Explaining learning achievement in student experience of blended learning: What can a sociomaterial perspective contribute?
Concise paper
Feifei Han
The University of Sydney
Robert Ellis
The University of Sydney
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 2.10pm - 2.30pm
Stream 2
Room R113
Abstract
Drawing on theories of student approaches to learning and sociomaterial perspectives on learning, we investigated how a combination of sociocognitive and sociomaterial variables explain variation in 365 students’ learning achievement in a first year human biology blended learning course in an Australian research intensive university. We used student experience questionnaires to measure students’ self-reports about their approaches to learning through inquiry, approaches to using online learning technologies, and their use of on-campus physical learning spaces. We also obtained observed measures of online learning technologies in terms of frequency and duration through analytics provided by a proprietary learning management system. Students’ learning achievement was evaluated using their assessment schedule comprising six assessment tasks. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the interrelationship between approaches, use of online learning technologies, use of on-campus physical learning spaces, and achievement. Based on the correlation results, we regressed learning achievement on approaches, use of online learning technologies and physical learning spaces. The results showed that by introducing sociomaterial variables into the regression analysis, a significant proportion of learning achievement was explained over and above the explanations offered by student experience variables alone. The results highlight an important role of combining both self-report and observational data in analyses of student experiences of blended course designs.
About the authors
Feifei Han
Feifei Han currently is an educational researcher at the University of Sydney. Her current research interests comprise of three broad themes: (1) language and literacy education; (2) teaching, learning, and educational technology in higher education, and (3) educational psychology.
Robert Ellis
Robert Ellis is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Sydney. He has been a funded chief investigative researcher for the Australian Research Council since 2005. His current project is funded up until 2019 (with Goodyear and others). Robert’s research interests focus on the student and teaching experience of e-learning, quality and innovation in higher education and learning spaces. He is author of two books and more than eighty internationally refereed publications, mostly in journal articles. He is also a coordinating editor of the Springer Journal ‘Higher Education’, and co-editor of the new book series for Springer ‘Understanding Teaching and Learning practice’. The goal of his research and scholarship is to achieve meaningful social contributions through translational research outcomes.
Transforming exams: Stories from across Australia: ASCILITE e-Assessment SIG
ASCILITE session
Mathew Hillier
Monash University
@mathewhillier
Andrew Fluck
University of Tasmania
@AndrewFluck
Michael Cowling
Central Queensland University
@macowling
Kenneth Howah
Central Queensland University
Matt Bower
Macquarie University
@mattgbower
Scott Grant
Monash University
@scottgrantoz
Amy Hubbell
University of Queensland
Catch this session
Tuesday 3.45pm - 4.45pm
Stream 4
Room L209
Abstract
"This panel style session will explore the stories of academics and institution support staff that have trailed the OLT e-Exam system in 2017. The 'Transforming Exams Across Australia' project has evolved to include 10 Australian universities, a national accreditation agency and several international institutions forming collaborative connections.
Stories from project member institutions will provide insights into a particular element of practice from differing institutional contexts. Each speaker will contribute one or two perspectives to form an overall rich picture of running BYOD based e-exams in Australian universities. Areas to be covered will include, academic, logistical, policy, governance, technology support and student experiences perspectives.
