Dr Mark OConnor, Distance Learning Technologist

Curriculum Development Team, Unit for the Enhancement of Learning & Teaching

Towards blended and

distance learning

Outline

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Introduction

Example from MA Advanced Child Protection

Issues; further developments / next steps

Blended / distance learning

The PGT DL pilot
Structure & design
Resources
Reflections

Questions & discussion

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Introduction: Blended / distance learning

Lots of issues to consider when developing
distance courses:

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Technical hardware & software, multimedia,

training, Internet access

Legal: accessibility, copyright, intellectual

property

Practical: impact of different time zones,

assessment submission, office hours

Focus today is on how Moodle can be used to

support distance learners

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Introduction: The PGT DL Pilot

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Initially looking at ~10 taught postgraduate

programmes

Varying degrees of distance some have oncampus induction, some may also include faceto-face evening or weekend sessions

First modules launched in January 2013 Child

Protection programme (CCP / SSPSSR)

Interest in smaller scale modules & CPD

rather than programmes

Longer term: building in increased flexibility for

standard on-campus modules & programmes

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Example: MA Advanced Child Protection

2 modules launched Jan 2013:

SO926 Understanding Social

Research

SO927
Definitions, Prevalence, Cau
ses and Consequences of Child
Abuse and Neglect

Students attended on-campus

Induction Week (w/b 7th Jan 2013)
Further modules:

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SO928 ran in Spring 2013

SO929 just started (Sept 2013)

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Issues

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Use of webinars - GoToMeeting

Integration / mainstreaming

Student feedback

Use of elearning packages (Articulate)

Smaller projects individual modules, CPD
offerings, tasters
Moodle, SDS, Reading Lists
Validation / QA processes
Workload allocation

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Further developments

Continuing developments for

MA Advanced Child Protection

Social Policy, Value Chain

Management, Conservation
Biology, CPP modules

Other possibilities include

individual modules to increase
flexibility, tasters, mooc-like
courses

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Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013

Questions / discussion
Mark OConnor: mao21@kent.ac.uk
ELFs: http://www.kent.ac.uk/elearning/elf/

ELF on Distance Learning planned for October.

Possibly with lunch!

As a workshop? Bring along your current

module, develop it into a DL-style.

What else?

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moocs?
Using DL ideas for on-campus modules?

Blended & Distance Learning: Elearning Summer School 2013