1. School of Health and Social Care Lessons from an e-teaching experience Dr Marion Watson

2. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer P46650 Distance Learning Module  Planning and Managing Clinical Trials  Previously taught face to face  Updated and rewritten for distance learning for April 2007  Running non-semester

3. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer P46650 Distance Learning Module  Student experience  Workbook  Module handbook  10 units  CE6 with general information and 10 unit sections supporting the workbook  E-tivities  2 short marked essays submitted via CE6 (70%)  On-line MCQ/short answer exam (30%)

4. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer P46650 Distance Learning Module  E-tivities = Electronic Activities  7 throughout the module (must do 4 or 5)  Maximum of 1 per unit  No e-tivities on weeks with marked essays  All produced on CE6 or submitted via CE6  Help students keep to timetable

5. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer P46650 Distance Learning Module  E-tivities = Electronic Activities  Progressive complexity and individuality  Student homepage and virtual café  Short text submissions (200-400 words) -Open to all via discussion board -Closed, teaching staff only, via assignment dropbox  On-line group discussions (3-6 people per group)  Quizzes (Respondus)

6. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer

8. Lessons learned – CE6 layout  Keep it simple  Keep it obvious  Headings and titles  Avoid multiple routes to the same place  Two to three clicks to anywhere  Make sure things are in the right place

9. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Student help  Include a Hints and Tips section  Use links to other sources of help including SHSC Intranet, Learning Technologists’ blog  Develop an FAQ section under Hints and Tips and keep adding to it  Glossary

10. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Discussion board  Structure  Set up threads from the beginning  Include a general discussion thread  Messages from the tutors worked well  Virtual café or similar for non-course related chat  Set rules  What goes on the discussion board (most queries and comments)  When to e-mail you (personal e.g. extensions)  Be strict!

11. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Discussion board  Tell students when you will be checking the discussion board  Remind them of your availability for the times just before or after an assignment deadline  Don’t be too available  Avoids unreasonable student expectations  Reduces work, students answer each other’s queries

12. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Communication  Avoid agreeing to copy messages to multiple e-mail addresses  Written comments come back to bite you (and them)  Remove anything offensive or anything personal (reply by e-mail) or anything that gives too much away to others on assignments

13. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Student expectations  Some students quick to complain especially if they never meet or talk to you  Instant responses  Automatic marking  Accuracy  Text  Working links  Consistent information

14. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Lessons learned – Student expectations  Personal feedback to all work and discussion queries  Not realistic  Give generic feedback where-ever possible or the workload on e-tivities would become horrendous; accept you will get comments ‘you left mine out…’  Despite feedback within quizzes and directions to judge their answers themselves many expect individual marking

15. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer Marked assignments  The lack of classroom discussion and question/answer sessions is a problem.  Providing guidance online is never clear to all students and misinterpretation is common.  Asking to see an essay plan picks up the worst problems  Referencing guide is an essential tool – keep referring to it as an answer to queries where possible.

16. Dr Marion Watson, Senior Lecturer On-line Exams  Nerve wracking!  P46650 exam has a 40 question MCQ/short answer  Students and staff experienced with the system through formative quizzes  Contingency – e-mail and fax versions (not needed so far!)