Welcome to the September LDC blog. In the blog this month:
Keep an eye on the blog for updates about LDC activities in the forthcoming academic year.
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Changes to the Teaching Pod –
Be in the Know! Your Teaching Pods have changed – don’t miss out!
We would like to help you provide your students with the best possible learning experience by using the Pods. A number of improvements have been made to the Pod build, which means that you will need to attend an ‘Oh My Pod!’ session to familiarise yourself with what has changed, and allow you to get the most out of the Pods – both for your teaching and for your students’ learning.
The LDC will be running a series of sessions to update you on these changes, throughout September and October, in several different sites across the institution. Please complete the webform at https://www.city.ac.uk/forms/13668 to select the date, time and location which is most appropriate for you.
These sessions will take no longer than half an hour, but will provide you with the knowledge to be confident and competent using the Pods in the coming academic year.
If you’d like any more detailed information on the changes or the sessions, then please contact the LDC
Learning at City Journal –
In April of this year the launch edition of the Learning at City Journal was published. The journal is aimed at disseminating good practice, research and scholarship related to learning, teaching and curriculum and will be published twice a year in April and October. The journal is published on line and the last edition can be downloaded or viewed here. There are also a limited number of printed copies available. Both of these formats have an ISSN number. The audience of this journal will include all staff and students with a role in facilitating and supporting learning across the University.
The journal will include academic papers with a focus on practice and research and project reports. We are currently receiving articles for the October edition and need to have any for consideration by 23rd September. If you have a project report you would like us to include, a paper on a development or perhaps a paper you have submitted for the MA academic practice programme you wish to share with colleagues please submit these.
Please e-mail your contributions to Dr Pam Parker on P.M.Parker@city.ac.uk.
If you have something that is not quite ready this time note we have an open submission so whenever you have a contribution completed please e-mail to Dr Pam Parker.
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CitySpace Switch-Off Event –
After 8 years of service to the University, CitySpace has been switched off. This event was commemorated with the collection of obituary entries from staff and students and a small party.
CitySpace, formerly known as City Online Learning, used the operating system WebCT Vista and was first used on courses at City University London in September 2003. The E-Learning Unit (ELU) comprising of two instructional designers, an office manager, a systems administrator and director was put together to work in collaboration with staff across the institution to implement the system. Obituary comments reflect on working with the system and the team over the years. Many tell tales of frustrations and hours devoted to making CitySpace work while wrestling with the clunky interface. However, this is also the story of transforming teaching and learning at City University London, creating user communities across the institution, and leading the way with learning technology across the sector.
Staff and students were invited to the CitySpace Switchoff Party on 1st September. Representatives from across the schools and central services attended to eat, drink, reminisce and say goodbye. We admired the youth of the ELU team as evident in photos from the early years. The guest of honour, Brendan Casey, now Director of Academic Services at the University of Birmingham who oversaw the initial purchase and implementation of Cityspace, gave a short speech.
After a successful first year of implementation, Moodle will now become the University’s sole online learning environment.
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MA Academic Practice Applications –
The 9th September – deadline for applications to the Academic Practice Programme – is fast approaching, but it is still possible to enrol on any module from the programme, including Year 2 modules, on an occassional, stand-alone module basis. Applications for these are accepted throughout the year, provided that there are spaces available on the chosen module.
These modules cover a wide range of subjects that may be helpful to your teaching activities, from Academic Leadership to Research Supervision. The full list of Year 2 modules is as follows –
Technology Enabled Academic Practice
(EDM116; 30 M Level Credits)
This new module provides a larger scale examination of how technology can be used to develop all aspects of academic practice. It offers the opportunity to develop expertise in the area of online and blended learning and to become effective users and evaluators of a wide range of educational technologies.
Research Methods
(EDM112; 15 M Level Credits)
This is a ‘lead in module’ for the Dissertation module (above). It provides guidance and practice in drawing up a proposal for educational research, and identifies key research methods.
Research Supervision
(EDM111; 15 M Level Credits)
This module is designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge to supervise students undertaking doctoral research projects.
Mentoring
(EDM117; 15 M Level Credits)
This module incorporates a creative approach, considers mentoring theory and practice in higher education, and makes comparisons with related activities such as coaching and counselling.
Innovation and Development
(Module 6; EDM115; 15 M Level Credits)
This enables participants the opportunity to develop a specific, pedagogical aspect of their work through the undertaking of a negotiated project.
Information and Communications Technology in Higher Education
(EDM107; 15 M Level Credits)
This module examines the impact of ICT on teaching and learning, research and policy in UK Higher Education.
Academic Leadership
(EDM113; 15 M Level Credits)
This module provides a critical overview of theories and approaches in educational leadership, as well as practice-based guidance from academic leaders.
For more information, or to apply, please visit the website at https://intranet.city.ac.uk/staff/learning-development/learning-development/academic-practice-and-phd-programme/ma-module-quick-guide.html
LDC Blog Relaunch for 2011-12 –
We’ll be making some changes to the LDC Blog ready for the new 2011-12 academic year, in order to make it more informative and engaging. Look out for the new-look LDC blog from the October edition, which will also contain details of all our forthcoming events for the year.
Dates for your diary
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Learning at City Journal Submission Deadline – Friday 23rd September 2011
Development for Research Students Event – Wednesday 19th October 2011
Researcher’s Development Day – Wednesday 23rd November 2011