scholarly journals Innovative teaching in a new normal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keziah Gibbs ◽  
Hannah Pyman
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Online Tutorials ◽  
Youtube Videos ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
Unusual Situation

With 2020 bringing unprecedented circumstances for us all, at the University of Essex we’ve been striving to move our previously in-person information literacy and research support teaching online. In doing this, we wanted to see the unexpected situationasan opportunity for improvement and increased engagement. This has required innovation and creativity, and has led us to deliver our training in a range of different formats. These formats include: online tutorials, YouTube videos, virtual workshop sessions, and mixed-media webpages using Springshare’s LibGuides software. By using a variety of solutions to reach our users, we have seen take-up for our teaching offer increase beyond our previous numbers. We believe this is in no small part due to our online resources’ ability to reach students in various locations and situations, including those working across campuses, outside of the UK, and those who may have other commitments alongside their studies. As well as this, we have been able to increase the accessibility of our teaching by ensuring our newly created online teaching materials meet UK web accessibility standards. In this presentation, we will share the lessons we have learnt in our shift to online teaching. We will explore the different technologies used to achieve this, discussing what has and hasn’t worked in our aim to increase the scope and interactivity of our information literacy and research support training. We will include feedback from participants, and will explore how we intend to broaden our offer further in the future. Ultimately, our presentation will demonstrate how the unusual situation of 2020 led us to innovate in newand interestingways.

What are Tutors' Experiences with Online Teaching?

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cvetanka Walter
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Asynchronous Communication ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
University Curriculum ◽  
The University

This study seeks an understanding of how tutors perceived the online part of a blended learning course in the context of teaching English as a foreign language at a German university. To gain knowledge about the ways in which the tutors experienced the phenomenon, a phenomenographic methodological framework was employed. Identified were four different ways of conceiving the online course as: A) a one-way street of communication: to provide students with extra materials to practice individually and for asynchronous communication, B) an add-on to on-campus classes; C) a distant relationship between students and online tutors; and D) an opportunity for tutor's professional development and team communication. The phenomenographic approach allowed to reveal variations of tutors' perceptions of teaching online with a view of enhancing the university curriculum. The findings may have implications for university teachers and educational designers.

scholarly journals 'You've been frameworked': evaluating an approach to digital and information literacy at the Open University

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine Reedy ◽  
Robin Goodfellow
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Digital Skills ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
Staff Engagement

This article explores the effectiveness of the Open University's (OU's) Digital and information literacy (DIL) framework (Reedy and Goodfellow, 2012) in promoting the integration of digital skills into modules and qualifications - a key strategic priority for the university - and in contributing to cultural change in the digital practices of teachers and learners - a key aim for the UK HE sector as a whole. We trace the history of digital and information literacy in the OU curriculum and elsewhere, leading up to the development of the framework. Four sets of interviews tell the story of academic and library staff engagement with it. These case studies are supplemented by two further interviews giving the perspective of OU middle managers responsible respectively for learning design and digital and information literacy development. We evaluate the success of the framework, and suggest how it might be further developed in future. Conclusions point strongly towards the need to involve students in shaping their own skills development, as found in other recent research (for example, Jisc, 2011a; 2011b).

scholarly journals The perspective of university academics on remote teaching during Covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Zhwan Dalshad Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Global Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Online Training ◽  
Online Assessment ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
The World ◽  
Prior Experiences ◽  
The University

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted global education, and to prevent the spread of disease, the world have adopted remote teaching. The aim of this study was to determine the university academics perspective towards various aspects of remote teaching during COVID-19 pandemic. According to the findings, the majority of academics had no remote teaching prior experiences and most of them appeared to be unsatisfied with the provided online training of online teaching, online teaching platforms, Internet access, students’ participation, online assessment, delivering the content of the subjects they taught, and teaching practical-based subjects. The current study provided essential insights for policymakers in higher education to look over the aspects that hinder the process of remote teaching in Iraq.

What Are Tutors' Experiences With Online Teaching?

