Internationalisation of Modules:

A Blended Online Learning Approach

Dr. Julie GreensmithSchool of Computer Science

University of Nottingham

Overview

Introductions

Collaboration with UNMC

G53NMD: An Online Module

Technological Constraints

A reflection of challenges and successes

Future blended learning approaches

Who am I?

Lecturer in Computer Science - 5 years

Research in Artificial Immune Systems

PhD, Anne-McLaren Fellow

Teaching modules at all levelsSoftware Engineering (Level 1) - FSE

New Media Design (Level 3/4) - NMD

What is G53NMD

New Media Design covers: interaction design

graphic design for computer scientists

emerging new and social media technologies

advanced webdev and content management

10 Credit Module for final year/PGT

100% Coursework assessment 75% Group Project, 25% Individual component

Forming a Collaboration

Collaboration formed almost by chance

A member of our teaching staff was seconded to UNMC

Assigned the same two modules of software engineering and new media design

Decided to combine our experience to deliver the modules together

My Collaborator

Past History

My collaborator is Dr. Tim BrailsfordHead of School on UNMC

Tim taught the predecessor module - Principles of Multi-Media (2002-2008)

Had already recorded a series of online lectures as .avi movies

used screen capture on powerpoint and talked over the slides

Had experimented previously pairing lecture videos with online learning environment via a class forum

A tradition of technology

Tim had set a precedence to “teach multi-media with multimedia”

The video slide lectures were hard to follow

a disembodied voice is hard to listen to for a long period of time

Used videocasts instead of formal lectures

used the lecture time to hold group meetings and workshops

A Blended Learning Approach

Initially aimed at MSc Management of Information Technology studentsProvided a more mature and flexible approach to learning for postgradsWeekly video slide lectures supported by an online forum

discuss the material

provide additional resources

A small amount of credits available for participation in the online forum discussions

Internationalisation

Teaching materials onlineeasily shared between campuses

Web based wiki or forumcan be accessed by both UK and MY students

Work on the same coursework assignments

halved the workload of setting assessments

Team Teaching

Not a purely online courseneeds some local supervision

running labs and workshops

Prepare all online materials together

makes for better online material

Local coordinator on each campus simply ‘shepherding’ the material

Making It Work

Get together twice per yearcontent review

setting assessments

recording new and updated materials

Try to keep in close contact during the teaching semester

weekly email, frequent skype

It’s great!

Technical Challenges

Could not run our own server for hosting our videos due to firewall restrictions

needed remote access for flexible learning

to be available for both cohorts

Were encouraged to use WebCT could not access the same resources from UNMC

restricted to a different forum

Video editing and production may require more specialist software

Our First Cross Campus Attempt

Use web 2.0 to teach web 2.0

Used many different public web-based services:

blog at blogger.com to release each video

forum at google groups for discussion

videos hosted on youtube (comments off!!)

course updates via twitter

Shared Assessment

Main group coursework to build an interactive multi-media website

Use a ‘real’ clientmusicians, artists, local charity

Videolink interview with the client

Students at UNMC could discuss ideas with students from UNUK

Things that worked

Using these high profile services meant better dependability

rather than maintaining a server ourselves

Did not have the cross campus restrictions as to who could register for the forum

Students from both campuses could discuss topical issues

increase student awareness of cross cultural design

Quite easy to set up!

Things that didn’t work

Semesters are not synchronisedUNMC start the semester later

Set different hand in dates for the assignments

Can lead to confusion on the forums

Had to get students to sign up to services using a google ID

not ideal if someone has issue with google’s terms and conditions

and worse..

... you get busy!

It can be hard to be diligent and keep in touch with each other throughout the semester

(especially if you are a Head of School so I’m told!)

Particularly difficult as I need to set my assessment much earlier in the year

need to keep talking!

2012-13: The Moodle Years

Integrated virtual learning environment

host and serve the videos

have a main discussion forum

set a quiz to unlock online material

have a discussion forum per video resource

Both cohorts can see the same online material and can interact with each other

Its a lot of effort...who benefits?

Can help introduce more specialist teaching into UNMC - big advantage

local convenor need not know all the material for the video casts (it can help)

technical questions can be forward to the specialist at UNUK

Share the teaching load with a colleaguecan even ‘exchange’ with each other for a semester

Students have different backgrounds which can enhance discussions

(I won a Staff Oscar last year - looks good on my PDPR!)

Leaving A Legacy

Once the technology is in place and the material is compiled its quite engaging as a convenor

spend more time working directly with your students

Update of material each year does not take too long

In theory its a simple transfer in moodlethis is a bit techy, even for me!

The Future

I’m moving on to teach a new module

Plan to also use a blended learning approach, to run in parallel to formal lectures

Get online material in place first before making another internationalised module

will also try this out with UNNC

Top Tips

Find a good collaborator who you know you can work with consistently

Use online material as the basis of teaching

Find a delivery mechanism that you feel you can cope with, allowing access to both cohorts

there is tech support if you chose moodle

Support online lectures with interactive workshops

Be aware of timing differences and local cultural issues

The local facilitator is key!

G53NMDThank you

Dr. Julie GreensmithSchool of Computer Science

University of NottinghamUK (and sometimes UNMC)