The e-Exam system uses BYO laptops running from customised version of Linux loaded onto bootable USB sticks that non-invasively 'locks down' the device for the duration of the exam. The system allows for a consistent, full desktop operating environment regardless of the laptop being used. A range of software tools can be run including an office suite, graphics tools, spreadsheets, multimedia and on-board web applications (Moodle) without the requirement for a network connection. The project is undergoing trials in 2017 where word documents are used as the question and response environment. Such exams can be run as paper-equivalent giving students a choice of handwriting or typing. Taking it a step further, high definition multimedia, resource files, and third party software tools takes an exam into the post-paper paradigm where all students use a computer to construct complex responses in the exam room. Read more at transformingexams.com"
About the authors
Mathew Hillier
Mathew is one of two co-leaders of the ASCILITE SIG for 'e-Assessment' and in this capacity is a co-host of the Transforming Assessment webinar series along with Prof Geoffrey Crisp. He specialises in e-assessment and e-exams and teaches into the academic staff development program at Monash University leading the 'technology and space' theme. He has previously taught into Business, Information systems, Engineering and Arts programs at several universities in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Mathew is currently the leader of the 'Transforming Exams' project developing a toolset for authentic, computerised, high-stakes assessment (e-Exams). The project covers 10 university partners and is funded by a half-million dollar Australian government grant. He is also leading the development of a multi-language computerised exam platform for use in national professional translator accreditation. More about Mathew at http://ta.vu/mathewhillier
Andrew Fluck
Dr. Fluck trained as a teacher in Bristol, England. He has taught science, mathematics and computing in Nigeria, England and Australia. He is a past secretary of the Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE), and is now a senior lecturer in information technology education at the University of Tasmania. His numerous publications reflect his research interests in the transformational potential of computers in education. He was a co-author of the government report 'Making Better Connections' and the book 'Seven steps to ICT integration'. His funded research investigates the use of computers to teach integral calculus and quantum mechanics in primary schools; and eExaminations, where students take their own computers into the exam hall. He is the chair of Working Group 3.3 (research into educational applications of information technologies) for IFIP/UNESCO. Andrew is also an avid longbow archer and continental archery judge. See more details at http://Andrew.Fluck.id.au
Michael Cowling
Michael is an educational technology academic with a keen interest in technology / computer science education, educational technology and technology ubiquity in the digital age. He is currently a partner in an OLT Innovation and Development grant and is the recipient of an Australian Government Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning. He founded The CREATE Lab at CQUniversity, focused on collaborative research & engagement around technology and education, and is co-founder of The Mixed Reality Research Lab, in collaboration with Bond University, focusing on mixed reality technology research in education. Dr Cowling’s work focuses on how technology can be weaved into the pedagogy of a classroom, rather than bolted on to the side. Living by the mantra “pedagogy before technology”, he helps teachers and academics to innovate with technology, leveraging it as a tool to improve the overall education process.
Kenneth Howah
Ken is a lecturer in technology, teaching Information Systems and security management, Information Technologies and networking, E-commerce, and Ethics and Social Issues. Prior to starting at CQUniversity in 2002 he worked in the ICT industry in roles including Network Administration, IT procurement and IT customer service. Ken has published on user decision making with respect to the use of software from risky sources. He is currently a partner researcher on the national e-exams project with an interest in use of e-exams within the ICT program and development of technical support for computerised exams across complex multi campus institutions. Ken's online profile https://handbook.cqu.edu.au/profiles/view/535
Matt Bower
Associate Professor Bower specialises in the innovative use of technology for learning purposes. He is particularly interested in how contemporary technologies such as augmented reality, Web 2.0 tools, virtual worlds, social networking, virtual reality and so on can be most effectively used to support cognitive development and collaborative learning. Matt has over seventy peer reviewed publications in the area of technology-enhanced learning design, teacher education, and computing education. He has led several funded grant projects and participated in many other research initiatives (total funding exceeds $1M). He has delivered numerous keynote and invited speaker presentations on topics such as augmented reality, blended-synchronous learning and learning design. Matt's Macquarie University profile is at http://www.educ.mq.edu.au/our_staff/associate_professor_matt_bower/
Scott Grant
