Improving student expectations of learning using course templates Jacqui Nicol, Isobel Gordon, Andrew Penman Presented at Moodlemoot Edinburgh 2014 www.moodlemoot.ie/

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Improving student expectations of
learning with course templates
Jacqui Nicol
Isobel Gordon
Andrew Penman

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Background
• Used Moodle for six years
• 16,000 students
• 30% are online distance learners
• Postgraduate, in work, professional

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Student Survey 2012
• Improve ODL dropout rate
• Improve online student experience
• Expand provision

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Student Feedback (ODL)
• Expectations of course
– What to expect from us
•Tutors & Central Support
– What is expected of them
•Time, Level, Effort - it’s hard!
•Need to prepare and be organised

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Student feedback (on-campus)
• Where to go
• What to bring
• Too many communications
• Over 10 letters and emails

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Student Feedback (Moodle)

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• Variability across modules within their
course i.e. Moodle courses
– Layout
– Approaches
– Use of technology
Student Feedback (Moodle)

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Solutions
• Institutional initiatives
• Academic led
• Course Welcome Areas
• Learning Expectations Project

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Course Welcome Areas
• Moodle course with set template
• Each academic course
• Available to all students before
enrolment/arrival

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Course Welcome Areas
• Standardised template
• Courses available spring/summer
• Set deadlines - released July and January
for September and January course starts

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Course Welcome Area Template
• Welcome from Course Leader or Head of
School
• Key information about start of course –
online or on-campus
• Discussion and social area (link)

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Course Welcome Areas

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Course Welcome Areas

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Course Welcome Areas

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• Access rates high > 80%
• Feedback positive
• Administration reduced – 2 to 3
communication points
Course Welcome Areas

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Learning Expectations
• Institutional project led by Deans
• Improve student understanding of
learning experience
• Recommended baseline information to
introduce each module
• To encourage consistency of layout

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Learning Expectations
• 5 standard headings using tabs
• Pre-formatted with base content

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School Templates
• Worked with each School to develop
templates
• Included
– Learning Expectations resource
– Contacts block
– Other School or course specific information
• Default institutional template as fall back

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School Templates
• Text 467120 and your message to
020 3322 5822
• Submit responses at PollEv.com/jacquinicol

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Examples
• From
– Aberdeen Business School and
– School or Engineering

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Custom Template Tool
• Customised backup and restore
• Available as a block

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Custom Template Tool
• Linked to our rollover script
• Can assign a template for each Academic
School and stage
• External consultants and internal
developers

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Demonstration
• Templates tool
• Tabs and Accordions resource
• Contacts block

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• 2000 modules created with templates
• 8 Schools using Learning Expectations
• Variety of approaches
– Content
– Templates by course stage
• School discussions about consistency
Annual rollover 2013

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• Key information always in the same place
• Addressed feedback from students
• School discussions about consistency
Annual rollover 2013

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Annual rollover 2014
• Still a long way to go
• Refine templates with Schools
• Refine Learning Expectations based on
feedback from 2013
• Workshops to encourage consistency
across courses

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Poll results
Link
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