#technology-enhanced-learning

The Work Based Learning module provided students with the opportunity to engage and work with professionals in organisations of their choice which have historical links or interests.

Students on the History Trails project, contributed to the development of a University-funded iphone app which can be downloaded principally (but not exclusively) by Oxford tourists who want to access information about its buildings and relevant social history. This project aimed to improve students’ employability in the wider job market and offered valuable skills that can be included in their CV’s. 

Students involved in the History Trails programme researched a site or building of interest in Oxford such as The White Horse Pub on Broad Street, Balliol College, The Bodleian Library, the Grand Cafe and Pitt Rivers Museum. Students examined the site or buildings’ social history, its function and identified how this changed over time. They also learned to appreciate the public’s interest in matters of history in a specific setting, and of the public’s understanding of sites or buildings.

The module helped students develop and connect their academic skills (the use of primary and secondary sources for historical research), produce clear, accurate and reliable information with the art of communicating to a wider audience, thereby showing how they could apply their academic knowledge to more practical purposes. 

See article in Onstream May 2013

The MA History and MA History of Medicine has been utilising e-resources and e-platforms. There are specialist classes on the core courses dedicated to using e-resources, which take place in the Tonge Media Centre, plus a further class on 'the archive in the information age'. On the core History module, a seminar leader asked students to interact with an ongoing academic blog on the History of Emotions. 

The e-learning workshop led by Glen O'Hara on both modules looked at innovative research techniques that allowed students to draw on material online: in particular digitised documents from the National Archives of the United Kingdom, the Foreign Relations of the United States and other material. 

There has been improved student feedback regarding the level of resources and greater use of electronically located primary sources in MA dissertation projects.

The MA in International Architectural Regeneration & Development has developed a single shared site for the programme incorporating all modules, a library of resources and student space. It has proven to be a very effective participatory management tool for the programme. There are now a small number of queries to staff, and students report a perception of fairness based on open and equal access (e.g. to tutorial slots) and transparency.

Faye Mitchell has been using Twitter to collect feedback from Computing students. She reports that interesting and useful tweets have been produced. Student feedback is that this is positive development that helps with their engagement with the subject.

Samia Kamal has been using a simple survey accessible by mobile phones to collect feedback from students at the end of the lecture. She reports better understanding of the level of student engagement with each lecture that enables better tailoring of the delivery.

The MSc in Real Estate & the MSc Project Management in the Built Environment (MSc PMBE) make use of programme level sites in Moodle. There is a 'one stop shop' in Moodle for the whole MSc in Real Estate Programme, with all modules on one site. This includes facilities for uploading of assignments, Turnitin, learning materials and other resources including feedback, all within Brookes Virtual. Student feedback shows that students, and particularly international students, appreciate this resource. The MSc PMBE programme site opens with a short video on how to use Moodle. Distance-learning students find this video instrumental in helping them get familiar with Moodle and navigate around the different sites. The programme site also includes general information about the course, the assessment schedule at programme level, Turnitin as a learning tool as well as extensive information on the international field-trip including reading material, videos and slide shows of projects to be visited. The on-line induction and introductory activities are also run from this site. Nick French, MSc Real Estate, Department of Real Estate & Construction

Audio feedback is used on the modules 'Project Planning and Procurement' and 'Technology and Design Management'. Students receive up to five minutes of feedback in audio form via Moodle. The more detailed and personalised feedback is popular with students.