JISC On Air

In this episode of Jisc On Air, Course Data: making the most of your course information Kim Catcheside speaks with representatives from HESA and HEFCE about course data and the importance of better course information for the higher education sector and for individual universities and colleges.

Richard Puttock, Head of Data Management at HEFCE, talks about the key information set (KIS) and the Unistats website what this initiative is trying to achieve and how it sits alongside Jisc’s work and the eXchanging Course Related Information – Course Advertising Profile (XCRI-CAP) standard.

Andy Youell, Director of standards and development for the Higher Education Statistics Agency is in no doubt that the adoption of consistent data standards will help universities and colleges make better business decisions.

Clear course data helps students compare courses and make informed choices. Kim meets staff and students at the Plymouth College of Art to talk about a joint initiative using detailed information to help art and design students find their ideal course.

Kim also speaks to Gill Ferrel from the Jisc Course Data programme to find out more about course data, about joining up information and making it shareable and how initiatives such as KIS and the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) work alongside XCRI-CAP standard and the work of Jisc projects.

Mentioned in the programme

Find out more about the link between XCRI-CAP, KIS and HEAR

Explore the XCRI website to find out more about the standard, the technical details and the benefits it offers to universities and colleges.

The HEA have a website giving technical advice on the HEAR there is also an information page on the Jisc website.

Hefce have a useful page on the key information set (KIS) as well as detailed information on the HESA website

For further information on JISC’s activity in this area visit:

Listen to short interviews with universities and colleges to find out about their experiences of course data management and implementing XCRI-CAP.

Read more about Jisc’s current work on course data on the Jisc website.

Explore our crib sheet on improving student recruitment, there is also a short briefing paper on sharing and managing your course data effectively using XCRI-CAP and a longer research paper on the drivers behind the growing importace of course information.

Driving change in assessment and feedback

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:08:54 +0000

Episode 10: Driving change in assessment and feedback

(Duration: 22.26)

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In episode ten of Jisc On Air, Driving change in assessment and feedback Kim Catcheside explores how using technology in assessment and feedback is improving the learning experience for all students as well as contributing to improved graduate employability.

The University of Exeter, Cornwall College and the Institution of Education share their insight into simple ways that existing technology can support learners and improve assessment and feedback to ensure graduates are ready for the workplace.

Moving away from an over reliance on traditional essay writing and freeing up academics to be creative with their course assessment and feedback through using tools such as blogs, podcasts and social networking are just a few of the ways that we can improve learner experience.

Mentioned in the programme

Collaborate project – if you are interested in finding out more about the radial diagram and ‘Top Trumps Cards’ visit the project blog.

Read more debate on authentic assesment as part of the Guardian live text debate with contributions from Richard Osborne, from the Collaborate project.

For further information on JISC’s activity in this area visit

Explore the assesment and feedback pages within The Design Studio a Jisc resource to support improvements in curriculum design and delivery. There are also a selection of assesment and feedback webinars available.

Read more about Jisc’s current work on assesment and feedback as well as Jisc’s previous work on assessment on the Jisc website.

Download our free guide to Effective Assessment in a Digital Age

Delivering free online courses: how open can we be?

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:48:07 +0000

Episode 9: Delivering free online courses: how open can we be? (Duration: 21:05)

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In episode nine of JISC’s learning and teaching radio programme, we hear from some of those on the forefront of new approaches to online open learning. From open educational resources to massively open online courses (MOOCs) and beyond, we focus in particular on two free online photography courses based at Coventry University – speaking in depth to course leaders Jonathan Worth and Shaun Hides alongside other staff and students.

Kim Catcheside also interviews a range of expert commentators on open education: Martin Weller from the Open University, Allison Littlejohn from Glasgow Caledonian University and David Kernohan from JISC. This analysis puts the pioneering work of Coventry University into a historical and international context: in terms of the place of open education in academia, the initial experiments with connectivist courses in Canada and the recent growth of initiatives like Udacity and MITx.

