Migrating a module for online delivery through Sulis Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

Sulis use so far BA Irish Music and Dance MD4031: Housing resources for a seen-exam MD4044: Delivery of a module on-line Reasoning for using Sulis Module Outline Practicalities of deploying the module using Sulis Issues raised by using Sulis

MD4031: Contextualising and Vocational Studies 1 Used to enhance existing procedures for a seen- exam Final exam based on analysis of supplied audio and video footage of music and dance Footage previously distributed on CDrom and taken home over the Christmas period Sulis Enhancements: An on-line backup of the audiovisual material additional to the CDrom The ability to engage in peer debate about the material over the Christmas period

MD4044: Traveller Music Studies A new module giving students an introduction to theories and practices within traveller music studies Created for the BA Irish Music and Dance Potential future use within a proposed traveller access course

NOMAD Project HEA funded project aimed at increasing interaction between UL and the Travelling community through aspect of traveller culture using the facilities and expertise of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. NOMAD Includes: Workshops, Performances, Tuition, Development of curricular material, Archive

MD4044: Traveller Music Studies Rationale BA Irish Music and Dance students to learn more about traveller music and culture Travellers to use the study of their own culture as a means to access university accreditation Traveller facilitation: Access to the module off-campus through the use of Traveller centres throughout the country Supporting course material for use at home

Testing Sulis Important to explore different means of delivery than chalk and talk Sulis? CDrom? Narrated content? Printed material?

MD4044 Module staff Module author: Kirsten Allstaff Resident on the Isle of Skye for the duration of the module Course support: Niall Keegan & Sandra Joyce Academy resident Technical support: Mick McCabe Part-time Academy resident

Sulis Using Sulis to deliver the module to BA students enabled testing of: the increased use of Sulis within BA modules the potential use of the Sulis system for future traveller access

MD4044 Module content 20 units of course material equivalent to a standard BA Irish Music and Dance module Content included: 1. Ethnicity, origins, nomadism, and language of the Irish travellers 2. The music and song of the Irish Travellers 3. Scottish Travellers and their music and song 4. Gypsy’s and Flamenco and their music and song.

Content units Lesson Builder used to create the content units: Most contained textual information only Many included multimedia: Pictures & illustrations Audio recordings Video footage Most multimedia housed in the Resources tool Some linked to from websites

Module structure The four content sections used to create distinct blocks Each block given a three week period of activity to include: Study of the units of content within Lesson Builder Completion of a short essay assignment due in week 2. Contribution to a discussion group for that block.

Discussion Groups Two discussion groups per block 1. A discussion group for peer review of learning units and written assignment support 2. An assessed discussion group for peer review of a given academic paper. General discussion groups for module administration, students’ non-course related discussion etc Final assignment discussion group

Block Assessment Each block had 2 assessments: 1. Short essay from a set question based on the unit content (10%) Submitted as a Word document using the assignment tool Grades and feedback sent to each student using the Instructor Comments feature 2. Contribution to a discussion group based on a supplied reading (5%) Individual student contribution was graded and recorded in an excel sheet. General feedback was given to the student body via the discussion group.

End of Module Assessment Each block worth 15% (60% in total) A final essay worth 40% of the module total Choice of question given (1 of 5) Longer length and higher quality expected than the block written assignments Submitted as a Word document via the Assignment tool. Grades added to the module excel sheet for the collation of the final results.

Resource Issues Large amount of audiovisual material to be accessed by students Copyright issues with this access Majority access through library based CDs/cassette and DVD/video Where possible, material made available as a download on Sulis Some classroom presentation of media necessary

Problems Encountered Initial training needed for students First written assignment had an Accept Until date set too close to the due date. Students did not engage in the discussion groups as much as desired.

Improvements for the future Hold an initial training session showing the use of Sulis tools Hold an initial discussion, heavily moderated by a staff member, that gets the students to post significant and regular contributions Move more audiovisual material into the Sulis environment (subject to copyright) Assess the discussion group through Sulis Collate total marks through Sulis

Any questions?