A summary of the 2018 Learning Enhancement & Innovation Grant Scheme
The听Learning Enhancement and Innovation Grant听Projects for 2018 have officially concluded. After collating the final reports, we can now share a summary of each of the nine projects that were part of this scheme.听The 2018 LEI grant scheme facilitated projects that aimed to enhance and develop new and better approaches to achieving student learning outcomes.听The funds enabled projects to extend beyond normal teaching activities and show innovation in aspects of teaching, learning and assessment.
Here is a recap on each of the nine 2018 LEI Grant projects, and what was听discovered.
RECAP ON THE 2018 LEARNING ENHANCEMENT & INNOVATION GRANT PROJECTS:
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PASS (Peer Assisted Study Sessions) Online Pilot Program
Project Leader:
Dr Chelsea Avard
Project Summary:
This LEI grant project trialled an online delivery of the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). The original PASS model has been delivered successfully in a face-to-face format and is primarily aimed at assisting first year coursework students in their transition into University. With the proven ability of the face-to face format, Chelsea Avard went on to pilot an online version of the program to test its viability and effectiveness. In Semester 1, 2019 the PASS online pilot program was successfully delivered through the Echo360 platform and rolled out to support Faculty of Science students in the first-year course STATS 1004 Statistical Practices I (Life Sciences). This particular course is taught on the North Terrace campus. Students who take this course typically go on to study at the Waite campus in their second year. The reason for selecting this course in the PASS online pilot program was to assist in creating a seamless transition for students from campus to campus.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
The ability to deliver the PASS program to students remotely and across multiple campuses
An end-to-end evaluation of learning objects, from co-creation to learning impact
Project Leaders:
Dr Mark Dodd, Faculty of the Professions Learning Experience Design (LXD) & Dr James Botten,听Faculty of Sciences
Project Summary:
This LEI grant project centred on finding a new way of communicating complex ideas and concepts to students. Learning objects were identified as a way to illustrate certain concepts that were known to be challenging to students. As part of this project, two learning object interactives were created, one for a molecular biology course, and the other for an economic principles course. The learning objects were used so that students could test their knowledge and deepen their understanding of these complex concepts.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Shared insights gained by bringing together subject matter expertise, learning design expertise and student perspective
e-Learning resource for teaching cephalometry to undergraduate dental students
Project Leader:
Dr Esma Do臒ramaci, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Project Summary:
The main goal of this LEI grant project was to ensure that all Bachelor of Dental Surgery students had a common baseline knowledge of cephalometry 鈥 a fundamental skill in the clinical speciality of orthodontics. An interactive e-Learning resource was identified as a way to standardise cephalometry teaching, using a technology approach developed by Learning Enhancement and Innovation staff. Student partners were used throughout the project, including in the initial development of the resource and in the testing of the final product.听 The project outcome was developing online activities for anatomical training.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Creative use of an existing tool
Student Employability Skills Tracking
Project Leader:
Associate Professor Wayne Errington, Faculty of Arts
Project Summary:
This LEI grant project involved working with students to assist them with compiling a professional profile in a private space, such as LinkedIn. Insights from the project are being used to inform development of employability skills in students in all programs in the faculty.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Students gained an enhanced ability to understand and communicate employability skills, and appreciate the importance of online identity
Flipping the cellar floor and laboratory
Project Leaders:
Dr Beth Loveys, Faculty of Sciences and Ms Jill Bauer, Faculty of Sciences
Project Summary:
This LEI grant project was implemented in the viticulture and oenology program to demonstrate competency in a range of analytical laboratory methodologies and practical skills on the cellar floor. The project had two core outcomes:
- increased value of existing online/video resources with more explicit integration into curriculum and assessment of multiple courses;
- creation of new instructional video resources that are being used across multiple courses 鈥 importantly, postgraduate, undergraduate, domestic and international students comprised the project team ensuring a student-centred approach.
The motivation to undertake this project was to increase international enrolments and assist teachers in gaining a greater appreciation for the diverse learning preferences of all students. In addition, the viticulture and oenology program delivers content for both post and undergraduate cohorts, whose background and prior knowledge is disparate.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Integration of online/video resources into curriculum and assessment
Enhancing student experience through the adoption of Echo360 active learning platform
Project Leaders:
Dr Joy McEntee, Faculty of Arts, Ms Jessica Viven-Wilksch, Faculty of the Professions & Dr Rebecca Vivian,听Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Math Sciences
Project Summary:
Dr Joy McEntee, Jessica Viven-Wilksch & Dr Rebecca Vivian set out on a mission to prove the value of the Echo360 Active Learning Platform. As part of this LEI grant project, students as partners were involved. These students were selected to assist in co-creating activities that were embedded in 6 large undergraduate courses in Semester 2, 2018, and student partners also assisted in the analysis of survey data after the activities were rolled out to classes and evaluated by students in the courses.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
The Echo360 Active Learning Platform can not only assist in increasing student satisfaction and supporting staff, it can also improve the student learning experience
Virtual Reality: preparing students for an operating theatre placement
Project Leader:
Paul McLiesh, Faculty of Health Sciences
Project Summary:
This LEI grant project assisted in preparing students for placement in an operating room setting. This project served as a template for future Virtual Reality (VR) projects across the University to strengthen the learning and student experience and improve engagement. The resources developed are initially being used for nursing and medical students.听 The creation of a VR resource allowed students to be immersed into the environment (using 360 degree video, VR headsets and sound) offering them insight into the practice of perioperative staff delivering care, and allowing them to experience the theatre layout and have staff explain their roles.听 The experience also provided insight into the patient experience, particularly by demonstrating to students the patients鈥 perception of being taken to theatre.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Virtual Reality and 360-degree resource development skills acquired for all members of the project team. The VR resources assist students to gain insight into delivery of perioperative care, including a patient鈥檚 perspective.
鈥淣avigating鈥 the court room experience in an online environment
Project Leader:
Dr Alex Whittaker, Faculty of Sciences
Project Summary:
A package was developed for navigating the court room experience via a 360-degree video of a Law Court with hot spots that bring information up when clicked on. Students can also click on characters in the court room and a video of that person explaining their role will play. Within the Law School the package will be used in courses LAW1501(S1), LAW3501(S1), LAW3502(S2) and LAW7177(S1).
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Virtual Reality and 360-degree skills acquired to create additional VR elements into the courses as a standard
Video captions & Inclusive learning design
Project Leader:
Elizabeth Yong, Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Math Sciences
Project Summary:
The goal of this LEI Grant project was to explore the use of video captioning to promote inclusion, accessibility and digital capabilities, and find out if the use of captions can assist in promoting self-reported learning gains and student satisfaction. As part of this project, 8 short videos from the Engineering Communication Unit were recorded in Echo Capture. These videos were then auto-captioned using the ARC tool in MyUni and then edited for accuracy. After the roll out of these captioned videos, a student survey was completed to evaluate the effectiveness of the captions.
Knowledge and capabilities developed:
Students reported that captions enhanced clarity and understanding of the video presentations, while stressing the importance of well-organised and clear presentations
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