For further information on JISC’s activity in this area visit:

Find out more about open educational resources with the JISC Open Educational Resources InfoKit

What is a MOOC? : Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are in the news currently, with MIT, Stanford and several private providers providing free, open online courses. Find out more about them by listening to a recording of our recent webbinar on MOOCs.

Edinburgh’s online course deal: University of Edinburgh’s vice principal shares why the university will now be offering their own online courses

Where there’s MOOC, there’s brass?: A JISC blog post that explores the possibility of MOOCs as a business model.

Or contact David Kernoh an, programme manager for open educational resources.

Curriculum change: designing for the future

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:12:05 +0000

Episode 8: Curriculum change: designing for the future (Duration: 23:29)

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In episode eight of our online radio programmes – we are exploring curriculum design and the role technology plays in supporting changes to organisational practices and processes. The focus is on the different approaches to curriculum change and engaging stakeholders of two universitiesinvolved in the JISC Institutional Approaches to Curriculum Design programme – Birmingham City University (BCU) and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

Kim Catcheside talks to staff and students at both universities about their experiences. This includes an interview with Sonia Hendy-Isaac, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University who explains how the T-SPARC project has been developing a framework which facilitates better dialogue and transparency around course design and approval to enable more agile and responsive curricula. Kim also talks to Professor Mark Stubbs, Head of Learning and Research Technologies at Manchester Metropolitan University about transformational changes to the curriculum there and the role of Supporting Responsive Curricula project in supporting this. Project Manager, Peter Bird, discusses how some of these system and process changes are enabling academic staff to focus more on teaching and Professor Kevin Bonnet, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience, explains the business imperative for change at the institution.

For further information on JISC’s work in this area visit:

JISC Design Studio for a range of resources from the programme
Collated curriculum design project blogs
Programme blog
Programme related webinars
Use #jisccdd on Twitter
Project videos from the Curriculum Design and Delivery programmes
JISC Curriculum Design programme pages

Developing digital literacies for working in a digital world

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:16:30 +0000

Episode 7: Developing digital literacies for working in a digital world (Duration: 15:48)

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www.jisc.ac.uk/developingdigitalliteracies and http://bit.ly/ddl-prog

In the seventh episode of our online radio programmes – JISC On Air – we are exploring how colleges and universities are developing digital literacies for working in a digital world. This is the second part of a two-part series, focusing on digital literacies. Part one is available here.

With an estimated 90% of UK jobs requiring some level of IT competency, the notion of digital literacy – those capabilities that equip an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society – is becoming a key requirement for employability.

Universities and colleges have a responsibility to develop students into individuals who can thrive in an era of digital information and communication – those who are digitally literate are more likely to be economically secure. But it’s not just about employability – increasingly digital literacy is vital for learning itself.

In this show, Kim Catcheside, interviews staff and students involved in the Digital Literacies in Transition – A Model for Transforming Graduate Attributes JISC-funded project, which is developing a model to support digital maturity linked to graduate attribute development. Simon Walker and Mark Kerrigan, explain how the project is employing cross-university studentships to foster a community of student-led change. Students, Rebecca and Daniel speak about their involvement in the project.

The project is also engaging with employers to develop and pilot a ‘Rate our Graduates’ initiative that will subsequently feed into curriculum design and delivery workshops.

Helen Beetham, synthesis consultant for the JISC Developing Digital Literacies programme, also shares the outcomes from the synthesis from the baseline reviews from the 12 Developing Digital Literacies projects and 10 professional bodies and associations which provide valuable insights into the emerging issues from the programme.

For further information on JISC’s work in this area visit:

To follow the ongoing developments of the JISC funded Developing Digital Literacies projects visit the Netvibes page which collates all the project blog postings and subscribe to the Developing Digital Literacies programme blog for up to date information about the developments in the programme

Join the JISC-DIGLIT-PUBLIC mailing list – http://bit.ly/HUDj6n to contribute to discussions around digital literacies and how it affects your institution.

