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Tutor 3: Using a VLE in Radiography
What do you use WebCT for?
Delivering support material for modules, e.g., module contents; lecture notes; lecture presentations; glossary of terms to assist with the understanding and spelling of a new vocabulary; hyperlinked list of approved online resources related to each section of the module; recommended reading list; list of relevant journals and hyperlinked electronic journals; notes on the correct construction and citation of references; reiteration of assignment requirements and submission deadlines.
Allowing student self-assessment, e.g., multiple choice questionnaires that can be marked electronically and accessed as often as required.
Providing discussion areas for student groups.
Delivering distance courses.
What do you think has been the driving factor in your continued development of new WebCT modules?
The fact that these facilities are available to the students at all times, even on clinical placement where hard copy hand-outs are often lost or not available when a student is in a position to study.
Once the information is uploaded, the lecturer hands the responsibility for learning over to the student.
Directed study can be focussed, reducing the student/staff contact hours required.
WebCT provides an additional learning environment which can only enrich the student experience and be of benefit to students with different learning styles.
WebCT is useful for students with special needs, i.e., the visually impaired, hearing impaired, dyslexic, and those whose first language is not English. The flexibility of the system allows the release of lecture notes and overheads to these students in advance of each lecture, allowing them to assimilate the information in their own time.
How has using WebCT changed the way you teach?
Less time is spent reinforcing concepts in class as the students are encouraged to use the WebCT resources in their individual learning.
Students are expected to be better prepared for class as learning objectives are listed for the following week of the module.
Hard copy handouts are not used as students can print out from WebCT if required.
Less formative assessment needs to be marked as the self-assessment is self-marking.
Self-assessment attempts can be monitored to highlight any areas of general misunderstanding that can be pursued with tutorials.
Each of your modules is different, and you use a variety of WebCT tools and materials. Which are your favourite and why?
The glossary tool is wonderful for helping students become familiar with new vocabularies in particular modules, e.g., radiation protection, research methodologies, anatomy and physiology.
The use of self assessment tools means that the students can test themselves as and when they are ready rather than all at the same time as in other formative testing. This is an advantage for both the more able and the less confident students. The former can move on at their own pace whilst the latter can spend as long as required and make as many attempts as required. In addition, the module coordinator can view the history of attempts to monitor progress and plan future lectures/tutorials.
Continuity of thought is improved by the use of hyperlinks to suggested online resources. This provides immediate access to other sources of information related to the topic under investigation. The alternative, providing a student with a list of websites on a handout, would require the student to stop what they are reading, find a computer and type in all the URLs in turn.
What hints or tips would you give someone who was thinking of using WebCT for the first time?
The initial effort of designing and uploading material is well worth the time as the resource is then available to be updated and uploaded year after year.
It is worth starting with a basic WebCT module as it can be expanded as the students get more used to accessing it and the designer develops more skills.
If you had the necessary time, how would you develop your existing modules?
The students who are used to seeing WebCT modules expect to have this resource for all modules. A more integrated approach to electronic delivery of information in Radiography would be desirable. As more staff are becoming trained in WebCT and have access to Front Page on the new staff desktop, this may be achieved.
The use of WebCT to collect student module evaluations would be of great benefit, especially if the analysis can also be done online.
What have been the main advantages and disadvantages of WebCT?
Advantages
- Continuous accessibility of resources for students.
- Ability to update and add material without having to print and photocopy for handouts.
- Archival record of material delivered and student use.
Disadvantages
- Some students do not enjoy using electronic resources and do not contribute to group discussions, disadvantaging themselves and the group.
- Any downtime on the server.
What feedback have you received?
The use of a WebCT module can be monitored to determine the number of students, frequency of access and most popular pages of the resource.
Student module evaluation asks about electronic resources and the feedback has been favourable for the WebCT modules.
