An Enhanced student learning experience
Welsh universities are exploring a range of tools to enhance existing programmes of study and facilitate new pedagogic practice. Aberystwyth makes widespread use of lecture capture as a study aid. Material is often posted in advance so the ‘lectures’ become more interactive and seminar-like. Bangor uses Audience Response Systems (clickers) to increase interactivity in large groups and aid revision. Swansea has used podcasting to bring to life ancient Greek and Roman sites.
UWIC is using collaboration on a wiki to promote deeper engagement with lecture material and critical thinking skills with a positive correlation between engagement on the wiki and module grades. Trinity St David is promoting innovation with Web 2.0 technologies via a series of ‘lunch and learn’ workshops for staff. At Cardiff the Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning will no longer teach what a Blog or Wiki is, instead it will seamlessly incorporate activities requiring the use of such tools into the curriculum.
Image: University of Glamorgan
Glamorgan uses advanced simulation equipment in its health courses. It has also trialled use of Twitter to scaffold learning in a range of clinical decision making scenarios. Swansea Met is using Virtual Laboratories to overcome the problem of access to specialist equipment for geographically dispersed learners. Glyndŵr has integrated information previously on a range of sites into a single student portal. Newport is exploring the potential of the Virtual World, Second Life to support learning and digital inclusion via research topics as diverse as digital heritage and robotics.
Image: Swansea University
Image: Swansea Metropolitan University
Image: University of Wales Newport