Digital Literacy – delivering the agenda within colleges and universities

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:30:48 +0000

Episode 6: Delivering Digital Literacy- delivering the agenda within colleges and universities (Duration: 21:34)

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www.jisc.ac.uk/developingdigitalliteracies

In the sixth episode of our online radio programmes – JISC On Air – we are exploring how universities and colleges can help teaching staff, researchers, support and administrative staff to develop their digital literacies – those capabilities which prepare an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society. In part two of the show, we will be looking at how digital literacy underpins the academic success and employability of students.

The show highlights how colleges and universities are developing holistic approaches and strategies for supporting the development of these skills and capabilities.

Kim Catcheside interviews staff working on the Digidol Project at Cardiff University hearing more about how the project is establishing an institution-wide approach for contextualising and embedding digital literacy into the development of academic staff, students, research students and administrative, managerial and support staff.

In the show Kim also speaks with Dr Andrew Eynon who is leading the Personal Actualisation and Development through Digital Literacies in Education project at Coleg Llandrillo. The overarching aim of this project is to create a digitally literate, skilled and confident workforce and student body across all the FE institutions in North Wales (Coleg Harlech, Coleg Menai, Coleg Llandrillo, Deeside College and Yale College Wrexham).

Helen Beetham, synthesis consultant for the JISC Developing Digital Literacies programme, and who has extensive experience of this topic, provides valuable insights into the emerging issues from the programme, whilst Alison Mitchell, Deputy Director of Vitae, speaks about the importance of digital literacies for researchers.

For further information on JISC’s work in this area visit:

Join the JISC-DIGLIT-PUBLIC mailing list – http://bit.ly/HUDj6n to contribute to discussions around digital literacies and how it affects your institution.

JISC Online Conference explores learning in transition

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:24:15 +0000

Episode 5: JISC Online Conference explores learning in transition. (Duration: 23:56)

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Dylan Wiliam on formative assessment

In the fifth of JISC’s online radio programmes, we interview some of the keynote speakers at the JISC online conference, Innovating e-Learning 2011, on 22-25^th November. Taking advantage of online technologies, the conference offers live and asynchronous debates on a theme of Learning in Transition.

In this show, Kim Catcheside speaks with Sarah Porter, Head of Innovation for JISC and Bill Rammell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth University, about how institutions can maintain a collaborative approach in a period of increasing competition. Bill Rammell gives the opening keynote to Theme 1 of the conference entitled Tensions in collaboration in a changing landscape and reminds us that change can come at a price.

Ewan McIntosh, closing keynote presenter and CEO of No Tosh Ltd, nevertheless argues for a root and branch change in our approach to pedagogy to ensure that tomorrow’s learners are well-equipped to take charge of their learning. Ewan challenges further and higher education institutions to design curricula that are more student-centred.

In addition, Kim explores with Sarah Porter and Mike Sharples, Professor of Educational Technology at The Open University, the experience of taking part in an online conference. Mike, who gives the opening keynote to Theme 2 of the conference, looks into the future of institutional provision and argues for a more considered, professional understanding of the role of technology in the learning environment.

Tell us what you think

We welcome your feedback on this programme. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future programmes below or contact the JISC On Air radio show team: onair@jisc.ac.uk

Useful information

You can find out more about Innovating e-Learning 2011 from the JISC website. In addition to the keynote speakers taking part in the radio show, the programme features an opening keynote by David Puttnam, Oscar-winning film producer and educationalist, plus sessions on technology-enhanced assessment, workforce and employers’ needs, open educational resources and students as agents of change.

New this year, the conference is preceded by a broad-appeal programme of demonstrations, activities and presentations in the Pre-conference Activity Week.

Registration is still open for Innovating e-Learning 2011. Online booking is available.

In addition, JISC offers a wide range of resources on technology-enhanced assessment, the learner experience, open educational resources, technology-enhanced learning and teaching practice and also guidance and support for institutions in making the best use of technology.

