Saturday 27 February 2010

Exploring Tangible Benefits of e-Learning:


The following is a summary of a number of case studies found when 'Exploring Tangible Benefits of e-Learning',JISC (2008). I have also tried to identify what is my opinion the main areas of innovation covered and the driving factors.
The case studies cover the following areas:-
  • Working together collaboratively
  • Innovative Online training 
  • Staff training to raise the profile and awareness of e-learning
  • Video conferencing sharing of modules across a number of universties.
  • Eportfolio system
  • Adoption of moodle
  • Blended approach to learning
  • Developing partnerships with local trusts 
  • Exams designed to support disabled students
  • VLE to support worldwide students
  • Online learning for eteaching practice
  • Podcasting to see real images instead of photographs
  • Blended approach to training use of moodle, podcasting and handset voting
  • Simulation gaming to help produce blended learning
  • Elearning resource for sharing best practice amongst staff
  • Website for the support of learning with wide ranging needs and support
  • Elearning to support paper based distance learning material
  • Virtual farm to enable collection of real time data
  • Eportfolios fro reflecting on teaching practice
  • Eportfolio to help support first year students
  • Course design to accommodate childcare arrangements 
  • Audio commentaries to accompany archaeology images
  • Creation of a virtual space for sharing elearning resources for staff 
  • Online assessment for medical staff reducing the assessment time required
In general the site offers examples of innovation that covers the following areas:-
  • e-assessment
  • Online learning
  • Eportfolios
  • Collaborative working
  • Podcasting
  • Gaming and virtual simulations
The driving factors apparent from these case studies include:-
  • Improving the learner experience
  • Developing staff effectively 
  • Sharing best practice as both a student and staff level
  • Performing assessment more efficiently
  • Provision of support material for all areas of academic work
JISC (2008) Exploring Tangible Benefits of e-Learning: Does Investment Yield Interest? [online],
http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/publications/publications/info/tangible-benefits-publication (Accessed 12 November 2009).

3 comments:

Mark C said...

Hi Steve,

This is a very useful summary of the benefits identified across the JISC case studies.

I wonder how many of these match up with our blog comments on the four specific case studies? Something that I am sure will keep me occupied today.

Regards
Mark

Anonymous said...

Hi Steve
Hope you dont mind but i found your summary very useful and will be quoting you in my TMA01 - thank you, you helped me separate out the case studies
Lesley

Steve McGowan said...

Hi Lesley no Problem
Good luck with the TMA