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Welcome to the first ILIaD Community of Practice (COP) newsletter, for staff committed to excellence in education and development at the University. I hope you will find it an informative and illuminating window to the innovative work and research taking place in this field as well as highlighting forthcoming opportunities for you to develop your skills, and gain support for projects.
The Community of Practice, in partnership with ILIaD, will lead on 'transforming education’ at Southampton so there are exciting and challenging times ahead. The announcement of this year’s enhancement theme as ‘Technology Enhanced Learning’ is fantastic news for all of us involved in education. This confirms the University’s commitment to improving the quality of learning opportunities for our students and support and development for staff.
Innovation of new technology in lecture theatres, using technology to improve feedback, digital scholarship programmes for staff, education enhancement conferences, online learning and good practice in preparing and recording class sessions are just some of the activity areas we are currently involved in.
Working with a wide range of colleagues and students who are passionate about educational enhancement and development continues to be enormously motivating to me. The University of Southampton has a long standing reputation for innovative teaching and internationally recognised research in this field, and many of you have already contributed to that innovation and research. I look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with people who are united by exceptional motivation and potential.
I do hope that you enjoy this newsletter, will contribute to future editions and continue to engage with ILIaD activities. Professor Hugh Davis, Director of ILIaD
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MOOCs - Massive Online Open Courses
The second run of the FutureLearn course ‘Archaeology of Portus: exploring the lost harbour of ancient Rome’ started on 26th January with over 8600 learners signed up. Now in its second week, over 3000 people have visited the course at least once and nearly 1000 have posted comments. This may seem like a high ‘drop-out’ rate but of course it is very easy to sign up for these free courses and then discover that for one reason or another you don’t have time – and 3000 learners is still an impressive number!
The course needed few adjustments for its second run. Last June I was on site in Portus during the final week of the course using an iPad to shoot and edit videos in which the academic team answered learners’ questions, and these videos have now been linked to relevant steps earlier in the course. I’ll be shooting some new short videos on campus (again using an iPad) to answer this run’s learner questions – and it is surprising how professional the results can be. iMovie makes it simple to edit the videos, add titles and music, include photos, add effects and export the results as a high-quality 1080p video… and last year I did most of the editing in the airport lounge and on the flight home! The only two essential extras were a tripod and mount for the iPad and a high-quality microphone.
You can still join up and take a look (without any obligation to actually study the course) here or look at a typical iPad video (hosted on YouTube) here
Adam Warren, Senior Learning Designer
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Have you created a blackboard course with clear content, which is is easy to navigate; uses multimedia in an engaging way; encourages collaboration; provides opportunities for feedback and makes your students feel supported? Encourage your students to nominate it for a 2015 Blackboard Award. Read more
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The Media Development Team are embarking on new projects, having completed five Massive Open Online Courses (and welcoming our 100,000th registered learner), over 100 hours of video was created, along with podcasts, graphic design, animation and interactive learning modules. Highlights include our nomination for Best In-house Production Team at British Universities Film and Video Council, the creation of the Sustainability E-Learning resources for the University. We’ve seen a real growth in the demand for media to support blended and flipped learning and it’s great to see the University move towards a move active learning model in delivery of teaching and learning – we’d like to do more! We’re working directly with students, teaching them how to make video and audio that they can use in the submission of evidence for assessment. This year we’re looking forward to teaching students in Languages how to make engaging videos on their year abroad, how to get the best from their mobile devices and create content online. At the moment we have a few projects underway, we’re preparing for new MOOCs and have started filming at locations in London and Southampton, we’re working with academic teams to illustrate ideas, support funding applications and create project evaluations. It’s all go.
Stephan Caspar, Media Development Lead
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The Southampton Opportunity is an education enhancement initiative, overseen by the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, and implemented by a project team in the Institute for Learning Innovation and Development. The Southampton Opportunity team support developments that lead to a more engaged and fulfilled student community that is more proactive in their learning and self-development.
Southampton Opportunity works collaboratively with staff and students from across the University to help enhance how we support student learning and self-development in a holistic way. Key projects include:
* The development of OPUS (‘Opportunities at the University of Southampton’), a searchable database driven website that will help students make more informed choices about what opportunities to take up while at University, that will be launched later this year. Take a look at the beta version of the site – we would value any feedback or contributions you can make, so please get in contact.