Scott has taught Chinese language and culture at tertiary level for more than 20 years. At Monash University he coordinates and teaches units in Introductory Chinese language and Chinese Online Media. He is the creator of the Monash Chinese Island virtual language learning simulation in Second Life that has been part of the formal beginner level curriculum at Monash since 2008. Scott has also conducted collaborative research and jointly published a number of papers on educational uses of 3D multi-user virtual environments covering topics including self-efficacy, cognitive skills, second language acquisition and foreign language anxiety. In 2013/14, Scott was the Project Team Leader of the OLT funded Virtually Enhanced Languages (VEL) project which aims to share the experience and resources accumulated from implementing task-based language and culture learning on Chinese Island over a period of 10 years with other tertiary language educators. Scott profile is at http://profiles.arts.monash.edu.au/scott-grant/
Amy Hubbell
Amy teaches all levels of French language, French literature, translation and business French at University of Queensland. She is author of 'Remembering French Algeria: Pieds-Noirs, Identity and Exile' (2015) and numerous articles and chapters on contemporary French literature and art. Though her area of research is the traumatic memories of exile and war in French Algeria, she is also author of a textbook 'A la recherche d’un emploi: Business French in a Communicative Context' (2017). Amy recently engaged with the use of computerised exams and has been trialing the technology in French to English translation courses. Amy's online profile is at https://languages-cultures.uq.edu.au/profile/1145/amy-hubbell
Face-to-face and virtual mathematics enrichment for rural schools: Intersection of teachers, students, technology and pedagogy
Concise paper
Linda Galligan
University of Southern Queensland
Ron Addie
University of Southern Queensland
Linda Stern
Nanango State High School
Taryn Axelsen
University of Southern Queensland
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December, 11.40am - 12pm
Stream 4
Room L209
Abstract
While many students hold negative attitudes towards mathematics, research has found that such negative perceptions can be addressed by showing students how mathematics can be relevant to their lives (Galligan and Woolcott, 2015). Indeed studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education have found that students become more interested in engaging in these areas if the learning opportunities presented to them are more personally relevant and presented in a manner that an involves active learning, student-focused approach (Christensen, Knezek, and Tyler-Wood, 2015; Maass and Artigue, 2013; McGregor, 2016).
The program reported in this paper has been designed to address student engagement through an active learning approach that is presented through regionally relevant group-based learning activities. The program being reported in this paper is the University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) Mathematics Rural and Regional Communities (MRRC) project. This project is an extension to the Mathematics Enrichment Program (MEP), which has been running since 2007. Since the MEP’s inception, more than 500 students, 29 schools, 15 pre-service teachers (who are involved to gain practical teaching experience) and many volunteer university lecturers and other mathematics and education professionals have been involved. Through an interactive virtual environment, the MRRC project connects regional high schools to USQ’s two campuses to build the capacity of the teachers and students involved. In this paper the authors describe the overall aim and structure of the MRRC program, preliminary evaluations of the program, analysis of the virtual space and future plans for the program.
About the authors
Linda Galligan
Linda Galligan is an Associate Professor and Discipline Coordinator of Mathematics and Statistics with the Faculty of Health Engineering and Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland. She teaches into first year mathematics, and has strong links with schools providing mathematics programs and activities for students and teachers. Her research includes language and mathematics; students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of student preparation for numeracy demands of university, and models of embedding academic numeracy in university programs. More recently, her focus has been on the use of Tablet technology to effectively teach mathematics; and using modelling to improve pre-service teachers’ deep understanding of mathematics.
Ron Addie
Ron Addie is an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland. Ron Addie received his BSc degree from Monash University in 1972 and completed his PhD at Monash University in the area of semi-Markov queues in 1986. From 1972 to 1992, he worked in Telecom Australia Research Laboratories where he was involved in the development of ATM, teletraffic, and network analysis and design. In 1992 he moved to the University of Southern Queensland, where he is holds the position of Associate Professor. His current research interests include queueing theory for long-range dependent traffic, rare event simulation, layered network design, network analysis, design and simulation software and security of web information systems. He is the author or co-author of many journal and conference papers, primarily in the area of communications, with more 1000 citations (according to Google Scholar).
Linda Stern
Linda Stern is an experienced Mathematics teacher at the Mathematics/E-Learning Head of Department at Nanango State High School, Queensland.
Taryn Axelsen
Taryn Axelsen is a Lecturer in statistics with the Faculty of Health Engineering and Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). She teaches first, second and third year courses in mathematics and statistics and has strong links with schools providing mathematics programs and activities for students and teachers. She has been involved for several years in the mathematics enrichment program at USQ. She also works as a statistics consultant on a range of different programs throughout the university. Her research interests include self-theories, overcoming statistics anxiety, advancements in technology to enhance the teaching of university statistics and statistical enrichment for school aged students.
