Transcript The Student Experience of E Learning: beginning to bridge the digital divide. Lynne Jump and Mandy Atkinson University of Greenwich.

The Student
Experience of E Learning: beginning to bridge
the digital divide.
Lynne Jump
and Mandy Atkinson
University of Greenwich.
Overview
• This workshop aims to,
• Debate and to explore the student experience
of e-learning.
• The team facilitating the discussion will draw
upon their experience of an HEA funded
pathfinder project, the main aim of which was to
collect learner stories about their experience of
using technology in their everyday learning
activities at the University of Greenwich, across
a range of programmes, levels, locations and
student groups.
Literature Review
• The project design responded to the growing body
of ‘student voice’ literature in particular, and then
utilised and built upon the JISC funded studies that
focussed on understanding the learner
perspectives on the role of technology in learning:
• the LEX study which investigated a broad spectrum
of technology use by eliciting rich data about
learners’ feelings, beliefs and intentions towards e
learning (Creanor et al 2006)
• the LXP studies which explored disciplinary
differences in uses of technology by University
students through a variety of methologies (Conole
The Present Situation
• Question 1: what is effective learning
within a context of digital technology?
Survey results
• Just under 1000 responses
• Across the whole University and some
partner colleges
• Reasons for using technology mainly
information gathering and communication
• Integral to their lives
• Email for lecturing staff
• Think that it is important to their studies
• University smart (only just) in its use
Next stage:
• Question 2: What are the myths and
truths about the identity of todays
learners?
A collective view? Fill in the
gaps...
How to move forward?
• Question 3: What practical
changes need to happen in order
to see real change?
some suggestions
• adapting strategies within the institution to move students
from the level s of information gathering and
communication to a far greater level of creativity
• doing more to understand the communication methods of
learners and finding ways to exploit this in teaching and
learning.
• work with and develop academics to help combat the
digital divide
• there needs to be a more sophisticated understanding of
how technology can be used to meet the needs of all
students including the 'hard to reach' students
and More.....
• teaching and learning strategies need to
capitalize on and use the skills of students
especially in the choice of software,design and
evaluation of teaching and learning materials
•
bring assignment and feedback strategies into
the 21st century
•
build new channels of communication with
students which can be explored in many
different contexts