| Conference Registration WebCT Homepage | |
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| Thursday, July 13, 2006: 2:30 PM-3:45 PM | |||
| Missouri Room (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers) | |||
| J-12: Staff Development to Improve Student Experience via WebCT | |||
| Detailed Description: | This session will present some findings from an action research study that examined the experiences of students participating in an undergraduate open learning pathway in Health and Social Care. The study found that many academic staff were failing to make use of student support via WebCT in favor of face-to-face and/or e-mail. We will share our approach of delivering interactive workshops for staff over a period of 6 months and will discuss the effectiveness of our staff development efforts. | ||
| Presentation Format: | Roundtable | ||
| Topic: | Empowering educators: Professional development models and methods | ||
| Target Audience: | Course Designers, Faculty and Other Instructors, E-learning Managers | ||
| Appropriate Audience Level: | Beginning or new users of WebCT, Experienced WebCT users | ||
| Abstract Text: | Government policies (DoH 1999, 2000), professional body requirements (QAA 2004, HPC 2006, NMC 2002) as well as the needs of industry have led to increasing developments of open and flexible learning courses; to widen access to continuing professional development; and to promote lifelong learning (HEFCE 1996, Dearing 1997, Carr 1999, Clarke 2003). Concurrently, the improving technology is enhancing methods of student support with use of the Internet and computer softwares like WebCT and Blackboard. We deliver an open learning degree which has the ethos of support via WebCT embedded within it. During an action research cycle to evaluate and improve student support, it was identified that staff development was imperative, as many tutors were failing to make use of this method of student support in favour of face to face and/or email tutorial. Those who use WebCt were mainly using it as an information giving medium(Soper 2005). The University staff development sessions had provided limited information about the use of WebCT which was felt to be insufficient in giving staff the confidence to develop modules and support student learning on WebCT. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of staff development undertaken as a spin off cycle of the action research. This was delivered as interactive workshops over a period of 6 months. Evaluation was carried out immediately and six months post development. | ||
| Session Leader: | Mriga Williams Anglia Ruskin Univeristy | ||
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