Anne Calland Digital Services Manager Digital Services Team University of Central Lancashire

DIGITAL SHIFT PROJECT The University of Central Lancashire has won two awards for its Digital Shift project, which set about transforming the online learning experience of its student body with an ambitious programme of cultural change.

THE DIGITAL SHIFT WHAT IS IT?.. A project to develop a set of minimum standards for integrating pedagogy and technology which had to be met by all 350 first- year core modules. During Phase 1 of Digital Shift, the Digital Services team worked with the module teams of the core Year 1/Level 4 modules nominated by Deans. The work was aimed at meeting the digital agenda across UCLan by asking colleagues to consider digital options around 10 key points. Whilst the project has technology at its core, it has always been pitched as an academic development, significantly reducing apprehension amongst academic staff, whilst in reality, increasing their digital skills

THE DIGITAL SHIFT THE 10 POINTS OF DIGITAL SHIFT 1.Course information online. 2.‘Getting ready to study’ services online. 3.Tutor availability online. 4.Reading lists online. 5.Access to online communities. 6.Course materials online 7.Key lectures online. 8.Online submission of assignments. 9.Provision of digital feedback. 10.Student ability to give digital course feedback at any time.

All our courses already meet (or should already meet) this. It refers to information that is provided about your course on the UCLan website. It also refers to information in the course handbook which you provide in your module space (eLearn). 1. COURSE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE

Why? Students will be able to complete preparatory reading or activities before start of semester. How? Student Portal presents ‘getting ready to study’ materials in an easy to navigate way. aster/Teaching_methods_at_college_and_uni versity.html aster/Teaching_methods_at_college_and_uni versity.html Student Portal resources will be available to prospective students once an offer has been made. 2. ‘GETTING READY TO STUDY’ SERVICES AVAILABLE ONLINE

Why? Tutors available to contact for those students who (for whatever reason) cannot make it onto campus. Tutors available to contact even though tutors (for whatever reason) cannot make it onto campus. How? Surgery/Personal Tutor contact time. Published schedule of availability for contact through discussion tool, web conference tool, synchronous or VOIP (phone). 3. TUTOR AVAILABILITY ONLINE

Teaching staff are responsible for creating reading lists, however the Subject Liaison Team are here to help create your electronic course resource lists for you. The team are on the 3 rd floor of the library. Information is available at READING LISTS AVAILABLE ONLINE

Why? Employability Networking Supplements F2F Can help group work Peer review Peer support Student interests cross boundaries of subject 5. ACCESS TO ONLINE GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES

Why? Appropriate resources for students entering under the new fees structure (avoid ‘empty module space’ syndrome). Resources for students wishing to get a ‘heads up’ on the coming weeks. Standardisation across course. Access for students unable to get to campus. 6. COURSE MATERIALS ONLINE AT THE START OF THE MODULE

Why? Key lectures can be re-viewed. Key lectures can be viewed by those not able to attend. Key lectures can be used on more than one module. Key lectures can be re-used in subsequent years and for the development of e- learning modules Video resources can be used to capture demonstration and technique to reinforce key learning points 7. KEY LECTURES AVAILABLE ONLINE

Why? Help students understand what plagiarism is. Reduce number of cases of plagiarism. Electronic submission can be convenient for students. Ticketing (submitting through eLearn produces an electronic record). How? MS Word documents can be submitted via eLearn & Turnitin. Most file types can be attached in the eLearn assignment tool. Video via ‘Connect’. Help available for the digitisation of ‘physical’ assignments. Equipment available from the ‘Hubs’ (e.g. cameras, recorders) Equipment available to film/record presentations Scanning facilities in library 8. ONLINE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Why? Student can easily identify digital feedback as feedback. Techniques available to encourage students to engage with their feedback. In some cases can save time. Literature to suggest digital feedback types increase student engagement. How? Tools available include Grademark, Peermark & eLearn ‘Assignment’ tool. School workshop available in conjunction with the LIS/AD&E. Equipment & software available to facilitate audio/video/screen recordings. 9. DIGITAL FEEDBACK IS INCLUDED IN THE MODULE

Why? Students may not always feel they get the benefit of changes implemented as a result of MEQs. Opportunity to react quickly to issues affecting the student experience. Does NOT refer to MEQs or complaints procedure. How? Contact details available for Course Leader, Module Tutor, Personal Tutor, Course Rep or relevant services in conjunction with School arrangements. Could be a ‘Community’ link managed by school feedback management team. 10. ABILITY FOR STUDENT TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON PROGRAMME AT ANY TIME

Upgrade from WebCT to Blackboard coincided with the start of the project and enabled us to introduce a default menu which incorporated several points of the Digital Shift DIGITAL SHIFT AND BLACKBOARD

DEFAULT MENU Standard Blackboard menu Welcome A welcome message introducing students to the module. This can take the form of on screen text, photo or video introduction. The Video can be as basic as a talking head or more creative demonstrating the module in action Navigating the Module Details on what can be found in the Blackboard module space, the menu items, where to find items and when it will appear. Notifications When an event occurs in the system (such as an assignment is created, a survey is submitted, or a test is overdue) the notification system informs all the users that need to know. Module InformationUse this folder for the module information pack, module descriptors, module handbook etc. Module Materials The place for module materials such as lecture notes, presentations, hand-outs and useful resources. Reading List Once you have created an online reading list, use the reading list widget to display the list automatically. This can easily be updated each year by applying a minimal ‘tweak’ Communications This folder can be used for giving students access to the various communication tools available to you in Blackboard such as discussion forums, wikis, blogs and journals as well as links to other tools such as Adobe Connect or social media. Contacts The place where you can add staff profile information. This is a good location to provide information about office hours, phone numbers, and other links to help students find the people who have important roles in the course. Assignments This folder can be used for all assignments giving students one place to easily find them. My Grades The My Grades page enables student to see information such as the status (graded or waiting to be graded) of assessment items.

The Stats from September 2011 – September 2013 :- 11 new or updated learning technologies rolled out 2173 Online classrooms created 3206 Modules created on Blackboard 5524 uploads to the Video Library Server 6000 individual assignment submission for large media files online collaboration hours – we would require another Darwin building to physically accommodate this demand Grademark reports generated Turnitin assignment submissions The Stats from September 2011 – September 2013 :- 11 new or updated learning technologies rolled out 2173 Online classrooms created 3206 Modules created on Blackboard 5524 uploads to the Video Library Server 6000 individual assignment submission for large media files online collaboration hours – we would require another Darwin building to physically accommodate this demand Grademark reports generated Turnitin assignment submissions THE DIGITAL SERVICES - FACTS

The Digital Shift process has been embraced by staff who have taken the opportunity to develop their digital skills by embracing a ‘blended’ approach to teaching. More than 4,000 staff attended academic and technology development workshops, underlining how much they have engaged with the project. Staff Testimonials: THE DIGITAL SERVICES VIDEO