For this group project I worked with Cathy Lewin and Geoge Wilson to design, develop and deliver an online seminar on the theme of supporting care leavers in further and higher education. Together we created two Learning Outcomes for the seminar:
L.O.1 Analyse and reflect upon the role of blended and online approaches in supporting the specific requirements of care-leavers and other non-traditional student groups.
L.O.2 Develop a critical understanding the essential affordances of online tools, which support achievement for non-traditional learners such as care-leavers.
These learning outcomes became the starting point for developing a set of constructively aligned learning resources.
A Moodle Community site was developed as a central gateway for exploring the subject as well as the affordances of a range of educational tools. The week one activities were mostly scaffolded around L.O.1 and were hosted in Ed.Ted. The quiz questions and discussions were framed around the PhD work of Belinda Bluff, a care leaver awarded a Lemn Sissay scholarship. These could be accessed at a time that suited participants and provided both cognitive and social presence.
A summary of the outcome of this session can be found here:
Summary of current provision for care leavers.
Summary of how technology can overcome issues.
Summary of Ted-Ed discussion on strengths and weaknesses.
The week two activities were mostly scaffolded around L.O.2. Firstly Cathy interviewed Dr Sue Timmis, a senior lecturer in technology enhanced learning at the University of Bristol.
In part 1 of the video Cathy and Sue discuss a definition of affordances.
Part 2 of the video provides some context of this definition of affordances in relation to digital media for supporting non-traditional groups.
The reading list for week two was designed to help develop a critical understanding of the key issues surrounding the subject. Participants then engaged with activities, which involved choosing an online educational tool to explore and review in relation to its capacity to support achievement for non-traditional learners. Voicethead was used to host the discussions around the various tools investigated.
Directory of educational tools.
Voicethread discussions of educational tools.
This group project was developed during the module EDU11111 Supporting the Blended and Online Student Experience, on the PgCert OBE at Edinburgh Napier University.