Members of the Heads of E-Learning Forum (HeLF), a network of senior staff in institutions engaged in promoting, supporting and developing technology enhanced learning, met at the University of Leeds in February to explore flexible pedagogies. The workshop addressed a number of aspects of flexible pedagogies such as new curricular being developed at different institutions, assessments delivered in different formats at different times or supporting students. Speaker slides can be found at http://helfuk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/outcomes-from-flexible-pedagogies.html.
Here are four highlights from HeLF:
1) Professor Neil Morris, Director of Digital Learning shared the wealth of educational technology activity enabling flexible pedagogies at Leeds University including implementation of lecture capture, use of analytics and iPad deployment. The Blended Learning Strategy acts as a driver as does the new curriculum based on research-lead teaching. Electives will use a blended format and no longer have lectures. Instead they will have multiple timetabled sessions allowing students to select a session time that suits their timetable.
2) Dr Alison Le Cornu from the HEA gave an insight into the HEA’s new role responding to restructuring and their new funding environment. Alison also questioned the meaning of ‘flexibility’ and promoted this 2014 report exploring Conditions of Flexibility.
3) Scott Miller and Julie Archer shared their experiences of supporting students across a range of flexible learning experiences at the University of Sunderland using the face-to-face and online programme Skills for Learning.
4) Dr Kyriaki Anagnostopoulou, Head of e-Learning at University of Bath discussed the role of educational technology staff in supporting the creation of flexible learning experiences. Kyriaki described educational technology staff as working on the fracture lines between academic, technical and administrative domains of knowledge and presented a spectrum of e-learning activities. This work may offer a new way to look at our educational technology roles and how we interact with academics and other staff.
The next HeLF meeting will be on 3rd June in Birmingham.