"One size does not fit all": Towards cultural adaptivity in learning management systems
Concise paper
Joy Galaige
Griffith University
Geraldine Torrisi-Steele
Griffith University
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December 2017 11.40am - 12pm
Stream 3
Room L206
Abstract
In recent years, online learning has proliferated higher education and subsequently there are a great many learners seeking to achieve their academic goals by undertaking online courses. Online learning platforms have attracted learners with diverse cultural backgrounds. The cultural diversity evident in online learning environments presents challenges for online course designers as to design for culturally sensitivity or cultural inclusivity. It is well acknowledged that learning is embedded in the socio-cultural context and so culture impacts on cognitive processes, participation, engagement, and collaboration, among other things. However, recent studies reveal that online courses are not designed in a culturally sensitive way.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, and Desire2learn among others enable instructional/course designers to easily and quickly design and deliver online courses. However, LMS enable a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the design and delivery of online courses hence lack adaptive features, including those needed for cultural sensitivity.
In the current study, we investigate instructional designers’ perspectives on culturally sensitive learning design features in online learning design.
In a preliminary survey, the instructional designers were asked “how important do you believe it is to consider culture during online course design?” the intent is to come up with an LMS learning design framework for culturally sensitive online learning design. We believe that this will efficiently and effectively enable design of online learning that address cultural diversity to fit learners’ cultural profiles, and subsequently making positive impact on engagement, experience and learning outcomes.
About the authors
Joy Galaige
Joy Galaige is currently a PhD student in the School of Information and Communication Technology at Griffith University, Nathan Campus.
She received her Bachelor of Business Computing and Master of Science in Information Systems from Makerere University in 2010 and 2015 respectively. She worked as a Graduate Assistant at Makerere University Business School from 2010 to 2013 and an Assistant lecturer from 2013 to 2016.
Her research interests include social media for teaching and learning, E-learning design, mobile learning, learning analytics, and Massive Open Online Courses.
Geraldine Torrisi-Steele
Geraldine Torrisi-Steele is a senior lecturer within the School of Information and Communication Technology at Griffith University, where she teaches undergraduate courses within interactive media and information technology degree programs. Her background in secondary science teaching and in the instructional design and development of interactive e-learning, has precipitated a strong interest in learning and teaching, the development of learner metacognition and leadership capacities , the user experience, user interface design, and the application of digital media to learning environments.
Facilitating social learning through learning design: A perspective of collaborative academic development
Concise paper
Chie Adachi
Deakin University
@chieadachi
Julia Savage
Deakin University
Marcus O'Donnell
Deakin University
@marcusod
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December, 11.20am - 11.40am
Stream 6
Room T125
Abstract
The notion of learning design and social learning has been foregrounded lately in the field of technology-enhanced learning. The rise of Web 2.0 that has allowed social networks to develop (not just to find and share information) in connecting global learners to learn from each other through the web. Following this movement, the higher education sector has begun to embed a design of learning that socially encourages peer learning among learners themselves. This is particularly relevant to MOOC environments where there is the potential for thousands of participants to learn through multiple open source tools with minimum intervention from educators. This may in turn present a challenge for university educators to adapt to this new learning environment and ways of teaching. This paper presents a work-in-progress collaborative project designed to respond to such transformation. We in a central learning and teaching unit, designed and developed a course that sought to build the capacity of academics going through this change: they were about to teach on a MOOC platform. We applied the same learning design principles our academics were asked to employ in the development of their MOOC courses. Our purpose was to model and test the framework, but also to distil authentic social learning for academics as learners first. This resulted in creating a community of practice among educators involved in this space. Further research is required to measure the impact of this capacity-building course in order to further enhance the learning experiences of academics in the course.
About the authors
Chie Adachi
Dr Chie Adachi has a PhD in Linguistics (The University of Edinburgh) and has taught/worked at universities in Japan, UK and Australia over the past 12 years. Her current research interests lie within the areas of digital learning and teaching in higher education, sociolinguistics and intercultural education. She currently works as a Lecturer within the central Learning and Teaching unit, Deakin Learning Futures at Deakin University, Melbourne. Since 2017 she has been involved with the ASCILITE Special Interest Group, TELedvisors, as one of the co-founders serving to create a collaborative space and empower advisors working within the area of Technology Enhanced Learning.