2018 ◽  
pp. 998-1015
Author(s):  
Cvetanka Walter
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Asynchronous Communication ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
University Curriculum ◽  
The University

This study seeks an understanding of how tutors perceived the online part of a blended learning course in the context of teaching English as a foreign language at a German university. To gain knowledge about the ways in which the tutors experienced the phenomenon, a phenomenographic methodological framework was employed. Identified were four different ways of conceiving the online course as: A) a one-way street of communication: to provide students with extra materials to practice individually and for asynchronous communication, B) an add-on to on-campus classes; C) a distant relationship between students and online tutors; and D) an opportunity for tutor's professional development and team communication. The phenomenographic approach allowed to reveal variations of tutors' perceptions of teaching online with a view of enhancing the university curriculum. The findings may have implications for university teachers and educational designers.

scholarly journals Rethinking the rationale of open and distance education: a case of the UK Open University

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmo Jeong
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Open University ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Physical Constraints ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Online Tutorials ◽  
Original Objective ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe how the introduction of new technologies has affected student support at the United Kingdom Open University (UKOU) particularly focusing on face-to-face tutorials and online tutorials, what this impact implies for open universities and in what direction the innovations toward the sustainability of open universities should proceed. Design/methodology/approach Research on the historical development of UKOU and a literature review was conducted. Findings The rationale behind the foundation of UKOU has been to provide higher education to those who have time and physical constraints. There is no doubt that the introduction of advanced technologies has played a significant role in the growth of the university. However, when the university attempted to replace face-to-face tutorials with online tutorials on the basis of its purpose, a number of students and faculty members opposed the decision even though online tutorials fit within its original objective. This paper suggests that face-to-face tutorials have become the essence of the university through the process of identifying the university in the past and the university’s identity may need to be distinguished from the rationale. Originality/value This paper emphasizes the necessity of rethinking the Open and Distance Education rationale and, on the basis of past studies on UKOU, offers a unique perspective about the changes that have taken place at the university.

scholarly journals Creating a copyright literacy strategy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Academic Library ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Literacy Strategy ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level ◽  
The University

This presentation reports on the University of Kent’s development of a copyright literacy strategy. This has been developed to raise awareness of copyright amongst staff and students in order to minimise the risk of copyright infringement, as well as prevent copyright being a barrier to innovative teaching and research. This work builds on a multinational research project to assess the copyright literacy of information professionals (Todorova et al, 2017) and further research in the UK to understand copyright literacy within higher education institutions (Morrison & Secker, 2015; Morrison & Secker 2017; Morrison, 2018). The research has found that copyright is a source of anxiety for library staff who are often expected to have a high level of knowledge of copyright issues. This proves challenging when copyright presents a barrier to teaching and research, and there is a need for nuanced conversations about application of copyright exceptions and risk managed approaches (IFLA, 2018). Copyright has also been identified as a key issue at the intersection between information literacy and scholarly communication (ACRL, 2013). This is particularly relevant when advocating for open science and open scholarship such as identifying and using Creative Commons licensed content. The University of Kent copyright literacy strategy will set out a vision for raising awareness of copyright issues (University of Kent, 2019). It is being developed in collaboration between academic, library and other professional services staff and is intended to encourage its staff and students to take a critical yet responsible approach to managing use of copyright material. This presentation will explain the methodology used to consult with relevant stakeholders and address the tensions between different elements of the University. It will outline the key principles and values behind the strategy and report on practical benefits of adopting a strategic approach to copyright literacy.

scholarly journals Supporting the employability agenda in university libraries

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 101-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Mawson ◽  
Amy C. Haworth
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
Work Done

Purpose This paper aims to outline work to support the employability agenda in the Library at the University of Sheffield, set in the context of debates about the nature of employability, employability skills and information literacy in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach The paper starts with a brief review of literature on employability and student skills in the UK higher education sector, the place of information literacy as an employability attribute and information literacy in the workplace. It goes on to outline work done in the Library at the University of Sheffield to support the employability agenda. This includes the development of a commercial awareness workshop in collaboration with other services and the incorporation of student and alumni voices in an employability guide. Findings The literature reviewed highlights the differences between information literacy in the workplace and academia. This could present challenges and opportunities in promoting information literacy as an employability attribute. The case study highlights the benefits of working in collaboration with students and services beyond the library in the employability arena. Originality/value The approaches taken in Sheffield may be of interest to other institutions looking to develop support for the employability agenda.

