infoKit Pathfinder
User with some experience
This pathway is for tutors who have already used a VLE in the learning environment but who would like to find some more imaginative and creative ways of deploying them. For example, you may have used a VLE like an electronic filing cabinet where you house some course materials and also PowerPoint Presentations. You may now be thinking about how you can develop your use of a VLE to be more interactive and how you can develop activities for your learners so they can meet the learning outcomes of the course.
We suggest you start your journey with the InfoKit with the following sections:
| Main Heading | Sub Heading | Section | |
| Introduction to VLEs | Virtual Learning Environments | Using a VLE | This section covers a number of problem scenarios where a VLE may help provide a solution, for example, encouraging reading or discussion. |
| Approaches to Course Design with Technology | Theories of learning and teaching | This gives an overview of the theories underpinning the use of a VLE. It will help guide you through several key models which will help you to review your current use of a VLE and provide ideas about which direction you can move forward to create a more interactive course using a VLE. | |
| e-Assessment | The first time that you used a VLE, you may not have had the opportunity to experiment with the assessment tools in a VLE. If this is the case, then you may wish to refer to the section on tools in the Introduction to VLEs (Tools in a VLE). If you have already seen these tools then the following areas will provide you with further understanding about e-assessment. | ||
| What do we mean by e-Assessment | This section challenges some of the commonly held assumptions about e-assessment (the assessment will be objective, the assessment will be limited in the type of question to multiple choice questions (MCQs) and the assessment can only test recall or low level learning outcomes). | ||
| Creating and using e-assessment | Assessment questions | This lists all the type of questions that can be used online and provides some hints about writing questions for e-assessment. | |
| The student perspective | Feedback to students | When starting out using online questions it is easy to forget that one of the key advantages is quality, timely student feedback. This section provides an overview of the research into this area. | |
| Designing for Sustainability | Design Issues | The five sections related to this area provide an overview of how a VLE can support blended learning interactively. It is worthwhile spending time working through this area and thinking how you can embed the use of the VLE in your course. | |
| Designing sustainable and scaleable courses | The 7 steps to developing a sustainable course using a VLE. This provides a practical guide to each of the stages of course development and links to the use of a VLE. | ||
| Computer-mediated conferencing | This provides a complete overview of CMC and how it can be integrated into your course. In the 'Examples of CMC in Practice' there are links to grounded guidelines and case studies which draw upon a wealth of experiences. | ||
| Features of CMC | Advantages and disadvantages | If you have not used CMC before this gives a short list of the pros and cons of CMC | |
| Starting to use CMC | Roles and competencies | Using CMC challenges the traditional role of the tutor. This section overviews how that may happen and lists the competencies required to be an effective e-tutor. | |
| Implementing CMC | Planning activities for purpose | How can CMC be used? A number of possible activities using CMC are considered and suggestions for how they may be used in the learning environment. | |
| Assessing e-Learning interaction | This addresses the issue of assessment in CMC. | ||
| Evaluating your practice | After you have started to use a VLE, in a more interactive way, it is important to take time to gather feedback on your course through student and peer feedback and to reflect. How did the changes you implement affect your course delivery? What did the students like or dislike? What didn't go so well and what would you change for the future. This section is an introductory section on evaluating your practice and the resources and links will provide you with links on this reflective journey. |
Next Steps:
Once you have deployed a course in a VLE several times, you may start to play an instrumental role in helping others in your institution develop innovative materials. You may even become involved in the management of e-learning within the institution. The pathway for the advanced user considers some design and management issues to ensure your developments are sustainable in the longer term.