Julia Savage
Julia Savage is a lecturer in professional learning within a central unit at Deakin University. Her particular research interest is the scholarship of learning and teaching and supporting the work of sessional staff.
Marcus O'Donnell
A/Prof Marcus O’Donnell is Director, Digital Learning at Deakin University where he has been academic lead on the Degrees at FutureLearn project. Prior to coming to Deakin Marcus was a journalism program convenor at the University of Wollongong and then part of the core team for the institutional Curriculum Transformation project. His research interests are cloud-first learning design, narrative approaches to research, teaching and learning and contemplative pedagogies, particularly the intersections of digital literacies and mindfulness in an age of distraction.
A Community of Inquiry approach to learning design in a community-engaged learning program
Concise paper
Brahm Marjadi
Western Sydney University
Kashmira Dave
Western Sydney University
Glenn Mason
Western Sydney University
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December, 11.40am - 12pm
Stream 5
Room C204
Abstract
The Medicine in Context (MiC) program is the flagship community-engaged learning and teaching program at the Western Sydney University School of Medicine. MiC students attend placements at community organisations, General Practice clinics and face-to-face tutorials and lectures for two 5-week blocks. Responding to students’ lack of engagement and preference for more flexible delivery modes, a blended learning approach using the Community of Inquiry framework to guide the design has been gradually introduced since 2014. The MiC webpage was revised to simplify access to key information and resources. Five lectures were transformed into online modules and one workshop was converted into a flipped classroom. Multi-media open educational resources were added to replace some reading materials. Online “Weekly Study Guide” scaffolds, paces and aligns students’ self-directed learning with MiC learning outcomes. Moving program evaluation and some assessments to an online platform enables more timely feedback. These developments have resulted in novel, engaging learning activities. Preliminary evaluation indicates students’ greater engagement with the MiC program and deeper levels of learning indicated by increased levels of reflection and the demonstration of MiC learning outcomes being satisfied.
About the authors
Brahm Marjadi
Brahmaputra (Brahm) Marjadi is the Senior Lecturer in Community Engaged Learning at Western Sydney University School of Medicine. Brahm convenes the Medicine in Context program where Year 3 students (of the 5-year undergraduate MBBS curriculum) spend two blocks of 5-week placements at community services and General Practice clinics to learn about Social Determinants of Health and how health is maintained and managed outside the hospital setting. Brahm was trained as a General Practitioner in Indonesia and obtained Master of Public Health and PhD in Community Medicine from UNSW Australia. Brahm has been a lecturer in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health in Indonesia 1996, and in medicine and public health in Australia since 2006. Brahm is a mixed-methods researcher in infectious and non-communicable disease prevention and control, community engagement, medical education and research translation across cultures and in low-resource settings.
Kashmira Dave
Kashmira is a senior lecturer in medical education (blended learning) in the Medical Education Unit, School Of Medicine at Western Sydney University. Her main work in the school is to lead the team developing the curriculum mapping (Roadmap) tool. Kashmira has wide experience in the area of learning design and teaching and learning in higher education. She has taught numerous courses mainly in the area of research methodology and use of technology in education. Her PhD focused on how educational design is communicated to students and how it is interpreted by the students in a higher education context. She has particular interest in science education, research methodology and learning design.
Glenn Mason
Glenn is a member of the blended learning team in the Medical Education Unit, School Of Medicine at Western Sydney University. He is centrally involved in all aspects of blended learning at the School of Medicine from the foundation years, clinical immersion program and various postgraduate courses. His combined understanding of the practice and theoretical foundations of learning design has led to curriculum development and teaching opportunities at a tertiary level in the field of online learning design and he has also taught in the Medicine in Context program at Western Sydney University. His PhD is on online learning, adult education and type 2 diabetes.
