Keeping it simple!Some things not to do in Online Learning

Brian Mulligan, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ireland,ACAUG meeting, Sep 16th, 2011.

A little story!(aka “case study”)

A naive approach to online learning?

Prehistory• 1985 – photocopied self-learning materials• 1989 – Distance Learning manual• 1993 – Transferred self-learning materials onto the Internet• 1997 – 2000 Educational Technology Officer

– learning technologies for campus students– Poor progress (little faculty interest)

• 2000 – Online Distance Learning– Greenfield site for new techniques– Self-learning approach

• 2002 Launched pilot

Original Pedagogic Strategy• Internet Supported Independent Learning• Low/no cost learning materials

– Textbooks, handouts , websites

• Independent Learning Activities• Guidance given by ‘text’ over the Internet• Access to asynchronous discussion fora to support• Travel to Institute as required

– Practical labs and math tutorials

Finance• No significant investment• No payment for preparation of materials• Time off teaching for training purposes

– Initially – dropped later

• Low level of planning– Instead - a fast response to problem solving

• Faculty payment same as campus classes

Modification of initial strategy

• Did not work with mathematical topics– needed regular live classes

• Added synchronous (live) classes– These proved very popular with all topics

The Emergent Model

‘Evening Classes’online

live classes (online)

textbook

Handouts + websites

Course Webpage for non-live

independent learning

Assignments, support, feedback

Assignment Submission

Good online communication

Peer Support

Bring ‘em in if you have to!

We’re working on that!

A Learning Model

ResourcesLive classes

Textbooks HandoutsWebsites

Video

SupportFeedbackLecturer

Fellow learners

LearningActivities

So how did it go?

Growth of online learning

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Students

• Excludes:– Traditional DL– Bespoke– Minor awards– evening

Longest list of courses in Ireland

Level 6 - Higher Certificate HC in Arts in Advocacy Studies HC in GMP (Good Manufacturing

Practice) HC in Science in Environmental

Management HC in Supervisory ManagementLevel 7 - Ordinary Bachelors Degree - 2

Years Part Time B.Eng. in Electronic Engineering B.Eng. in Mechatronics B.Sc. in Manufacturing Management B.Sc. in Quality B.Sc. in Construction Management B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Science B.Sc. in Polymer Processing B.Sc. in Environmental Management

Science

Level 8 - Honours Bachelor Degree, Higher Diploma - 2 Years Part Time

Higher Diploma in Science in Quality B.Sc. (Hons) in Quality Management

and Technology B.Eng. (Hons) in Mechatronics B.Eng. (Hons) in Electronics B.Sc. Hons. in Pharmaceutical ScienceLevel 9 - Masters Degree - 2 Years Part

Time M.Sc. in Quality Postgraduate Diploma/ M.Sc. in

Energy Management Postgraduate Diploma/Master of

Science in Biopharmaceutical Science. Postgraduate Diploma & Masters

Science in Environmental Protection Masters in Industrial Pharmaceutical

Science

Excludes: Bespoke, minor awards, evening

“The on-line courses offered by IT Sligo are suitable for people who want a high quality and challenging qualification which offers flexibility to those who have to balance work, home- life and study.”

Barney McAleer, Senior Quality EngineerMedtronic Vascular, Galway. Student in the on-line MSc Quality.

And their employers!

Characteristics of ‘Sligo’ model• Minimal investment (and risk)

– Significant running costs (currently)– Viable at low enrolment levels

• Agile and Responsive (short lead time)• Attractive to lecturers and students

– Convenient, social, effective• Versatile (can be augmented)• Can command higher fee levels

– Lowers total costs• Increased catchment area

– Larger classes

What were other similar institutions doing?

• Developing content• Looking for scale economies• Market research• Pedagogical research.• Detailed Planning and Design• Collaboration• Submitting grant applications• Hiring specialists (non-faculty)• Top-down initiatives

How were they getting on?

• Slow going• Scale of operations:

~140,000 full-time higher education students in Ireland

~5,000 in IT Sligo

• IT Sligo had around the same number of online courses as all the other HE institutions put together.

Observations..

..on common assumptions that might be causing the problem.

The merits of teamwork– vs. Individual work

The merits of collaboration– vs. competition

• The impact of sophisticated pedagogical approaches – vs. simple good teaching practices

• The value of research– vs. simple good teaching practices

• The impact of high investment –on operating and maintenance costs

• The reliability of deterministic approaches– vs. continuous improvement approaches in

changing environments

• The merits of high quality

“Excellence is the enemy of the good!”

• The value of content– vs. Communication– “Content is King?”

• Grant aid helps

• We have the right people.– Distance learning experts– Educational researchers– Instructional designers– Information technologists– Multi-media specialists

Brian Mulliganmulligan.brian@itsligo.ie

Any Questions?