Blackboard keynote

Chasen and Pittinsky - pure class as always :-) Michael Chasen got so excited at one point we thought he was going to explode!

Picture a bit dark I admit but worth sharing none the less

Project Caliper (latest news)

Presented by David Yaskin (Bb)

OK, so I've seen information about this a few times now but each time it is getting more complex. Project caliper is intended to be the fourth product in the Academic Suite (to join the Learning system, Community system and Content system) - it will be something like an evaluation and assessment system, but beware because they don't mean regular student assessment (well not exclusively anyway). This system is about making intelligent use of data to evaluate and assess effectiveness etc. It operates at three levels:
Institutional - regulations, accreditation, strategic planning, institutional research
Programme - accrediting the curriculum, programme design, accreditation
Course (module) - testing, assignments, portfolios, module redesign
It should link all of these together and feed different levels of data across the institution.

Expected outcomes:
- creating "systemic and systematic" assessment processes
- connect institutional assessment to programme assessment to classroom assessment
- better evidence-based decision making

Using data in all different systems in institution to evaluate achievement of institutional goals and objectives, undertake course evaluations, use portfolios to track student performance (used as early warning system at University of Southern Florida) and inform insititutional research.

Benefits:
- assurance and evidence base for easier review and accreditation
- comparison of goals across programmes, subject groups etc
- data to inform decision making that will enhance learning
- cost savings

OK - everybody got that????? The principles are good but here is my two part caution warning
- firstly, do we have the base data to manipulate in this way?
- secondly, is it just me or should it be called the "Knitting Fog System".
Early days, I think....

Academic Benchmarks: The Key to Sustainable Distance Learning Programs

This session was presented by Roosevelt University (Chicago) which is relatively small (7,500 students) but the messages were scalable and with our current interest in distance learning there was a lot to get out of this session. They shared a good distance learning site healthcheck tool (which I have hard copy) including their standard distance learning template - pretty similar to our standard one. They drew on external benchmarks and developed institutional principles and best practice guides and designed all courses around a core value – focus on student centred nature of learning (interaction with each other, tutor and resources)


They framed the following pedagogical principles for course design:
Goal is student learning: programme focus in on teaching not technology
Each course needs clear learning outcomes based on course, position in the academic programme and institutional mission
Active learning better that passive learning
Prompt feedback is essential
Course design and facilitation have to honour diverse ways of knowing
Expectations have to be clear including expectations for participation – quality and quantity
The classroom is the learning space; materials should be incorporated into the classroom (not just links to sites outside the vle)
Learning resources have to be accessible from the learning space


and the following design principles
Chunked information
Site organisation to aid learning
Visual interest (to set class tone)
Regular and timely formative assessment
Using tools of engagement within Bb

Some interesting points made about role of distance learning in acheiving institutional mission, business models, work planning, optimum sizes and cost/benefit cases...and a new thing on me - course development canabalism - if you want to know more let me know.

More info at http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/ruonline/faculty_main.htm

fun in the sun!

Earlier today things were nice - check out view from my room - 14th floor

Anyway today:
73 deg - check
hotel pool and hot tub - check
palm trees - check
views of harbour - check
stuck in room working all day - also check :-(

Making the most of the weather before the rain sets in.... not! Hotel shop doing a roaring trade in umbrellas and anoraks.

Oops spoke too soon - here comes the rain - just as we need to go and register!

weather update

just for those of you interested in such things - the forecast here is that it is going to start raining tonight and continue for the rest of the week. next sunshine here is going to be saturday - the day we return.

Safe arrival

OK everyone - we have finally arrived!

Chicago-San Diego flight - Not quite as eventful as last time (less barking dogs, babies crying and sick people) but the experience was made particularly special by "Captain Bob" who, not satisfied with his career as airline pilot, used his flight update messages to audition as a game show host - surreal really doesn't do it justice!

More news soon

Introductory post

Hi everyone - flushed with my (limited) success of blogging ELI, I have decided to have another go for the BbWorld conference. This time I'll be sharing the postings with Stuart and Paul so that should mean we can cover as many sessions as possible. Please give feedback as we go along through comments.

I'm really looking forward to the conference - less so, the Chicago-San Diego leg of the journey (not sure the memory is distant enough to relish the forthcoming experience :-) )

L