Improving the undergraduate science experience through an evidence-based framework for design, implementation and evaluation of flipped learning
Concise paper
Yvonne Davila
University of Technology Sydney
@whydee13
Elaine Huber
University of Technology Sydney
@enm181
Jorge Reyna
University of Technology Sydney
Peter Meier
University of Technology Sydney
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 1.30pm - 1.50pm
Stream 2
Room R113
Abstract
Flipped Learning (FL) is a student-centred pedagogical approach where new content is introduced prior to class which permits more time during class for active learning. Despite the growing body of evidence of the effectiveness of FL, many educators are reluctant to adopt this approach to teaching or are unsure of how to implement FL in their classes. Many students are uncertain of how to adapt their approaches to learning to a FL curriculum. In response to these challenges and calls for a robust framework to guide the design and implementation of FL, we developed the Flipped Teacher and Flipped Learner (FTFL) Framework based on the pedagogical literature. This paper reports on the use of our FTFL framework in the redesign of a large first year science subject from a traditional delivery to a FL delivery. We evaluated the efficacy of the redesign using a mixed methods approach with data on students’ interactions with FL activities, and student and educator experiences. Findings from two iterations of the redesign indicate successful implementation of FL through high student engagement with online and class materials, and positive feedback from students and academics. Using the FTFL framework to guide the design and integration of FL, with an emphasis on clear communication, is key to our successful FL intervention and support of student learning.
About the authors
Yvonne Davila
Dr Yvonne Davila is a Lecturer in Higher Education Learning Design in the Faculty of Science at the University of Technology Sydney. Yvonne collaborates with academics to develop curricula that motivate and enhance student learning of key scientific concepts and skills. Her work focuses on how best to use blended learning innovations to support science students in higher education, particularly in their first year of university. Yvonne has led FYE and T&L projects and is a long-term member of the UTS First Year Experience Strategy team. In 2016 Yvonne was awarded a UTS Teaching and Learning Award for her work on developing and supporting academic and professional communication skills in first year Science through an embedded, student-centred, flipped learning approach.
Elaine Huber
Elaine Huber works at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. She is a senior lecturer in Higher Education Learning Design and works with academics in the Faculty of Science to help them innovate their teaching curriculum. She has a passion for integrating technologies through blended approaches such as the flipped classroom. Elaine is also investigating the praxis of evaluating small-scale learning and teaching projects in higher education for her PhD in Education.
Jorge Reyna
Jorge Reyna is a Lecturer in Higher Education Learning Design in the Faculty of Science at UTS. Jorge is focused on using digital media as an assessment tool to foster deep learning and digital media literacy. Additionally, his area of interest includes flipped classrooms, development of desktop recording lectures that are interactive and engaging for students and inclusive design applied to online learning.
Peter Meier
Associate Professor Peter Meier is the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Science, UTS. Peter has over 20 years of academic experience including subject coordination, program directorship and leadership roles at Faculty level. Peter has overseen the Faculty wide curriculum review whereby all Science subjects were redesigned to align with the university’s learning.futures initiative. Most recently, Peter led the UTS chapter of the ‘WIL in Science: Leadership for WIL’ Lighthouse Project, which developed an integrated Faculty strategy to extend work-integrated learning (WIL) activities in science and related degrees through curriculum renewal, scaling and development of individual placement programs.
Online global collaboration: Affordances and inhibitors
Full paper
Julie Lindsay
Charles Sturt University
@julielindsay
Petrea Redmond
University of Southern Queensland
@plredmond
Catch this session
Wednesday 6 December, 11.30am - 12pm
Stream 2
Room R113
Abstract
New teaching and learning approaches are emerging through the use of technology including online global collaboration. Educators involved in global collaboration forge external relationships with others beyond their immediate learning environment. They modify and adapt the curriculum to include global learning opportunities for their learners. Global collaboration provides opportunities for rich global, cognitive, social, cultural and life-changing experiences to their students. Online global collaboration broadly refers to geographically dispersed educators that use online technologies to learn with others beyond their immediate environment to support curricular objectives, intercultural understandings, critical thinking, personal, social and ICT capabilities. This paper will report some preliminary findings from an investigation into the perceptions of K-12 educators who facilitate global collaborative learning. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews that were then themed to identify the key affordances and inhibitors to online global collaboration. The paper will provide recommendations for global collaboration in teacher education.
