1. Designing effective learner- centric
e-content
British Council Visit
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Gwen van der Velden
Director of Learning & Teaching Enhancement
University of Bath

2. UK learners – a changing scene
• £6-9000 fees per annum for most degrees
• Introduction of market principles
• Development of national performance statistics
• Student consumerist policy development
• Academic preference for collegial practices

3. Institutional responses
• Sharp rise in student feedback efforts
• Direct feedback on teaching sought and
acted upon
• Student representation across university
governance arrangements
• Involvement of students in teaching
development

4. Understanding e-interests of students: UK
perspective
• Surveys and focus group outcomes at institutional level
• National research and development (Joint Information
Systems Committee, Higher Education Academy)
• Resource development –now also by private providers
(tutorial, generic study skills)
• Critical market research: what does the prospective
student want?

5. Key question in this environment is….
What kind of student engagement do
we want?
or
How do students learn best?

7. ‘Freedom of thought is best promoted by gradual
illumination of men’s minds, which follows from the
advance of science’ Charles Darwin

8. Learning in quiet isolation?

10. Learning in context?

11. Institutional capacity building
for e-learning design
• Critical research of students’ e-learning, as
opposed to evaluation of e-content
• Staff development on e-design, e-tutoring and
e-assessment
• Involvement of students in resources, learning
design and development
• Use of learning analytics and user analytics

12. Thanks for your attention…
Your questions are welcome
Gwen van der Velden
Director of Learning & Teaching Enhancement / University of Bath
E-mail: G.M.Vandervelden@bath.ac.uk