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Festival 2021 sessions 16 & 17 abstracts

[16] 2pm Workshop: Let Learning Shine Through Online Design

Speakers

  • Kathryn O’Reilly and Paul Stapley, Technology Enhanced Learning Designers, St Mary’s University.

Abstract

St Mary's TEL Learning Designers will describe the new Learning Design service and share best practice from their first 6 months. Drawing upon five key pillars of Learning Design, you'll come away with practical ideas to improve and enhance online student engagement. This session will be based on Moodle but the ideas can be applied to other VLEs.

[17a] 2pm Embracing remote learning opportunities, whilst exploring the personal development of St Mary's University 'Graduate Attributes' with Foundation Year EHSS students

Speakers

  • Bob Hope, Senior Lecturer Centre for Workplace Learning, St Mary’s University.

Abstract

We now live, work and learn in a dynamic and disrupted world. The world of Ridley Scott’s 1976 Blade Runner film was set in 2019. Elements of our 2021 world look similar, but we don’t have (we presume) replicants operating at St Mary’s! The 4th Industrial Revolution and the pandemic have had significant short and long-term impacts on learning and work patterns. Engaging our students in blended learning opportunities and, whilst doing so, enabling them to reflect on the development of their ‘future proof’ graduate employment attributes is a critically important aspect of our work. Is it stretching the analogy too far to suggest that students who do not develop the relevant working attributes may become part of the mass ‘replicant’ or ‘useless class’ (Harari)? This presentation will explore how the creativity of working online has enabled the Foundation Year EHSS cohort to work together in small teams to investigate the importance of ‘future proofing’ themselves, so they successfully access the new opportunities created in ‘The Great Reset’ (World Economic Forum).  

[17b] 2.30pm. Avengers Assemble! Working together and valuing professional services staff expertise in programme design. 

Speakers

  • Leigh Kilpert, Head of Education & Student Experience, University College London
  • Zak Liddell, Director of Education & Student Experience, University College London

Abstract

While there has been an increase of the appreciation of the value of certain professional services (PS) staff, like educational developers and digital education staff, departmental and registry staff are not routinely involved in either new programme development or programme review and amendment processes. We believe that this is causing gaps in understanding that is affecting the student and staff experience adversely.  Academics hold a privileged position as subject and content experts, whereas PS staff may be seen as merely operators, administrators, and bureaucrats. We will identify the expert knowledge of PS staff that can be used to enhance programme design and contribute constructively to curriculum development.  Our presentation will draw on the research and theories of Bernstein (1975), Bourdieu (1984), Fung (2017) and Graham (2012), among others, to discuss the cultural capital of PS staff, the validity of their knowledge, and the contributions they make to student outcomes.  We will propose a model of interconnectivity that brings together the knowledge bases of a variety of staff in programme development and amendment, in which all parties have equal status. We believe, that it is through working together as a team, like the Avengers, that we can have the greatest impact.