About the authors
Julie Lindsay
Quality Learning and Teaching Leader (Online) for the Faculty of Arts and Education, Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University.
Julie is a thought leader in online learning for both K-12 and Higher Education. She has a 30+ years career in schools including fifteen years as an educational technology leader in international schools across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Her passion is for online global collaboration and as Founder and CEO of Flat Connections she designs and manages projects and customizes professional learning experiences for educators. More recently her work at Charles Sturt includes designing improved pedagogical approaches to online learning and teaching. She has a Master of Arts in Music (La Trobe), and a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development - Educational Technology Leadership (George Washington) and is completing a PhD at the University of Southern Queensland with a research focus of online global educators and pedagogical change. Her most recent book, ‘The Global Educator: Leveraging Technology for Collaborative Learning and Teaching’ (ISTE, 2016) shares practices, pedagogies and case studies on how to learn and collaborate online.
Petrea Redmond
Associate Professor - Educational Technology, School of Teacher Education and Early Childhood, University of Southern Queensland
Petrea Redmond is an Associate Professor of Educational Technology in the School of Teacher Education and Early Childhood at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research is situated in interrelated fields of educational technology including: blended and online learning and teaching; online collaboration; online communities of inquiry; online mentoring; gender and STEM (with a particular focus on technology); community of inquiry; Makerspaces, and the integration of technology to enhance learning and teaching in the school and higher education contexts. She has published and co- published in a number of international refereed books, journals and conference proceedings. Petrea has received 6 outstanding conference paper awards at international conferences; faculty and university awards for research and teaching, along with the 2009 Ascilite Fellow Commendation Award (Early Career). She also participates as a mentor in the Ascilite mentoring program and is a Section Editor for Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (AJET).
Key success factors to implementing an active learning platform
Concise paper
Megan Duffy
Griffith University
@MeganDuffy09
Jenny James
Griffith University
Chris Campbell
Griffith University
@chrissie
Jude Williams
Griffith University
Catch this session
Tuesday 5 December, 11am - 11.20am
Stream 3
Room L206
Abstract
This study reports on the key success factors when introducing a new lecture capture platform, Echo360 Active Learning Platform (ALP), at an Australian University. This is an interactive platform, designed to actively engage students in their courses including in lectures (online and/or face to face) through a range of interactive tools. A trial of ALP, which is known within the University as the Echo360 ALP Early Adopter Program, was conducted in Semester 2, 2016. The purpose of the Echo360 ALP Early Adopter Program was to identify the key success factors required for implementation of Echo360 ALP at the enterprise level. The study reports data on students’ experience of the interactive tools in Echo360 ALP. In total, over 1250 students, seven academics from across seven courses, Blended Learning Advisors from within each of the University’s four academic groups, and support staff participated in the Echo360 ALP Early Adopter Program. The results of the study show that students were engaged when using Echo360 ALP and with support from professional staff this program can be successfully implemented by academics. Thus, the key success factors to this implementation include the academics themselves and the support staff involved in the implementation. A further success factor was the vendor themselves.
About the authors
Megan Duffy
Megan Duffy is a Project Manager working within the Centre for Learning Futures at Griffith University. Her role is to work in collaboration with learning and teaching support staff, technical support staff, academic stakeholders and decision makers across the University, to pilot and implement educational technologies. In this position Megan coordinates and facilitates various aspects of the project, including user training, communications and support; consultation and engagement strategies; governance and approvals; and vendor relationship management. Megan has a background in learning management systems administration, implementation, change management and training, while working in various roles at organisations across the education sector.
