1

Close Learning Support for video linked teaching at Gatton Campus

Promoting Collaborative Learning

Paul Dargusch and Iean RussellNatural and Rural Systems Management

2

Our purpose: developing a culture of collaboration to support distant delivery

• Skills and strategies to support video teaching through face to face interaction on a remote campus

• Focus on developing facilitation skills

• Identifying new teaching roles to suit this mode of teaching

• Developing a system to maintain and share these skills within the faculties

3

The situation

• Bringing Business back to Gatton – BBus (Sustainable Enterprise Management)

• Lectures in some core courses to be delivered remotely by BELS staff using video teaching

• Commitment to support the lecturers with tutorial assistance in the classroom at Gatton to achieve quality learning outcomes

• Promote collaborative learning and developing and maintaining the skills to support this.

• New facility and little recognition of collaborative learning

4

The CTLC at Gatton

5

The choices...strategies for interactive video teaching

1. NRSM lecturer using materials for curriculum supplied by BELS if the class is big enough – not an option

2. Simultaneous relay of class via videoconferencing - costly

3. Delayed playback of recorded classes

4. Use of digital collaboration software for interaction – cumbersome, no time saving

6

The challenge in the class room

Small numbers in new courses

7

Not a two way street...They can’t see us!

8

Problems with video teaching at Gatton

• Facilities pose a challenge• Expense associated with technical

support for video operation• Students in the St Lucia

classroom can’t see those at Gatton (or vice versa)

• Balance of student numbers will pose problems for very small classes at Gatton

• Time goes slowly at Gatton – we lose a week due to the non-contact week for the Gatton Campus.

9

The voice of experience: keep it simple!

• When new to the game, keep it simple

• Sophisticated technology increases the scope for operator errors

• Small classes help to keep it personal, talk to students by name

• Urge the students to attend • Field trips provide valuable learning

experiences to augment the video lectures

• Supplement the lectures with external notes

• Disruption has never been an issueThanks to Max Shelton, LCAFS

10

The state of the art• Videoconferencing rooms limited in

size• By 2008 rooms of 200+ capacity

capable of recording lectures on all three campuses

• Choice of recording:– Lecturer Video and Audio– Screen Capture and Audio– Lecturer Video plus Screen Capture and

Audio

• Resolution limited for replay to larger audience on big screen

• Breeze conferencing software subject to time lags and poor reception

• Much to learn about!

11

CSU: Good practice in Interactive video-teaching (IVT)

• Classroom etiquette: provide staff and student guidelines

• Interactive presentation sessions

• Planning IVT sessions• Developing effective

presentation styles

http://www.csu.edu.au/division/celt/TOOLKIT/learning/good_prac.htm

12

What’s new?Classroom management and organisation was also problematic. Students would pan the lens around the room in an effort to be humorous. The lessons had to be particularly fast moving with little time for students to become restless. We recognised the fact that discipline problems could occur if the students did not find the lessons stimulating.

Zundans, L & Wright, N 2002, Can Big Brother watch? The challenges of Interactive Video teaching, Australian Association for Research in Education annualconference, Auckland, December 2002

13

The Learning Environment

• Connecting lectures to program specific, local applications

• Making best use of available resources and technology

• Capitalising on business courses and locking into UQ qualification standards

• Ensuring teaching and learning quality

• Making use of well qualified and experienced staff

14

Collaborative learning Centres: comments from first year students at Gatton...

• CTLC was good, but not much was done cause we could check emails, play games etc.

• CTLC is impressive but not much opportunity to utilise during the pracs

• CTLC was awesome – great technology and environment

• We didn’t utilise the technology due to lack of knowledge

15

Group work in the classroom

16

In the field

17

Role playing in the Collaborative Learning Centre

18

System mapping (CTLC Gatton)

19

On farm...

20

Sustainable Enterprise Management

21

Activities• Meetings with staff NRAVS and BELS – foster

collaboration amongst staff• Staff interviews and student surveys to distil

classroom rules and teaching tips• Produce guidelines for interactive video

teaching and learning• Publish for a web site (TEDI?)• Train staff in facilitation skills for collaborative

learning (tutor appointed)• Present and publish paper on interactive video

teaching at UQ• Present material for tutor training session at

Gatton• Practice and evaluate the techniques

22

Semester 1 2008

• Which courses? – ECON1010 Microeconomics– MGTS 1201 Computer Based

Information Systems• Which staff?• What facilities?

– Video conference facility at Gatton, but what will be at the other end?

• Who will provide the classroom support?– Tutor appointed– Training commenced

23

The essence of collaborative learning...Design elements• People: communities, lecturers,

tutor/facilitator, tech support, students in groups, with shared objectives or value added experience

• Spaces: rooms, facilities, off-campus, cyberspaces

• Activities: purpose, process and timing; training, preparation and rules to maintain momentum for interaction. Promote the learning challenge.

• Tools: access to and training in use of a collaborative learning toolkit

24

SpacesPeople Activities Tools

Maintaining momentum and promoting the challenge of learning