Employing the 3E Framework to underpin institutional practice in the active use of

technology

Keith Smyth and Stephen Bruce

Edinburgh Napier University

SEDA Annual Conference 2011

1. Identify a range of key ways in which technology-enhanced learning can help meet learner needs, common teaching challenges, and institutional challenges in HE

2. Discuss how HE institutions have tended to approach introducing minimum benchmarks for the use of technology in learning, teaching and assessment

3. Describe and reflect upon the rationale for Edinburgh Napier University’s new 3E Framework approach to embedding the active use of technology across modules.

4. Consider how the 3E Framework approach could be adapted to support institutional strategy and culture in technology-enhanced learning, including in staff development and informing teaching practice

Session learning outcomes

11.15 - Introduction and overview of TEL in HE

11.25 - Exploring institutional minimum thresholds for TEL

11.35 - Introducing the 3E Framework

11.55 - Engaging with the 3E Framework (individual task)

12.05 - Exploring potential for application (small group activity)

12.25 - Benefits and implications (open floor discussion)

12.40 - Conclusion of session

Overview of session

1. TEL in HE

2. Exploring institutional

minimum thresholds for TEL

“…a minimum presence to be established for every module, and that this be input by either the module leader or a school administrator using central information and information provided by the module leader.”

2004: Roll-out of WebCT Vista

Faculty A

• One school embraced technology and saw the value for engaging students . No administrator input, and recognised their support needs and proactively sought Professional Development

• Other school quietly embraced technology without administrator input or seeking central support

Minimum presence - embrace or evade?

Faculty B

• Initial use of WebCT coincided with a move to purpose built campus with IT facilities in each teaching room – impetus and a cohesive approach across schools

• Efforts made to move beyond minimum presence and administrator input help meet the requirement.

• Largely file repositories, but also quizzes and assignment submissions

Minimum presence - embrace or evade?

Faculty C

• Huge variation in the subject disciplines

• One school relied heavily on school administrators to meet the requirement

• Another school already using technology so made the best use of WebCT and their own web resources

• Another school lacked administrator input and uptake was very patchy

Minimum presence - embrace or evade?

• Focussed mainly on WebCT, and also included other technologies used in the support of learning

MLE Evaluation 2009

• Overall student learning experience is perceived to have been enhanced

• Students now expect WebCT as a normal part of module support

• Staff are more confident and are interested in using interactive features

Executive Summary

• Significant quantity of students studying modules that lack effective WebCT support or have no support at all.

• Students need to recognise their own responsibility to regularly check WebCT and to fully engage with the resources and activities provided.

• Embedding effective and innovative use of WebCT and other technologies has a significant resource implication.

• The importance of local support: Learning Technologists for practical support, and Online Learning Advocates for advice and assistance, and sharing of effective practice.

Range of issues

• What does your institution have?

• What is the nature of this?

• How has it evolved?

Minimum thresholds in your institution?

3. Introducing the 3E Framework

• Originally developed and employed as the 3E Approach on a cross-institutional technology and transformation project

• Used in the redesign of a range of modules and courses at various credit levels in FE and HE and across disciplines http://www2.napier.ac.uk/transform/transformation_pc.htm

• Embedded in institutional learning and teaching strategy

• Embedded in staff CPD provision e.g. HN Units

• Curriculum design model for SEDA accredited Pg Cert/Pg Dip/MSc Blended and Online Education

Development of the 3E Framework

The 3E Approach on the MSc BOE

4. Engaging with the 3E Framework

http://staff.napier.ac.uk/services/academicdevelopment/TechBenchmark/Pages/

home.aspx

Activity 1 (10 minutes)

Use the mapping template provided to map one of your own module/courses to the 3E Framework, thinking about current or potential use of technology in that module/course.

Alternatively, explore the 3E Illustrative Examples (Section 7) in your copy of the University Benchmark document you have and consider how these may map to your own institutions strategy or staff development provision in TEL.

5. Exploring potential for application

Activity 2 (20 minutes)

Working in small groups, please discuss/critique the 3E Framework and the extent to which this or a similar framework would work in your own institutional contexts.

What factors or challenges would need to be addressed in the successful embedding of such a framework?

Be prepared to report your key points back.

Implementing the 3E Framework

• Alignment with move to new institutional VLE (Moodle)

• Embedding within Professional Development events, and as theme for 2012 institutional staff conference

• Initial focus of the new Teaching Fellows Special Interest Group in Technology-Enhanced Learning (SIG-TEL), and of the work to be undertaken by staff being sponsored to complete our Pg Cert Blended and Online Education

• Dissemination via LTA Resource Bank (tagging of case studies and development of new case studies)

http://staff.napier.ac.uk/services/academicdevelopment/LTA/resources/Pages/resources.aspx

6. Benefits and implications

Activity 3 (15 minutes)

Small group report back and discussion around the benefits and implications for institutions seeking to adopt a benchmark focused around active use of technology

7. Conclusion

Please use the post-its to tell us either/all of the following:

• One thing you liked about the session (if you did!)

• Provide a general comment on the 3E Framework (positive or not, including changes that could improve it!)

• A thought or idea you’ll take away from the session

And thank you

Contact details

Keith Smyth k.smyth@napier.ac.uk

Twitter @smythkrs

Stephen Bruce s.bruce@napier.ac.uk

Twitter @sbruce123