Guidance for Staffordshire University

This Best Practice Model for E-learning will help tutors plan e-learning:

• That has a clear weekly structure with a range of technology supported readings, collaborative tasks/activities/projects and assessment.

• That includes 4 different phases of learning:
  • Phase 1 – Tutor managed, closed tasks (focus on induction, access, motivation, socialisation, self assessment) Generally at the beginning of a module/award
  • Phase 2 – tutor managed, open activities (focus on constructing knowledge, reflection, self assessment)
  • Phase 3 – student managed, closed activities (focus on constructing knowledge, reflection, peer/self assessment)
  • Phase 4 – student managed, open projects (focus on development of independent understanding and skill, evaluation, tutor assessment) Generally used towards the end of a module/award

• That includes a range of interactions – students working with the tutor, each other and other experts as appropriate

The model can be adapted for different delivery modes:

• Collaborative Distance (all online)
• Concentrated Blended (Online with class induction/reviews/labs)
• Serial Blended (Class and online running in parallel)
• Merged Blended (Class with online preparation and follow-up)

E-learning activities

Each learning phase might include one or more e-learning activity which is either an individual, pair or group task, the use of a range of resources and summative or formative assessment with feedback of different types.

This model suggests that you use a variety of activities at each phase. The design and delivery of the activites will be different for each phase, for example:

• Online Discussion Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
• Online Collaboration Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
• Create E-resource Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
• Online Case Study Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

Learning Outcomes

This table shows how you can map Staffordshire University learning outcomes to the e-learning activities:

Knowledge and Understanding

• Use and develop knowledge to complete online collaborative task
• Use and develop own knowledge to respond to case study
• Present, develop and discuss own and others’ knowledge to contribute to forum
• Create/share creation of representation of knowledge as e-resource

Learning

• Identify and complete own learning by accessing appropriate e-resources to complete online collaborative task
• Identify and complete own learning needs by accessing appropriate e-resources to respond to case study
• Identify and complete own learning needs by accessing appropriate e-resources to contribute to forum
• Identify and complete own learning needs by accessing appropriate e-resources to create/share creation of e-resource

Enquiry

• Use methods of enquiry to complete online collaborative task
• Use methods of enquiry to analyze case study
• Use methods of enquiry to contribute to forum
• Create/share creation of outcomes of research as e-resource

Analysis

• Analyse data to complete online collaborative task
• Analyse data in case study
• Analyse data to contribute to forum
• Create/share creation of analysis as e-resource

Problem Solving

• Model problem and propose solution to complete online collaborative task
• Model problem and propose solution based on case study
• Model problem and propose solution in forum
• Create/share creation of model of problem and solution as e-resource

Communication

• Use range of communication skills and tools to complete online collaborative task
• Use range of communication skills and tools to respond to case study
• Use range of communication skills and tools in forum
• Create/share creation of range of e-resources suited to audience

Application

• Apply own knowledge and skills to complete online collaborative task
• Apply own knowledge and skills in responding to case study
• Present and discuss own and others’ application of skills, concepts and techniques in forum
• Create/share creation of authentic e-resource.

Reflection

• Present and discuss own and others’ reflections on learning in forum
• Create reflective e-resource