Developing e-learning in our College

Introduction

Since introducing the virtual learning platform Moodle, we have begun to deliver courses with interactive resources and online assessments, such as the ECDL. Feedback from staff and students has been positive.

But we can do more, to consolidate this investment in change, and further improve learning and results.

This report highlights how other comparable institutions have successfully innovated by integrating e-learning facilities in their syllabuses; why, for most of them, it was a success; and what kind of improvement they achieved. It concludes with guidance for the development and integration of e-learning in our college.

Context

Delivering high quality lessons with appropriate and up-to-date material is the key objective for every teacher. But while chalk and blackboard are still the most commonly used technological tools and face-to-face teaching the usual environment for education, nowadays other instruments and methods are at our disposal.

As Nicholas Negroponte observed, ‘the change from atoms to bits is irrevocable and unstoppable’[i], offering us an avalanche of information that can be turned into tools for better learning, with a quick return on investment in time and money.

The impact of globalisation means schools must now cater for students with different backgrounds, skills and expectations. E-learning is one way to adapt education to the needs of these digital natives.[ii] It also benefits students with disabilities or illness. Computer based training tools can help them to follow a parallel syllabus in the classroom or from home.

Objectives

To adapt our college to the reality of the 21st century, we must be proactive in innovating to meet society’s and students’ demands, but we must also consider costs.

Examples

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) – a group that evaluates innovative research and developments in this field - has published a report