicate that students in all disciplines found digitally recorded feedback to be more satisfying, more useful, and more engaging than text-based feedback alone. However, these outcomes differed across contexts; results tended to be elevated in subjects with smaller cohorts, and when richer audiovisual modalities were used. However, in two of the cases students’, while still being overall positive, indicated that the feedback was less clear, usable and satisfying than indicated in other cases. These differences are explored and issues of teacher experience, cohort size, group assessment, and disciplinary cognate traditions are considered.
About the authors
Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. He researches and teaches on the topics of educational technology and instructional design, including ethics of social media use, and assessment feedback designs. Michael leads the OLT funded project Feedback for Learning and is a Lead Editor for AJET.
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. His work focuses on the knowledge expert teachers develop when integrating educational technologies into their practice. Additionally, Michael researchers the ways in which expert teachers make active decisions about their classroom technology integration. Michael’s research regularly involves collaboration with colleagues from Australia, the United States, Europe, Asia and the sub-continent. Michael is a team member of the OLT funded project Feedback for Learning and leads the Learning with New Media research group. Michael is an Associate Editor for AJET.
Tracii Ryan
Dr Tracii Ryan is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Tracii has research expertise relating to the motivations, outcomes, and individual differences associated with internet use. Tracii also has several years of experience working across a range of research projects within the higher education context, and her most recent work focuses on assessment and feedback.
A framework for program wide curriculum transformation
Full paper
Angela Nicolettou
RMIT University
@ANicolettou
Andrea Chester
RMIT University
Spiros Soulis
RMIT University
@SSoulis
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 11.30am - 12pm
Stream 2
Room R113
Abstract
Designing and delivering higher education programs in a global climate of constant change, technological advances and uncertain futures leads to the need for curriculum transformation practices that are innovative and responsive.
This paper describes a university-wide approach to developing a framework for program level transformation that is strengths-based, data-informed and design-led. A strengths-based approach builds on good practice, creating a space that is positive and forward looking. Data-informed practice and the inclusion of data wranglers on the project allowed for conversations about the known, unknowns and desirable directions to take place and inform directions. Design-led practices introduced design thinking principles such a building empathy and co-design with students, alumni and industry. The emergent framework has three key stages: vision, design and build. The vision stage focuses on the program team, its students, industry and desired direction for transformation. The design stage focuses on defining challenges, ideating, co-designing and creating a plan for development. The build stage uses a rapid prototyping and iterative approach to development that incorporates user testing early in the stage.
The project has delivered a framework for program level transformation and innovation and has shown that a strengths-based approach that is data informed and engages with students as co-designers has the capacity to unite teams, inform program visions and allow for innovative practices to emerge. Taking a learner experience approach to design also highlighted the value in engaging students and industry in curriculum design from the start of the process rather than simply as end users.
About the authors
Angela Nicolettou
Angela Nicolettou is the Manager of the Digital Learning Team in the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University. Angela has over 20 years experience in Higher Education, leading numerous curriculum design teams, teaching, program management of Graduate Certificates in tertiary teaching, academic development and educational design. A focus of Angela’s work has been teaching with educational technologies, curriculum design, assessment and sessional teacher training.
Andrea Chester
Andrea is the Head of the School of Education and Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching at RMIT University. She has a background in psychology education and practice, with more than 20 years experience as an academic. Over the years Andrea has taught across the psychology curriculum, with a particular interest in first year and transition issues and she continues to teach in both first and third year. Her research focuses on learning and teaching, with an emphasis on how social capital can enhance learning. Her work has explored how partnerships between students can be mutually beneficial, how partnerships between staff can enhance reflective practice and how partnerships between students and staff can be leveraged to transform learning.
Spiros Soulis
Spiros Soulis is a Learning Designer in the College of Design and Social Context at RMIT University. Spiros experience spans across ESL and higher education, in leading and managing countless learning design teams as well as high profile projects in learning and teaching. His main research areas are in Design Thinking, design for learning and learner experience.