Improving Student Learning: Theory, Research and Scholarship

Editor: Chris Rust

The proceedings of the 11th Improving Student Learning symposium, held in 2003 in Hinckley.

This book includes the three keynote papers: 'Theory, Research and Scholarship in relation to teaching: issues and challenges' by Angela Brew; 'Developing useable pedagogic research skills' by Peter Ashworth and 'How we defeat ourselves: dysfunctional illusions of rigour. Some key lessons from the scholarship of teaching and learning' by Craig E Nelson.

Contents

Part I Keynotes

  1. Using technology to improve the outcomes of higher education: learning from past mistakes, Stephen C. Ehrmann
  2. E-learning: what have we learnt? Robin Mason
  3. Winning the toss and electing to bat: maximising the opportunities of online learning, Ron Oliver

Part II How do students learn using learning technologies?

  1. The importance of lecturer conceptions of teaching and learning for facilitating student learning online: changes in conceptions following an online course about developing courses online, Barbara de la Harpe and Alex Radloff
  2. Some implicit issues of educational philosophy involved in learning through web resources, Peter Ashworth
  3. Attitudes, confidence, strategies and knowledge: searching for answers on the Internet, Julia Gaimster
  4. What do we mean by electronic literacy? Colleen McKenna
  5. Enhancing the capacity of online discussions to support student learning, Jill Armstrong, Roger Clark and Richard J. Varey
  6. Enhancing learning with computer mediated communication: teacher intentions and student conceptions of online learning, Maggie Hutchings
  7. A grounded theory investigation of students’ perceptions of learning management systems, Graham Alsop and Chris Tompsett
  8. Screen or monitor? surveillance and disciplinary power in online learning environments, Ray Land and Siân Bayne

Part III How can we successfully innovate/disseminate the use of learning technologies?

  1. Variation in the experience of learning technologies in teaching in art, design and communication: implications for network dissemination strategies, Linda Drew and Christina Williams
  2. Towards the creation of institution-wide support for improving Language for Study Skills for international postgraduate students: providing adequate learning infrastructures including learning technologies and student support, Sharon Waller, Sylvia Griffiths, Su Wu, Gina Wisker and Katalin Illes
  3. Variation in ways of experiencing change in teaching, the development and use of learning technologies and the likely consequences for student learning, Jo McKenzie
  4. Modelling aspects of institutional development: culture, infrastructure, expertise, Helen Beetham and Grainne Conole
  5. Walking the electronic tightrope: questions surrounding infusion of IT into education subjects, Sandra Schuck

Part IV How can we research student learning using learning technologies?

  1. Researching and evaluating online learning, Glynis Cousin and Frances Deepwell
  2. Commenting electronically on students’ reflective journals: how can we explore its effectiveness? Elisabet Weedon and John Cowan
  3. Integrating evaluation into the pedagogical process: a diary based strategy for illuminating the invisible and virtual, Rachel Johnson
  4. University teachers’ attitudes to the impact of innovations in Information and Communication Technology on their practice, Holly Smith and Martin Oliver
  5. The distance learning task as a pedagogical context for learning technologies: are students’ and tutors’ perceptions similar? Wendy Garner, Lin S. Norton, Simon Asquith, Audrey Beaumont and Steven Caldecott

Part V How can course design using learning technologies assist student learning?

  1. Building a European Internet School: the OTIS experience of collaborative learning, Sharon Green, Gillian Armitt, Martin Beer, Andrew Sixsmith, Johanna van Bruggen, Ramon Daniels, Ludo Ghyselen and Jan Sandqvist
  2. Improving student learning via online assessment, Meg O’Reilly
  3. Generating puzzlement: constructing a space for learning, Kate Patrick and Sue Johnston
  4. From distance education to online learning: challenges and opportunities, J. Lynley Hutton
  5. What makes a good skills website? Optimising the impact of study skills advice using web-based delivery, Janet Macdonald, Clive Barrett, Vicki Goodwin and Marion Phillips
  6. Assessment of experimental skills and creativity using a modified OSCE-method: a summative performance-based examination in chemical engineering, Thomas Olsson
  7. Technology and student attitudes in large lecture classes, Lisa M. Coutu, Mark Alway and Nana Lowell

Part VI Symposia

Methods for researching networked learning: overview of the symposium, Vivien Hodgson and David McConnell

  1. How can we research student learning using learning technologies? Vivien Hodgson, Philip Watland and Mireia Asensio
  2. What ethnography sees: networked learning as a context for action, Christopher R. Jones
  3. Researching networked learning: issues arising from the use of a variety of different research methods, David McConnell

Symposium on computer supported experiential learning: overview, Alan Staley

  1. Problems at Crumpton: case study, Niall MacKenzie
  2. Computer-supported experiential learning for intercultural studies and foreign languages, David A. Green and Kirsten Söntgens
  3. Evaluating EFFECTS – what did we learn, and what have we changed? Martin Oliver, Jen Harvey, Helen Beetham and Adam Warren
  4. Evaluating the impact of EFFECTS on academic staff, Jen Harvey and Martin Oliver
  5. ALTO and the EFFECTS evaluation strategy, Adam Warren
  6. Developing learning technology networks through shared representations of practice, Helen Beetham

Multimodal course delivery and support at the University of the South Pacific (USP): an overview, Eileen Tuimaleali’ifano

  1. Jumping right in: a report on the University of the South Pacific Semester 2, 2000 video broadcast experience, Melissa Gold and Eileen Tuimaleali’ifano
  2. Exploring the use of multi-modal delivery in the pre-tertiary distance programmes of the University of the South Pacific, Emily Moala
  3. Learning from our experiences? Audio and audiographic tutorials at the University of the South Pacific, Jennifer Evans

Creating and maintaining on-line communities: three studies, John Hedberg, Geraldine Lefoe, Cathy Gunn, Lori Lockyer, John Patterson and Bronwyn Stuckey

  1. Forming learning communities in a distributed learning environment: what role can technology play? Geraldine Lefoe, John Hedberg and Cathy Gunn
  2. Learning technologies and professional development: enhancing a community of physical and health educators, Lori Lockyer and John Patterson
  3. Growing an on-line community of practice: community development to support in-service teachers in their adoption of innovation, Bronwyn Stuckey, John Hedberg and Lori Lockyer

New environments for learning: case studies of developments using new media in a higher education setting, Sue Clegg and Alison Hudson

  1. Policy frameworks – entering the labyrinth or ‘it’s not just the technology’ Louise Thorpe and Madeleine Freewood
  2. Staff attitudes – staff experiences and the dilemmas for practitioners, Julie Hanson and Stephen Wan
  3. Student experience: novices, surfers, learners, Phil Bannister and Sadie Parr
  4. New environments for learning: case studies of developments using new media in a higher education setting: symposium summary, Sue Clegg, Alison Hudson, Phil Bannister, Madeleine Freewood, Julie Hanson, Sadie Parr, Louise Thorpe and Stephen Wan