Mentioned in this programme

Innovating e-Learning 2011

JISC work on Open educational resources

JISC work on the learner experience

John Bergman on the Flipped Classroom

Second Life

Ted.com

YouTube

Efficiencies, enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:53:34 +0000

Episode 4: Efficiencies, enhancements and transformation: how technology can deliver. (Duration: 23:56)

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In the fourth episode of our online radio programmes – JISC On Air – we are exploring how learning technologies can be used to support new ways of delivering curricula leading to benefits, efficiencies, enhancements and transformation.

The show highlights how colleges and universities are using technology to enable flexible and creative models of curriculum delivery. This work is not only adding value but also transforming the way in which the curriculum is delivered in different contexts.

Kim Catchesideintroduces two different curriculum delivery projects, Making the New Diploma a Success, a learning portal for diploma students at Lewisham College, and eBioLabs, a set of integrated tools that help students prepare for laboratory classes at the University of Bristol.The show then explores their approaches and achievements, with a focus on some of the tangible benefits emerging from their activities.

Kim also speaks with Lisa Gray, a JISC programme manager, about what support students require to make more effective use of technology for their learning.

Tell us what you think

We welcome your feedback on this programme. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future programmes below or contact the JISC On Air radio show team: onair@jisc.ac.uk

Useful information

JISC offers a range of resources which can help support universities and colleges to improve curriculum design and delivery.

Mentioned in this programme

The Design Studio is a dynamic, wiki-based toolkit which draws together a range of existing and emerging resources including guidance, lessons learnt, transformation stories, case studies and how-to guides, providing a valuable insight into the effective use of technology in curriculum design and delivery processes.

Making the New Diploma a Success at Lewisham College

eBioLabs based at the University of Bristol

Improving Student Retention

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:16:23 +0000

Episode 3: Meeting students needs to improve retention (Duration: 18:17)

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Student perspectives on technology – demand, perceptions and training needs

In the third of a new series of online radio programmes – JISC On Air – we explore how digital technologies are helping universities and colleges to better meet students’ requirements and improve retention.

In this show, Kim Catcheside speaks with Richard Francis, Head of e-learning at Oxford Brookes University and Ellen Lessner, e-Learning Coordinator at Abingdon and Witney College about how their institutions are better preparing their learners for their experience of learning with technology. Both institutions participated in the JISC Supporting Learners in a Digital Age study and their case studies are available here.

Kim also speaks with Helen Beetham, co-author of the JISC-funded Learning Literacies in a Digital Age study and recent Review of Digital Literacies, about what support students require to make more effective use of technology for their learning.

In addition, we have expert input from Stephen Jackson, Director of Reviews for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Alex Bols Head of Education and Quality for the National Union of Students (NUS) who discuss how the appropriate use of technology can support learners with their studies and lead to improved retention.

Tell us what you think

We welcome your feedback on this programme. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future programmes below or contact the JISC On Air radio show team: onair@jisc.ac.uk

Useful information

JISC offers a range of resources which can help support universities and colleges to improve student retention.

Based on our research into learners’ experiences, knowledge and expectations of technologies, we’ve developed guidance to help institutions support students in developing new digital skills for study.

Other useful resources include details of JISC research into learner experiences of e-learning and an overview of our work on digital literacies.

Mentioned in this programme

What students really want? Usman Ali, Vice President, NUS and Aaron Porter, President of NUS:

Supporting Learners in a Digital Age

Review and Scoping Study for a cross-JISC Learning and Digital Literacies Programme

Progression and Retention Coordination Group

Online Distance Learning

web@jisc.ac.uk (JISC) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:48:36 +0000

Is online distance learning a real solution for today’s higher education funding, capacity and recruitment issues?

This latest edition of JISC On Air looks at some of the issues associated with creating sustainable and effective online distance learning. The show highlights the value of engaging students and enhancing the learning experience through online learning tools such as podcasts and virtual worlds.

Episode 2: Online Distance Learning (Duration: 24:04)
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