Jenny James
Jenny James is a Blended Learning Advisor in the Griffith Business School (GBS) at Griffith University. Her role is to work in collaboration with the GBS Learning and Teaching Team and academic colleagues within GBS, to increase the uptake and usage of appropriate information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the delivery of learning and teaching to improve the student's learning experience. Prior to her current role, Jenny was an Educational Designer in the Centre for Learning Futures at Griffith University. In this position Jenny designed and developed educational learning experiences delivered via multiple modalities and provided expertise, professional training and development in the design and delivery of a variety of learning experiences both online and in-person.
Chris Campbell
Chris, works at the Centre for Learning Futures at Griffith University where she teaches into the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education. In her specific field of Digital Technologies Chris is an emerging research leader who has been involved in numerous grants and projects around digital technologies and mobile learning. Her skills in implementing and trialing new technologies are documented in over 50 publications where she has conducted research in online tools in educational settings, including LAMS, Second Life and Assistive eXtra Learning Environments as well as research in technology integration, mobile learning and augmented reality. In 2016, Chris was a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship holder she investigated the Smithsonian Learning Lab and implications for teachers. Chris has a keen interest in MLearning and has published various papers pertaining to TPACK and mathematics education.
Jude Williams
Dr Jude Williams is a Senior Consultant (Learning & Teaching) in Learning Futures at Griffith University. Her role is to provide leadership and consultancy to support academic staff in advancing teaching and program quality. Jude has experience as a teacher, research and administrator in secondary schools, Vocational Education and Training as well as Higher Education. Regardless of the sector, she has applied learning centred pedagogy to her work. Prior to her current role, Jude was the Assistant Director (Academic) in the Centre for Educational Development at Republic Polytechnic in Singapore. This was a unique institution in that all courses, across all disciplines, were taught using problem-based learning. It was while Jude was at the Polytechnic that she was awarded her PhD in Education. Her thesis explored the transition of academic staff from teachers in traditional classrooms to facilitators of active learning. Jude also has a Masters of Education (Curriculum Development).
A learning analytics pilot in Moodle and its impact on developing organisational capacity in a university
Concise paper
Jean-Christophe Froissard
Macquarie University
@jcfroissard
Danny Liu
Sydney University
@dannydotliu
Deborah Richards
Macquarie University
Amara Atif
Macquarie University
Catch this session
Monday 4 December, 1.30pm - 1.50pm
Stream 3
Room L206
Abstract
Moodle is used as a learning management system around the world. However, integrated learning analytics solutions for Moodle that provide actionable information and allow teachers to efficiently use it to connect with their students are lacking. The enhanced Moodle Engagement Analytics Plugin (MEAP), presented at ASCILITE2015, enabled teachers to identify and contact students at risk of not completing their units. We discuss a pilot using MEAP in 36 units at a metropolitan Australian university. We use existing models for developing organisational capacity in learning analytics and to embed learning analytics into the practice of teaching and learning to discuss a range of issues arising from the pilot. We outline the interaction and interdependency of five stages during the pilot: technology, policies, skills, culture and leadership. We conclude that one of the most significant is developing a culture and behaviour around learning analytics.
About the authors
Jean-Christophe Froissard
Jean-Christophe Froissard is a Senior Learning Designer in the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University with a Masters in Education. His passion is to blend education and technology to improve learning and teaching. He believes that change happens when a small group of passionate people, with a common dream of a better future, work together.
Danny Liu
Danny is a molecular biologist by training, programmer by night, researcher and academic developer by day, and educator at heart. A multiple national teaching award winner, he works at the confluence of learning analytics, student engagement, educational technology, and professional development and leadership to enhance the student experience.
Deborah Richards
Deborah Richards is a Professor in the Department of Computing at Macquarie University. Following 20 years in the ICT industry during which she completed a BBus (Comp and MIS) and MAppSc (InfoStudies), she completed a PhD in artificial intelligence on the reuse of knowledge at the University of New South Wales and joined academia in 1999. While she continues to work on solutions to assist decision-making and knowledge acquisition, for the past decade, her focus has been on intelligent systems, agent technologies and virtual worlds to support human learning and well-being.
Amara Atif
Amara Atif is a PhD candidate in the Department of Computing at Macquarie University. Her research interests include learning analytics, technology acceptance, and knowledge management.