David Dewhurst Assistant Principal (e-learning & e-health) Director of Learning Technology

1. Re-usable Learning Objects and Virtual Learning Environments - managing and delivering e-learning resources David Dewhurst Assistant Principal (e-learning & e-health) Director of Learning Technology College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh

2. E-learning - what’s it all about? • Enhancing the learning experience of our students - Virtual Learning Environments • Opening up new markets - VLEs • ‘Driver’ for improvements in the way we teach

3. Driver for change ‘e-learning is a Trojan horse… The real headline …. is that it’s about curriculum reform’ Roger Schanck, Carnegie Mellon University, TES March 2003

4. E-learning - what’s it all about? • Enhancing the learning experience of our students - Virtual Learning Environments • Opening up new markets - VLEs • ‘Driver’ for improvements in the way we teach • Improving the way we manage learning assets • Repositories of Learning Objects • Managing and sharing • Empowering teachers - scalability - ReCAL • Increasing lifespan of e-resources - ReCAL

5. E-learning in pharmacology • PowerPoint • Video • Multimedia CAL programs • Interactive tutorials • Simulations of experiments • E-assessment • Supportive learning environments • Personalisation • Communication tools • Learning resources • Assessment and evaluation tools • Course organisation tools

6. Multimedia CAL Programs • Lots of them • Poorly used • Not invented here • Black box • Not web deliverable • Need to be embedded • Technical obsolescence

7. Technical obsolescence - the CAL program graveyardrd

8. Reusable Learning Objects Multimedia CAL programs are composed of Learning Objects - reusability & sharing • ‘any digital resource that can be re-used to support learning’ (Wylie, 2000) • digital resources - text, images, photographs, animations, video, audio, assessments, web-pages, simulations, cases • building bricks of learning activities

9. Reusable Learning Objects Multimedia CAL programs are composed of Learning Objects - reusability & sharing • ‘any digital resource that can be re-used to support learning’ (Wylie, 2000) • digital resources - text, images, photographs, animations, video, audio, assessments, web-pages, simulations, cases • building bricks of learning activities • Need to disaggregate multimedia CAL programs to unlock high quality content - the ReCAL project in Edinburgh

10. RUNTIME RESOURCES PEDAGOGY SEQUENCING Set your CAL program free! You have nothing to lose but your chains …

11. ReCAL - separating resources from run-time

12. XML1 XML2 Parameters Parameters Assets Assets ReCAL Architecturee RUNTIME

13. Neuromuscular Pharmacology • Ability to change data traces, add or delete questions, change language, colours, add or delete graphics…..

14. Virtual Learning Environments VLEs A virtual learning support environment comprises integrated systems of networked on-line resources which support and facilitate course management, and learning, teaching and assessment activities whether these take place on-campus or at a distance. • Integrate shared resources and information systems • Act as a framework for all forms of course activity • Are generic (WebCT, Blackboard) or subject/course specific (particularly non-standard courses such as medicine) • Help foster learning communities • Facilitate audit, QA, organisational knowledge

15. Virtual Learning Environment • Learning and teaching resources • Facilities – library, teaching rooms, microlabs, any PC • On-line, structured study guides • On-line lectures (to varying levels of sophistication), • CAL materials, (streamed) video • Discussion board tutorials, • Virtual labs • On-line books, journals, internet resources • On-line assessment support • Administrative systems • Registry – links through portal • Recruitment • Assessments – some already there, othersin process of development • Timetables – interactive and personalised • Clinical placements, options – facilitated on-line • Evaluation – now on-line • On-line room booking On-line = Global access, flexible self-paced working, searchable, personalised support

16. EEMeC Student View

17. Meet George…. • The patient ages in ‘real’ time • a named individual with distinct personality • full, relevant case-history plus ‘red herrings’ to challenge students in later years. Integrates: Physiology, Biochemistry Pharmacology & Therapeutics Clinical Medicine, Clinical Skills, General Practice Health & Society - Don’t recall knowledge and concepts - Can’t manipulate facts from within modules - Compartmentalise knowledge and do not integrate material between modules

18. Program Delivery • material delivered via EEMeC in structured manner • initial introduction in Year 1 (timetabled session) E-mail alert: The results of Mr Prentice’s blood and respiratory function tests have now been filed in the notes • access determined by user identification (matriculation) number • new material made available on predetermined dates • notified via electronic Notice Board

19. Features Cumulative score • Interactive questions Feedback

20. Features • Animated explanations

21. Features • Evidence based material

22. Features • Lab Test selection • Lab test interpretation

23. Features • Advanced information

24. Features • Fascinating facts

25. Take-home messages • Use technology to enhance student learning • Develop VLEs which are aligned to your course • Use LO repositories to manage assets and promote sharing • Avoid technical obsolescence • Don’t throw away those old CAL programs - reuse the assets • Empower teachers to develop their own CAL programs