A Long-Distance/Online Teaching Model With Video Technology for Engineering Courses Suitable for Emergency Situations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel X. Rodríguez-Paz ◽  
Jorge A. González-Mendivil ◽  
Israel Zamora-Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Strong Earthquakes ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Successful Model ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Engineering Mechanics ◽  
The University

Abstract In this paper we present the implementation of a model involving real-time online education sessions for the continuation of a semester in emergency situations when the university has to stop activities. This model has been used during the strong Earthquakes in Central Mexico in September 2017 and during the most recent global situation due to the coronavirus emergency. Teaching of Engineering courses usually involves the combination of lectures, tutorials, problem solving sessions and mid-term exams. In emergency situations when the activities at the university are not possible, other models have to be implemented, usually within a short period of time. In this paper, a model involving the use of video conferencing software, namely zoom, the use of video repositories and the use of digital social media is presented as a successful model for the continuing teaching of courses of Engineering Mechanics. Results show a good acceptance by students and some suggestions given by the students in order to make this model more attractive are also presented. These findings can be applied in the future in the design of schemes for teaching or continuation of a term in higher education when the university faces an emergency that requires activities to be interrupted oncampus. As conclusions the authors present a series of recommendations for teachers or professors interested in applying this model or in designing new schemes for teaching online when the university has to be closed.

scholarly journals Digitalization of Traditional Classrooms: A Students’ Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhananjay Ashri
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Innovative Teaching ◽  
Adequate Funding ◽  
Self Study ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The University

ABSTRACT Covid-19 is fiercely hurting the field of academics and education. Millions of learners and teachers and educational institutions have been adversely affected. Educational institutions have scrapped traditional physical classroom teaching during these challenging times and have adopted e-learning models. However, there exist many discrepancies in the process of digitalization of classrooms. Therefore, this present study aims to evaluate the ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the education sector and provide a student-oriented perspective to address the challenges in this process. The study is based on an independent online survey conducted by authors in which 212 undergraduate students of one of India’s prestigious universities, the University of Delhi, have participated. The survey unveiled that many colleges are arranging online classes for students via various technological platforms available such as Google Meet, Zoom, MS Teams, Skype, etc. However, it has been observed that almost half of the students are attending classes irregularly and do not possess requisite study material for self-study. The survey reports that many students face depression and anxiety-related problems during the lockdown period. Other issues include improper internet connectivity and the non-availability of the devices. About three-fourth of students have expressed their concerns that education may become a costly affair for them as their family income dwindles. The study stresses developing more innovative and interactive teaching methods, as online teaching is monotonous and dull. Covid-19 has led to a decline in the students’ family income, making education costly to many students. More innovative teaching practices for better learning experiences and adequate funding of the educational institutes for infrastructural development is the need of the hour.

scholarly journals Love and Duty: Translating Films and Teaching Online Through a Pandemic

2022 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Rea
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Cultural History ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Chinese Film ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
Video Lectures ◽  
English Translations ◽  
The University ◽  
Chinese Films

The Chinese Film Classics project, launched in 2020, is an online research and teaching initiative aimed at making early Chinese films and cinema history more accessible to the general public. Led by Christopher Rea at the University of British Columbia, the project is centered on the website http://chinesefilmclassics.org and the companion YouTube channel Modern Chinese Cultural Studies. These two platforms together host new English translations of over two dozen Republican-era Chinese films, over two hundred film clips organized into thematic playlists, and a free online course of video lectures on Chinese film classics. This essay tells the story of how the Chinese Film Classics project grew from being a book project into a multiplatform translation, teaching, and publication project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online teaching and social media publication involved multiple global storytellers: filmmakers, educators, translators, students, and the broader Internet public. How might moving things online change, or improve, the practice of cultural history? Rea highlights in particular the practical considerations facing the translator and gives examples of how, in a social media context, some of the stories are told not by creators and audiences but by data analytics.

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