Distributed e-learning regional pilots

1. Distributed e-learning regional pilots Sarah Davies Programme Manager

2. Distributed e-learning regional pilots • Three themes: • Facilitating progression • Sharing content and services • Supporting the independent lifelong learner • Aiming to pilot JISC and other technology across a number of institutions in a region to support lifelong learners • 21 projects, all multi-institutional • Projects start Jan-Apr 2005 and run until end Mar 2006

3. Topics covered by projects • Personal development planning/ e-portfolio • Some also looking at the transfer of learner records/e-portfolios • Mapping progression pathways / helping learners piece together courses • Cross-institutional portals – providing learning resources and support information • Especially to provide support around transition points • Cross-institutional repurposing and reuse of content

4. Building on previous work • These projects are building on a large amount of previous work, both tools/technologies and knowledge. • Eg: MLEs for Lifelong Learning, Distributed e-learning tools, e-Learning Framework, e-Learning and pedagogy, Exchange for learning, portal technologies, Aimhigher, NTIs, projects funded by HEFCE, LSC, DfES • Some of this work is at a relatively early stage itself, which leads to interesting piloting decisions…

5. Context/situation of use • This is the defining quality of many of these projects, since they are focussing on lifelong learners • who by definition move across and outside of institutional boundaries • So these projects are working within these situations or contexts: • Inter-institutional for lifelong learning • Extra-institutional and/or personal(ised)

6. Higher education institutions (inc. OU) Further education colleges Aimhigher New Technology Institutes Regional learning and skills councils Employers Local education authorities Sector skills councils UfI Learndirect Connexions HEA subject centre ALT JISC RSC Partners involved

7. e-Learning themes • Disclaimer: we’ll know much more about this after this meeting… • Assessment • Personal development planning and e-portfolio • Content re-use, repurposing and repositories • Learning design • Collaboration and discussion

8. e-Portfolio and PDP • How can e-portfolio and/or PDP best be used with diverse groups of learners? • Use before and after transition points – esp. preparing students for HE • Use in making applications or for assessment • Reflecting on learning and raising confidence and aspirations • Use in the workplace post-qualification • How do the tools perform with these diverse groups? • How can learners take their e-portfolio with them when they move?

9. Content re-use, repurposing and repositories • What are the drivers and brakes in sharing across institutions and across the region? • What makes a good sharable chunk of content? • Does this differ with context? • How can content authored for one educational level or context be repurposed for another? • How can institutions collaborate on content creation and use?

10. Learning design • Do learning design tools help teachers to author study skills activities? • How do students interact with the sequences – and author their own?

11. Collaboration and discussion • All of the projects are collaborative, and some are specifically looking at the issues around collaborative working (especially authoring and repurposing) • Some systems will involve tools to support these functions – eg linked to PDP/e-portfolio, or through learner support portals