Learning beyond lectures Using VLE groups and organizations to encourage student engagement

Leeds Enterprise Centre


Transforming ideas into opportunities

Learning beyond lectures

Using VLE groups and organizations to encourage

student engagement

Dr. Sarah Underwood & Catherine Bell

UoL L&T Conference 2011

Leeds Enterprise CentreLeeds Enterprise Centre

Dr. Sarah UnderwoodLecturer in Enterprise

Welcome

Catherine BellLUBS E-learning officer

Omair JamalLEC Virtual Intern

With thanks to Liam Patterson (LEC intern Summer 2010), Alex Edwards & Laura Paraskeva (current VLE interns)


• Rationale for project

• Moving from tutor-led to student-led VLE group areas

•Developing the Leeds Enterprise Centre Organization

• Introducing our Virtual Interns

Objectives


• LEC modules are designed to help students enhance transferrable skills that top employers are seeking in graduates.

For example: Organisation & Planning, Communication skills, Networking, Team working, Creative thinking, Innovative ideas, Adaptability, Leadership, Negotiation



Enterprise Curriculum

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Enterprise & entrepreneurship Finance for small business

LUBS1120 LUBS2035

Business Practice Entrepreneurship in theory & practice

LUBS1885 LUBS2045

Creativity & innovation in business

Leadership in business

LUBS1000 LUBS2030

Enterprise into SchoolsLUBS2025

Understanding social enterprise Volunteering & EnterpriseLUBS1010 LUBS2015

Stre

am 3 Understanding

business & society

Entrepreneurship & Innovation (20 Credits)

Stre

am 1 Enterprise,

entrepreneurship & small business

Stre

am 2 Enterprise &

employability LUBS2015

Suite of Enterprise elective offered to all undergraduate students


Enterprise education

Knowledge

Skills

Attitudes Others

Negotiate

Mine

Network

Evaluate

Plan

Our ‘education philosophy’


Research into VLE usage…

• Tutors using the VLE to • Compliment classroom work encourages

independent and deep learning• Disseminate/repeat information, encourages

students to develop a dependent and surface approach to learning (Biggs, 1999; Love & Fry, 2006)

• Student engagement with the VLE has the potential to• increase their motivation (Kozma, 1991; Reeves, 1997; De

Lange et al,2003)

• result in improved academic outcomes (Richardson, 2000; Kember, 1995, Tinto, 1993)


(Survey of 100 undergraduate students)

• A positive perception towards learning using the VLE - 97% find the VLE very useful or fairly useful

• The VLE is also regularly accessed - 82% accessing the VLE 2-3 times a week or more

From our own research…

Leeds Enterprise CentreMoving from tutor-led to student-led VLE group areas


VLE Facilitated Group Projects


Continued engagement…

Chris

tmas

day


An extension of the group areas

Facilitating exchange that spans modules and year groups

Developing the Leeds Enterprise Centre Organization


~ 2 hours per weekRemote working

Purpose of role:

• To promote the use of, and generate interest in, the LEC VLE organisation• To contribute to forum discussions relating to enterprise topics• Signposting relevant information available online or within the University

Introducing our Virtual Interns


Please navigate to your VLE homepage and select the Leeds Enterprise Centre organisation

Developing the Leeds Enterprise Centre Organization


Points of interest (?)

1.

2.

3.

4.


Transferability…

Group areas can be used to support a range of different learning outcomes

have applicability across all modules (in any department)

Does the use of a VLE organisation to connect otherwise unlinked modules increase student engagement….?

Watch this space!


Thank you!


Biggs, J. B. (1999) Teaching for Quality Learning (Buckingham: SRHE and Open University Press).

De Lang, P. et al (2003) Integrating a virtual learning environment Into an introductory journal, 12 (1), pp. 1-14.

Kember, D. (1995) Open Learning Courses for Adults: A model of student progress (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications)

Kozma, R. B. (1991) Learning with media, Review of Educational Research, 61(2), pp. 179-211.

Love, N. Fry, N. (2006) Accounting Students’ Perceptions of a Virtual Learning Environment: Springboard or Safety Net?. Accounting Education: an international Journal Vol. 15, No. 2, 151-166. University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

Reeves,T. (1997) Evaluating what really matters in computer based education, as at http://educationau.edu/archives/cp/reeves.htm

Richardson, J.T. (2000) Researching Student Learning: Approaches to Studying in Campus Based and Distance Education (Buckingham: SRHE and Open University Press).

Tinto, V. (1993) Leaving college: Rethinking the courses and curse of student attrition, 2nd Ed (New York: Harper Collins Publishers).

References

http://educationau.edu/archives/cp/reeves.htm

Documents

Learning beyond lectures Using VLE groups and organizations to encourage student engagement