* Enhancing the support infrastructure for students, especially peer mentoring/buddying and alumni e-mentoring of current students to help build confidence, inspire and motivate.
* Education enablement – let us know if you would like support developing transformative experiential learning opportunities within or alongside the curriculum, such as group work, field trips, use of digital technologies for more active classroom learning and development.
* Developing staff networks to facilitate the sharing of good practice, such as the Employability Strategy Network.
* Student partnership working: we are undertaking innovative work with students as agents for change within and alongside the curriculum through the network of Southampton Student Champions.
To find out more, take a look at the Southampton Opportunity pages of the ILIaD website, or contact Sarah Rogers Project Manager, Fiona Harvey, Education Development Manager, Sophie Farmer, Project Coordinator.
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Academic
(ERE) Development
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We’ve a thorny issue for you to think about in this issue - and a video to watch, providing useful ideas and practical steps for dealing with these tricky situations.
What To Say When You Have a Personality Clash with a Colleague
It’s not easy to admit, but however hard we try, there are some people we just don’t like. Yet it’s important to establish a positive working relationship with all our colleagues, even the ones we don’t particularly like. It’s easy to invent reasons for why you don’t get on with someone at work, but the truth is you need to accept that it’s an irrational emotion – and one you must set it aside to focus objectively on the work you need to do together. Watch our 2 minute video for quick, simple and clear ideas on how to do this. Please log in to our University of Southampton StreamLearning site and scroll down to find this video.
If you’d like to discuss the content of the videos, or have any questions, please contact us.
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"I have been working with sensors and intelligent systems for many years, having completed a degree in electronics, a masters in microelectronics and a PhD in Green Energy at the University of Southampton. I worked with a wide variety of technology, from sensors that measure pressure and strain, to temperature sensors and even intelligent systems that tell the capsule when it needs to go to sleep to preserve energy. By the end of the project I had gained a huge amount of experience, which led to me working for the University of Southampton-based consultancy service. This role offered a great potential to promote the impact of research and allowed me to work across broad range of industries to turn research outputs into products that help the growth of different type of businesses.
In addition to that I work closely with the diversity group at the University of Southampton to provide a crucial platform for women in STEMs to meet people from industry, which helps them to develop skills, cultivate professional and strategic relationships as well as provide inspiration.
Early this year I joined the Institution for Learning Innovation and Development (ILIaD). It was here that I discovered that I am a passionate advocate for enterprise and entrepreneurship education. My main role is focused on driving forward enterprise activities across the university through designing and leading on the development and implementation of a number of activities offered to Postgraduate Researchers (PGRs) and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in the University, focused on enterprise, researcher development and employability skills.
If you are interested in this area I would love to hear from you" Contact Ghaithaa
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Your Community of Practice
As you have received this newsletter, you have been recognised as part of the growing network of staff from across faculties who are interested, or actively participating, in transforming education and academic (ERE) development at the University.
This network is called the ILIaD Community of Practice (COP), and offers opportunities for skills development, knowledge sharing, keeping up to date with pedagogic research, collaboration with like-minded colleagues, mentoring, competitions and awards, access to funding opportunities, and more.
More information regarding the benefits of membership of the COP are available on the ILIaD Website, however if you are aware of Academic (ERE) colleague who is also passionate about Education and/or development, please do pass this newsletter to them and suggest that they sign up as an Affiliate member of the Community of Practice.
More information on the COP will follow in the next newsletter. Read more...
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Community Events and Activities
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Opportunities to get involved...
Flipped Learning combined with Learning Analytics and MOOCs for the NOCS community Monday 16 March 2015, 12.30-14.00. National Oceanography Centre, Conference Room (344/32)
Find out how flipped learning (where students study the theory at home and consolidate their learning with activities in class) can make producing a MOOC based on the same course easier, can be combined with Learning Analytics and explore the views of staff and students on the effectiveness of the approach.
Book your place now
Discovering Articulate Storyline - Thursday 26th February, 12:30-14:00
Building 85/2209, Highfield Campus. Light refreshments will be provided.
