1. Welcome NESC Webinar #3 E-learning for Improvement Dr Jean Penny & Fred Riley This training comes with sound

2. Agenda Welcome University of Nottingham RLO CETL The Improvement RLO project Q & A Feedback

3. Fred Riley Learning Technologist School of Nursing, University of Nottingham Background: programmer, web/database developer, e-learning developer, languages fred.riley@nottingham.ac.uk Staff page

4. SONET School of Nursing Educational Technology Group –www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/sonet/www.nottingham.ac.uk/nursing/sonet/ –A SIG of Nursing teachers interested/involved in e- learning and teaching Staff –Director –Academic Coordinator –3.5 x Media Developers Funded by SoN, RLO-CETL, and contracted work (eg NHSI)

5. RLO-CETL Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CETL) for Reusable Learning Objects (RLO) www.rlo-cetl.ac.uk HEFCE-funded, £3.4M funding (2005 – 2010)HEFCE Partner universities: London Metropolitan (lead), Cambridge, Nottingham

6. SONET & RLO-CETL Independent but complementary SONETRLO-CETL

7. What the @#$! is a RLO? Reusable Learning Object Definitions: –Learning Objects are... any entity, digital or non-digital, which can be used, re-used or referenced during technology supported learning. (IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee, 2000) = any person, place, thing, or idea that has existed at anytime in the history of the universe (Wiley 2000) –any digital resource that can be reused to support learning. (Wiley 2000) –"an interactive WWW-based resource based on a single learning objective which can be used in multiple contexts" (SONET)

8. Further Reading SONET RLO FAQ Wikipedia: Learning Objects Wiley, David (ed). 2000. The Instructional Use of Learning Objects: Online Version. 2000. (Chapter 1 discusses Learning object definitions)The Instructional Use of Learning Objects

9. RLO format Most RLOs comprise Flash movies wrapped in web pages –older RLOs have Shockwave (Director) movies Nearly all SONET, and most RLO-CETL, RLOs have audio narrations Video used occasionally (eg Abdominal Examination)Abdominal Examination RLOs are played in web browsers with standard plugins, and are thus cross-platform

10. RLO Usage reusability is the raison dêtre of RLOs accessed via SONET and RLO-CETL repositoriesSONET RLO-CETL IMS content packages for VLE import usage requires resource discovery, discovery requires a LO repository and good quality metadata –eg NHS Intralibrary installation, SONET RLO database, RLO- CETL Intralibrary installation, MERLOT, HEAL, Wisconsin Online Learning Object RepositoryMERLOTHEALWisconsin Online Learning Object Repository –they cant use it if they dont know about it SONET and RLO-CETL RLOs freely available on WWW Used by teachers, students, and Joe and Jane Public

11. RLO Content Content is sovereign –no content, no e-learning High-quality content essential for reuse and teacher/student confidence –quality assurance by peer-review SONET and RLO-CETL RLOs driven by pedagogy and teaching needs –demand-led, not supply-led Nearly all SONET, and most RLO-CETL, RLOs have audio narrations

12. RLO Production process RLOs go through a software lifecycle, using iterative development:software lifecycle –concept –specification (examples)examples –specification peer-review –technical development –RLO peer-review –release –user feedback Peer-reviews are crucial to quality control Methodology pioneered by UCEL –UCEL schematic diagram of lifecycle (Word)UCEL schematic diagram of lifecycle –UCEL lifecycle flowchart (PDF)UCEL lifecycle flowchart

13. RLO production management A real pain in the donkey! Production database is essential to keep track of whats been done, and what has to be done, when, and by whom Each RLO needs a manager/mentor to push the production process along, arrange audio recording, nag for reviews, quality assurance, and more Keep the number of people involved low! Cock-up potential increases exponentially with each extra person –with multiple authors and/or developers, have one contact/rep for each group Clarity! Make sure everyone knows what s/hes doing, why, and by when. Using freelance developers adds to process complexity, but is sometimes unavoidable if in-house staff are overloaded

14. Future Developments Authorable RLO templates/shells/tools –Generative Learning Objects (GLOs)Generative Learning Objects GLO Maker toolGLO Maker tool –Xerte online templatesXerte online templates –Powerpoint and Flash conversion eg Menstrual Cycle, Virtual Portfolio ToolMenstrual CycleVirtual Portfolio Tool Xerte developer toolXerte Integrating RLOs into module teaching –School of Nursing e-Learning Strategy 2008-13School of Nursing e-Learning Strategy 2008-13 –dissemination and promotion of RLOs and e-learning e-learning mentors to be appointed at SoN centres –integration into WebCT

15. Thats all, folks! FIN

16. Any questions?

17. Thank you http://www.nesc.nhs.uk