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School of Health and Social Care
Lessons from an e-teaching experience
Dr Marion Watson
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
P46650 Distance Learning Module
Planning and Managing Clinical Trials Previously taught face to face Updated and rewritten for distance
learning for April 2007 Running non-semester
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
P46650 Distance Learning Module
Student experience Workbook Module handbook 10 units CE6 with general information and 10 unit
sections supporting the workbook E-tivities 2 short marked essays submitted via CE6 (70%) On-line MCQ/short answer exam (30%)
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
P46650 Distance Learning Module
E-tivities = Electronic Activities 7 throughout the module (must do 4 or 5) Maximum of 1 per unit No e-tivities on weeks with marked essays All produced on CE6 or submitted via CE6 Help students keep to timetable
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
P46650 Distance Learning Module
E-tivities = Electronic Activities Progressive complexity and individuality Student homepage and virtual café Short text submissions (200-400 words)
- Open to all via discussion board- Closed, teaching staff only, via assignment
dropbox
On-line group discussions (3-6 people per group)
Quizzes (Respondus)
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – CE6 layout
Keep it simple Keep it obvious
Headings and titles
Avoid multiple routes to the same place Two to three clicks to anywhere Make sure things are in the right place
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Student help
Include a Hints and Tips section Use links to other sources of help
including SHSC Intranet, Learning Technologists’ blog
Develop an FAQ section under Hints and Tips and keep adding to it
Glossary
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Discussion board
Structure Set up threads from the beginning Include a general discussion thread Messages from the tutors worked well Virtual café or similar for non-course related chat
Set rules What goes on the discussion board (most
queries and comments) When to e-mail you (personal e.g. extensions) Be strict!
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Discussion board
Tell students when you will be checking the discussion board Remind them of your availability for the times
just before or after an assignment deadline
Don’t be too available Avoids unreasonable student expectations Reduces work, students answer each other’s
queries
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Communication
Avoid agreeing to copy messages to multiple e-mail addresses
Written comments come back to bite you (and them)
Remove anything offensive or anything personal (reply by e-mail) or anything that gives too much away to others on assignments
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Student expectations
Some students quick to complain especially if they never meet or talk to you
Instant responses Automatic marking Accuracy
Text Working links Consistent information
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Lessons learned – Student expectations
Personal feedback to all work and discussion queries Not realistic Give generic feedback where-ever possible
or the workload on e-tivities would become horrendous; accept you will get comments ‘you left mine out…’
Despite feedback within quizzes and directions to judge their answers themselves many expect individual marking
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
Marked assignments
The lack of classroom discussion and question/answer sessions is a problem.
Providing guidance online is never clear to all students and misinterpretation is common.
Asking to see an essay plan picks up the worst problems
Referencing guide is an essential tool – keep referring to it as an answer to queries where possible.
Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer
On-line Exams
Nerve wracking! P46650 exam has a 40 question
MCQ/short answer Students and staff experienced with the
system through formative quizzes Contingency – e-mail and fax versions
(not needed so far!)
