Integrating a VLE into classroom teaching: a virtual fieldtrip to Cromarty Firth Dr Steve Fletcher School of Maritime and Coastal Studies Southampton Institute

Motivation Limited resources and time for real visit Limited resources and time for real visit Need to transfer concept of Coastal Zone Management to reality Need to transfer concept of Coastal Zone Management to reality Awareness of benefits of VLE use Awareness of benefits of VLE use Desire to try something new Desire to try something new Receipt of funding Receipt of funding

Virtual Field Course Resources Tour of the Cromarty Firth Tour of the Cromarty Firth Interviews with stakeholders Interviews with stakeholders Conference proceedings Conference proceedings Newsletters and reports Newsletters and reports Links and references Links and references

How to integrate the VFC into the teaching programme? PBL! PBL!

PBL development tasks Write PBL scenarios – link to syllabus Write PBL scenarios – link to syllabus Integrate with teaching programme Integrate with teaching programme Integrate with assessment Integrate with assessment Design VLE content Design VLE content Provide full guidance notes Provide full guidance notes

Each group is provided with: Specific scenario Specific scenario Introduction to PBL and VLE Introduction to PBL and VLE Written information pack (papers) Written information pack (papers) List of further information available (maps, etc.) List of further information available (maps, etc.)

PBL process: 1. Briefing and initial problem orientation 2. Review and redefinition of tasks 3. Share results – Conference Then… Conference presentations placed on VLE Conference presentations placed on VLE Student self- assessment Student self- assessment

VLE Evaluation Questionnaire with 22 students Questionnaire with 22 students Review of VLE usage Review of VLE usage Headline results: Poor group skills was a constraint we didnt split up the work properly we didnt split up the work properly PBL perceived positively 76% felt they learned more through PBL 76% felt they learned more through PBL

Benefits for poorly motivated students Poorly motivated students reported comparable learning benefits Poorly motivated students reported comparable learning benefitsEnjoyable 86% felt they enjoyed the PBL process Other comments want more lecturingwant more lecturing waste of time (x1)waste of time (x1) Revision concern Revision concern

Reflections… Success factors: Integrate the VLE to the teaching programme Integrate the VLE to the teaching programme Provide upfront group work training Provide upfront group work training Be transparent about the teaching strategy Be transparent about the teaching strategy Evaluate and modify Evaluate and modify Re-think normal student-teacher roles Re-think normal student-teacher roles