LIBRARY

Rationale for a blended approach to Induction

Outline Proposal

It is proposed that the new student induction process become a blend of face-to-face and e-learning via WebCT for all students who register at an Edge Hill Campus. The material placed online will have the added bonus of being accessible as a stand-alone induction by distance learners. If this proposal is found acceptable, it should be available for Health Cohort 34 (April 06) and Fastrack (June 06) for beta testing and a final version available for September 2006.

Rationale for using WebCT

There are a number of strong reasons for incorporating WebCT into the new student induction programme:

• LTD will find it administratively more convenient to upload all students too WebCT. The current version of WebCT has the capability for this, however, a WebCT vehicle is required for all students to be uploaded into.
• All campus-based students will have an opportunity to receive a hands-on introduction to WebCT facilitated by Learning Services staff. Current thinking in the use of online learning suggests that the blend between face to face and online can combine the best features of both provided there is alignment between learning outcomes and learning activities in both parts of the blend.
• This is an opportunity for us to draw upon the lessons learned with EXPERTease and take them to a wider student audience.
• The introduction of WebCT for support of new students is consistent with the SOLSTICE model and it is hoped, will play a significant role in enculturation of students into online learning at an early stage of their time at Edge Hill.
• There is potential for some customisation to take into account geographical differences between students although it is not intended to make the content subject specific.
• Materials already exist that can be ‘re-purposed’ within this new context, for example, interactive animations and informs used within the EXPERTease tutorial. It is not envisaged that much material will be developed from new.
• Printed material for all students could be massively reduced. An information sheet with access instructions would still be necessary but the booklet and workbook would be redundant. This has the potential to save £## p.a.
• It will be possible to evaluate induction by drawing upon a much richer variety of data, for example, an online evaluation form, tracking data, discussion postings (if used).

Can we think of any more?

posted by Lindsey Martin @ 10:07 pm