Supporting A-level Geography Students Online …at Kingston College 2004/5 LSDA Q Project

1. Supporting A-level Geography Students Online…at Kingston College 2004/5 LSDA Q Project

2. Outline Kingston College implementation of the Blackboard virtual learning environment to promote learning and teaching in A-level Geography • Virtual learning environments and curriculum delivery • Advantages and disadvantages • Why use a VLE for A-level Geography? • Teaching geography online • Key functions and their applications • Evaluating online delivery • Lessons for the future

3. What is a virtual learning environment? • A web-based software resource to support learning and teaching • Learning materials • Multimedia delivery • Assessment • Communication & collaboration • Tracking, monitoring and user management • Blackboard implemented at Kingston College in 2001 • Available from any Internet-enabled PC or Mac • Still exploring most productive use!

4. Advantages Provides a suite of integrated tools for enhancing learning Provides balance between ease of use and flexibility Simple to create and publish content Supports students working at their own, place, time and pace Easy to create interactive learning resources Consistent interface Supports a range of teaching & learning methods Disadvantages Not all students (or staff) will have access to networked PCs Preparing and delivering VLE-based learning activities takes time Designing high-quality e-learning resources and activities is difficult Students take a while to adjust to new ways of working Online technology does not, in itself, lead to effective learning or teaching Why use a VLE?

5. Why use Blackboard in A-level Geography? • Engage students and stimulate learning • Caters for a range of learning styles • Provides structure and coherence • Multi-sensory and interactive opportunities Decision made to step-upapplication of Blackboard froma supplementary to a focal resource for 2003-4 and further extend this 2004-5

6. Teaching urban geography online • AQA A-Level Specification A • Human Geography Topics • Replaced a single 1 hour session each week • Students required to spend 2 hours online • Support… • Induction and review sessions • Fieldwork • Documentation

7. Accessing the materials • Interactive scheme or work • Announcements • Tasks • How-to guide…

8. Using the VLE Key functions • Announcements • Text • Images • Web links • Tasks • Learning Units • Content packages • Multimedia • Tests • Surveys • Discussion Board • Assignments

11. Discussion Board

12. Tests and assignments

13. What worked well Greater flexibility for students and staff Framework for learning Short self-contained activities Re-use of the materials What worked less well Technical problems Navigation Superficial engagement of some students Type of interaction Feedback Evaluating online delivery

14. The future of Geography online? • There is a role for e-learning • As a supplement to face-to-face lessons • New opportunities are provided • Geography can benefit from these • Students need lots of guidance, support and encouragements • Don’t make assumptions about skills • High quality materials and presentation are critical • Technical developments will encourage greater efficiency, versatility and interaction