The first System Lunchtime Seminar of 2015 is focusing on a specific software package and intends to stimulate the establishment of a new User Community within the University: Presenters: James Allen and Nic Monks, from University iSolutions.
Articulate Storyline is sold on the basis that it is “the easiest way to create interactive courses and content”. Book your place now
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The iPAD Coffee Clubs are informal events that happen frequently at various locations across the University. The aim of each Coffee Club is to provide a forum for learning and discussion of a range of learning resources available via tablet devices. Everyone is welcome to come along and take part, with or without a device. Look forward to seeing you there. Dates for this term are:
Highfield - Arlott Bar
March 11th 10:00-11:30
April 16th 10:00-11:30
Book your place now
SGH - LF8
April 1st 10:00-11:00
Book your place now
Avenue Campus- Lattes
March 18th 10:00-11:30
Book your place now
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ILIaD Recruitment
Learning technologist
The Institute for Learning Innovation and Development is seeking a pro-active and organised individual to support the Faculty of Health Sciences' Technology Enhanced Learning strategy. A major educational priority within the faculty is to enable an exceptional personalised student experience.
Filmmaker/Video Editor
A Filmmaker/Video Editor is required for the Enhanced Learning Production Team. Working with Academics, Researchers, Students and Partners to create engaging learning content, including video for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), online learning courses, to highlight best practice in teaching and learning.
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Funding Opportunities
Do you have an innovative idea which could add value to the student experience? The University's Education Enhancement Fund supports creative projects which will help to make Southampton distinctive, whether directly related to the student learning experience, or having an impact on wider student life. The next deadline for submission of proposals is Wednesday 15 April. Click Here for more information, including a sample of successful bids or to download an application form.
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Faculty Staff now teaching on PGCAP
Congratulations to the first participants of the newly designed Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) who have successfully completed the first two modules covering learning design, the practice of teaching and supporting learning and are now Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. Several participants have opted to continue on to do the third optional module on enhancing academic practice with either a research or a learning and teaching focus and will be completing this in the coming months. Feedback on the new design has so far been excellent “enjoyable and informative”, “my teaching has improved as a result”. We would like to thank academic and professional services contributors from across the university for their valuable input into the programme. These are: Judith Holloway, David Read, Simon Kemp, Julie Gammon, Hugh Davis, Adam Warren, Jill Doubleday, Enabling Services
Martina Johnson, Education Development Adviser
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A new pilot Academic Skills Hub, based in the Hartley Library, opened this week. It offers signposting to evaluated resources and to services and support across the University and beyond. This is complementary to existing academic skills teaching and support in Faculties and Academic Units. The Hub support offered will be : face to face, by email, chat or Skype and will be staffed by librarians who are experienced in finding out what information students need and will also provide training in information skills.
The Hub is open 1000-1200 and 1400-1600 Monday to Friday throughout February, March, April and May and is open to all students.
A website has been developed with links to both physical and online resources as part of the pilot. In addition, some book chapters have been digitised and placed in the Library’s online course collection.Also a number of print pocket guides have been added to the Library and they are available for reference in the Hub and loan copies are on the main shelves. You can point your students to these resources as part of your own teaching.
The project will be evaluated and recommendations of future developments will be made on the evidence and feedback collected . We’d really like to hear what you think about it to help shape the future. Email us on libenqs@soton.ac.uk
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And finally from Justin Steele-Davies, ILIaD Education Innovation Lead "I am saddened to say that I am leaving the University in March this year, having joined just over four years ago as part of the national HE stem programme.
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I have been working with colleagues in the Institute for Learning Innovation and Development to help build a strategic response to the education needs of the university, supporting academics and the student experience. It will be exciting to see where the new education enhancement theme, Technology Enhanced Learning, takes the university in the coming year and I hope will provide additional added value to students and staff. I am moving on to take up a great opportunity in an academic role driving online education in engineering disciplines.
I have worked with a great range of people in my time here, many of whom I will miss, having both passion for the university and being highly skilled in their field. I hope to see many of you before I go, and feel free to join me on my final day 13th of March at 4pm in the Arlott Bar."
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For more information about this newsletter please contact Katie Eason, ILIaD Engagement Officer
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