Learning Technologies, Current Debates and Barriers

Presentation to Union of Students of IrelandWaterford Institute of TechnologyBrian Mulligan, Centre for Online Learning, IT Sligo11am, 18th July 2013

View live at:http://itsligo.adobeconnect.com/bmulligan

What’s wrong with Higher Education?

You can learn anything online!Do we even need higher

education?

Why use learning technologies?

To reduce costs and lecturer hoursTo improve the quality of learning.To stop wasting students’ timeTo diagnose and assist

underperforming studentsTo improve access To prepare students for lifelong

learning

Costs

Access

Quality

Tools and TechniquesElectronic resourcesInteractive multimedia

◦SimulationsOnline collaboration toolsOnline submissions and feedback

◦ Including plagiarism detectionAutomated and Peer assessmentLive online classesLecture CaptureOpen Educational Resources Virtual Learning EnvironmentsThe “flipped” classroomLearning Analytics

Interactive multimedia“click to continue”Simple to sophisticatedBranching/Adaptive systemsSimulations

Electronic resourcesWebsitesDocumentsvideos (youtube)

Online collaborationGroup projects – Peer support“Asynchronous “ discussionsShared documents

◦Google Docs, DropboxMeeting rooms (Google

hangouts)

Online submissions and feedback

Allows for fast grading and feedback

Can include plagiarism detection◦Eg Turnitin

Automated and Peer assessment“objective” tests (MC quizzes)Automated essay marking (?)Students marking each other

◦Quite reliable

Live online classesSkype of steroidsCan be recorded

Lecture Capture

Easy recording and publishing of screen and audio

In the background during lecturesWorks well with electronic whiteboard.Great for:

◦Difficult topics (can take slowly and repeat)◦Studying and revision◦Mature students with difficult schedules

Open Educational Resources OERIncludes MOOCs

◦Massive Open Online Courses◦Coursera etc.◦Some institutions offering

assessment and credit.Free materials

◦Including free textbooks and research publications

◦Eg. Khan Academy

Virtual Learning Environments

Moodle, Blackboard etcJust platforms to put materials up

onNot all that different from each

other.

The “flipped” classroomLecture taken outside of class.Homework done in class.

Learning AnalyticsComing soon!With large numbers of usersCan prove what worksCan automatically adjust.

Current debatesIreland

◦How to get more education online◦How to get lecturers to use more

learning technologiesWorldwide

◦Free online learning◦Quality◦Competency Based Accreditation◦Disaggregation◦Getting institutions to change◦Private vs Public◦Competition and failure

Barriers in IrelandInstitutional inagilityLack of knowledgeLack of competitionVested interests

Thank you!Discussion – Questions.

Contact: mulligan.brian@itsligo.ie