I’m starting to work on the “Open Learning: Bridge to Success” (B2S) project, and had my first meeting with Gary (project manager) and Patrick (OU lead) today. These are my notes.
(Thanks to bignoseduglyguy for this picture entitled “Da VInci Arched Bridge – success!”).
My role in the initial stages is to look at the design of the material, to work towards a structure or template for OERs for the project, and to understand and design the user experience we should be aiming for. This could should?) involve enhancing existing material rather than creating stuff from scratch. The material structure or template could include intro, learning outcmes, activities, practice material. There is aslo a need for pre and post-assessment, but these might be better delivered as seperate OERs.
The units we’ll be adapting include Y165 “Learning to change” and Y162 “Starting with Maths”. Both Y165 and Y162 are in the process of being released as an OER. It’s an openings module, intended to build learners confidence, before they move on to other study with the OU. It includes very little algebra, so for the purposes of B2S it might be necessary to add in smome material that deals with algebra, e.g. from M125 or via OERs originating from other sources. There’s an OU ‘Design team’ for the project which includes Guy Barret (lead tech developer from LTS) and Hilary Holmes (senior lecture from MCT, author onM125?). Guy is managing the B2S area of the OpenLearn site (that should be labspace? – need to check).
IET’s role in prroject (and hence mine) includes
- making it work!
- evaluating, gathering evidence, working it if/how it can be repeatted
Elipda’s offered to contribute to the researchj methodology, Simon will bring in his knowldege from the OpenEd project.
Issues – units eg. £ vs $, metric measures.
Bear in mind [points made by Dave Pritchard at the OCW conference (as blogged by Parick) and summarised by Patrick: teachers love to teach theory, people love to learn practice. Bear this in mind when developing openings materials!
Deadline to get stuff up live inLabspace is 1st September 2011.
Labspace will get the RAP updates but with a delay (not sure how long a delay).
Over the next couplke of weeks I need to work with Guy, towrds a template (am confused by this term).
Ormond Simpson is involved – hee help develop Learning to learn and Learning to change modules, as an external consultant on Y165.
I’d be interested in hearing how you get on with this!
I’ll continue to post here as the project develops. The next big event in the project is the partners from the US (AACC, UMUC and MIT) coming over in week beginning 27th June.