Integrating learning technology

Once the intended learning outcomes are clear, it becomes easier to evaluate the potential contribution of various teaching strategies, including the use of technology. The greatest potential for adopting new approaches usually lies where students are having difficulty in achieving what's intended.

Adopting new strategies, not just technology-based strategies, might start by learning from an academic colleague with some experience of similar teaching issues. Their rationale for using a technique that is new to them is often instructive in working out how it might be adapted to a different context.

When difficulties have been considered at the course design stage, staff have found that a number of changes have been made possible by integrating technology in their teaching, assessment and feedback practices.

The following areas, in particular, have benefited.

Encouraging participation by:

• increasing participation in large-group sessions with the use of voting systems to check understanding and to garner student opinion
• facilitating international collaboration by setting up students to use video-conferencing with peers in China and Malaysia
• developing a culture of peer support among students by using moderated online discussion areas as question and answer forums.

Developing independent learning by:

• encouraging independent study by recording podcasts to cover basic material and using lecture time to engage in more depth
• addressing student understanding of academic integrity and development of writing skills using online formative writing exercises
• improving understanding of concepts or processes that are too fast, slow, large, small, dangerous or expensive to experience directly by designing simulated environments to explore.

Addressing diversity of experience and expectations by:

• maximising the value of time spent in the lab by asking students to prepare for using new equipment by watching short videos in advance
• widening the range of assessment formats by offering students the tools to create their own online resources about the topic
• enabling students to catch up on fundamental principles or skills by providing self-study materials