1. Access, Digital & Distributed Learning
Andy Jaffrey
Office for Digital Learning
9th June 2015

2. ADDL Digital Learning E-Learning at Ulster, established in 2001.
Innovative, well developed online education provider
Blended and fully online courses
Online postgraduate courses (28+)
Flexible programmes and learning solutions (CPD, CPPD, short courses)
New Digital Learning Strategy (Digital Futures) launching in incorporating QA precepts for all digital learning.

3. ADDL Office for Digital Learning Supporting online enrolment
VLE architecture and application support
Training schedule for digital learning technologies and tools
Bespoke training for course teams
Course directors’ forum
Instructional design consultancy
Creative digital solutions
Blackboard helpdesk and support materials
Enhanced support for fully online programmes

4. Virtual Learning Environment Blackboard Learn
29000 active users in typical 30 day period.
3.3 million sessions in 14/15, average time 7mins 38 secs.
917 distance learning students registered in AY 14/15, from 80 countries.
80,000 assignments submitted online in 14/15 to date.

5. Online Courses Programme Support Areas
A range of information and support for students studying at Ulster - including programme specific information, academic support, student opportunities, support available from central departments.
Module Areas
Standardisation template
Course materials
Recommended reading (integrated library resources)
Communication & collaboration tools
Assessment & feedback tools
Management & administration tools
PSA
Welcome from Course Director
Contact information
Support Information
T&L Support Charter
Course Handbook
Our expectation of you
Course Specific Induction Materials
Study Skills
Programme Specification
Academic Calendar
Course Regulations
Assessment and Feedback Information
Module information
HEAR, community engagement, employability, other enrichment opportunities
Copyright
External Examiner Reports
Discussions and Communication tools
Staff Student Consultation

6. Blackboard Usage School of Nursing
60% of active modules now being delivered by blended methods.
56% of all nursing programmes have a programme support area in Blackboard.

7. Welcome to Blackboard Learn
Applied Health Sciences
Programme Support Areas

8. Welcome to Blackboard Learn
Applied Health Sciences
Module template – NUR513

9. Welcome to Blackboard Learn
Applied Health Sciences - Tools
Synchronous T&L tool expected in S1 15/16 (virtual classroom)
Slide 9 identifies some of the tools that we have identified as useful for the course. Smaller stars denote lesser importance. Sharestream video assignments are a tool for allowing students to upload videos as an assignment submission, which has been useful for the MSc Health Psychology. We recommend considering this tool for scenario based problem learning (highlighted in comments).
PBL also requires students to develop a whole range of skills to enable them to learn effectively, including information skills, team working skills, communication and, most importantly, high order cognitive skills for professional development – the type of key skills that are valued by most employers.

10. Staff Support
General training (Bb tools and technologies, digital learning webinars)
Bespoke training for course teams
Online multimedia support resources
Online support courses (Orientation and Assessment & Feedback)
E-Tutor Training Course
3 week online course
Skills for online T&L - encouraging socialisation and motivation, managing and facilitating interactions and supporting students.
eLearning Course Directors’ Forum (peer group)

11. Student Support Student Orientation Course Blackboard environment
Communication and collaboration
Assessment & feedback
Feedback
Staff/Student consultation
Student Feedback Survey
Accessibility
Reasonable adjustments for students with special needs.
Blackboard Helpdesk
/phone support and knowledge base
Online knowledgebase
Finding your way
Getting Support
Learning Online
Managing Time
Getting organised
Collaborating
Communicating
Assessment and Feedback
Taking Tests

12. Student Support Induction & Orientation
Encourage students to engage with the general (all students) induction area.
Pre-enrolment communications.
Start course with one week induction period.
Ask students to bring induction questions in to the main Programme Support Areas.
Synchronous induction sessions.
Negotiated timeslot for synchronous sessions.
Encourage students to engage with the general (all students) induction area as soon after registration as possible. Pre course communication should reinforce this point.
The Office for Digital Learning uses the online enrolment communication to reinforce the need to do this.
If feasible, start the course with an induction and orientation week.
Students can bring questions from their generic induction in to local context through the Programme Support Area for the programme.
Consider synchronous tools, Collaborate, GoToMeeting or Skype, for a short synchronous session.
In order to support timezones, we recommend using the discussion board to negotiate a mutually convenient time for a synchronous session.

13. Student Support Study Skills for online learning
Generic Ulster Skills+ study skills wiki.
Additional support for Applied Health Sciences
Academic writing
Critique
Assignment preparation
Database searching
Academic transition
 You will know that we have been chatting about how we could apply our creative minds to assisting online students to address some of the practical issues associated with induction to our programmes.  We are presently scoping just what issues we would wish to look at over time and from that we will prioritise which ones to look at first and establish a timetable.  Things that might be relevant here include – academic writing, critique, assignment preparation, database searching and academic transition - I know we have some resources on these already but we want to bring a fresh approach to the matters. Of course we don’t know what the final product will look like however I think that it is important that the panel knows that we take induction very seriously and are trying to find novel ways to work with online students in this regard.

14. Welcome to Blackboard Learn
Any questions?