Two clear points appear from the findings. Students need clear information about the Elluminate sessions and how to use the technology. For first time users, and in particular first year students, Elluminate can appear daunting for some, but not for all students. Instruction in the form of a demonstration session, as has been used and advocated by one of the staff using the environment is recommended. This was scheduled in ‘O' week and well attended by students. The second point is that student's confidence is developed by lecturers who are experienced with the environment and develop interactive classes that are engaging. Clearly there is a need for staff development in this area to ensure staff are comfortable with the technology in the first instance, but also that they have integrated the technology into their teaching materials in a way that is inclusive of the students' needs.
Roger Cook on 07 Jul 11Matt Bower, John G. Hedberg & Andreas Kuswara (2010): A framework for Web 2.0 learning design, Educational Media International, 47:3, 177-198 This paper describes an approach to conceptualising and performing Web 2.0-enabled learning design. Based on the Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge model of educational practice, the approach conceptualises Web 2.0 learning design by relating Anderson and Krathwohl's Taxonomy of Learning, Teaching and Assessing, and different types of constructive and negotiated pedagogies to a range of contemporary Web 2.0-based learning technologies. The learning design process can then be based upon the extent to which different Web 2.0 technologies support the content, pedagogical, modality and synchronicity requirements of the learning tasks.
