Through the work of this project SLN curriculum groups were able to access new approaches, resources and expertise in e-learning and explore its potential for their subject specialisms. The project team mapped, analysed and disseminated good practice and expertise; piloted e-learning resources for vocational learners; created e-learning networks across HE and FE; developed projects for particular curriculum areas; and disseminated its work through educational conferences and publications. Work was also carried out on progression agreements for transition from foundation to honours degrees, and on employer engagement.

The SLN Computing and e-learning team completed its work in August 2008. Full details in SLN Three Year Report 2005-2008 Section 3.4.

Update Archive

‘….in making their own selection of technologies, learners often bypass formal support structures associated with institutionally based learning, basing their strategies for learning around the technologies they have access to – in particular, the internet and their choice of communication tools – rather than on the guidance of tutors, library and learning support staff….Yet learners’ preferences are largely unrecognised within their institutions, where the need for skill development in effective e-learning strategies is often underestimated and access on campus to technologies of their choice restricted.’

(JISC ‘In Their Own Words: exploring the learner’s perspective on e-learning’ 2007)

The eLearning Project continues to offer practitioners – both learners and teachers – information about and access to a broad range of learning technologies. A number of practitioners within the partnership are also involved with the eLearning team in four dedicated action research projects .

In providing insight into the situated practices of learners these projects draw attention to the need for institutions ‘to support appropriate and effective e-learning based on a wider range of options’ as indicated by recent research by JISC (2007). This ‘wider range of options’ increasingly involves the use of social networking and much of our recent activity has been designed to offer partner colleagues opportunities to interact with and exchange ideas around the use of Web 2.0 technologies.

The eLearning project continues to benefit from the support of a dynamic Advisory Group. The last meeting of the Advisory Group, 13th February took the form of a workshop event in the Creativity Centre, University of Brighton, to offered interested colleagues some ‘hands-on’ opportunities with a number of learning technologies together with an introduction to and exploration of OpenLearn.

Continued discussion of the work of the eLearning project is encouraged through our wiki.