Technology and Learning Research Group

Group Info

The main focus of interest is in the broad range of subjects that can be grouped under the label technology enhanced learning (TEL). The Institute of Educational Technology is a leader in the field of online teaching and learning, through its research and doctoral students, its Masters in Online and Distance Education (MAODE) Programme, and through its professional courses about online and networked technologies.

The main research themes in TLRG are concerned with new uses of technology in teaching and learning contexts in tertiary and professional education, and the intersection of ICT, pedagogy and learning.

Our research focuses on networked and online environments, innovative technologies, emergent pedagogies and online learner experiences. Most of our research is empirical but there is a strong strand of conceptual analysis and literature review across the breadth of distance and online learning literature.

The group is led by Dr Chris Jones who can be contacted by email c.r.jones@open.ac.uk.

For more information on TLRG click here.

Research

Our current areas of research interest include:

• Pedagogy and the use of ICT, with reference to course design and learning design:
  • Developing tools for establishing empirical evidence of effective course designs; applying tools such as Learning Design to specifying learning activities.
  • Analysis of factors influencing course design, curriculum/knowledge categorisations, student learning outcomes, pedagogical strategies.
  • Defining ‘interaction’ and its impact on the quality of student learning.
  • Development of online communities.  
     
• Mobile learning, including:
  • Developing an overview of the landscape of mobile learning in relation to e-learning, supported by case studies and analysis.
  • Mobile learning applications, for example in language learning.  
     
• Learning Objects including:
  • Online and e-learning, focusing on reusability of digital material.
  • Student experience of learning online with learning objects.
  • Rights issues in online resources.  
     
• Policy implications of migration to elearning:
  • E-university/traditional university partnerships: blending and convergence.
  • Blending online and face-to-face staff development to promote institutional learning in the area of e-teaching.

Members

Convenor

• Dr Chris Jones

Core Members

• Dr Robin Goodfellow
• Dr Karen Kear
• Professor Agnes Kukulska-Hulme
• Ms Chris Pegler
• Mr John Pettit
• Professor Mary Thorpe
• Professor Martin Weller

Associate Members

• Giselle Ferreira
• Dr Daisy Mwanza-Simwami
• Dr Ruslan Ramanau
• Andrew Smith
• Mr Rhodri Thomas

Full-Time Research Students

• Mr Andreas Meiszner
• Sascha Timm
• Dr Perry Williams

Part-Time Research Students

• Mr Cormac Gallacher
• Mr Kevin Heffernan
• Mr Chris Kubiak
• Mr Neil Murray

Grants

The Net Generation encountering e-learning at university

Chris Jones (principal investigator)

Funding: Economic and Social Research Council. Budget over 24 months Full Economic Cost - £359,079 ESRC contribution - £297,886 (end date 31st December 2009).

Networked Management Learning for Educational Leaders.

Chris Jones (co-director)

Centre for Excellence and Leadership Total budget over 30 months £218,384 (end date 31st March 2006)

Research project - The Networked Learning for Educational Leaders research project is examining the relevance and applicability of a range of theories and concepts currently applied within the general fields of organisational and networked learning to the emerging practice and developing theory of networked management learning for specifically educational leaders.

JISC-funded case studies in mobile learning and landscape study of wireless and mobile technologies in teaching and learning in the post-16 sector.

Agnes Kukulska-Hulme (TLRG), Diane Evans (CALRG) Anne Jelfs (TLRG affiliate member).

Ten case studies in different institutions, 4 reports, all published on the web on the JISC website, and used as the basis for the Innovative Practice Guide published in 2005.

PARLEY

Members Involved: James Aczel, Paul Lefrere, plus KMI/Social Sciences

Funder: JISC, £100K, Jan 06 – July 07

Action research, studying patterns of ICT-supported collaboration in developing and presenting courses. To understand how “learning conversations” (in physical and virtual learning spaces and working spaces) can be facilitated during the creation and presentation of a course, through the use of appropriate learning technologies, in ways that increase the level of staff and student satisfaction with a course, and that also increase the viability and potential for re-purposing of courses.

To facilitate adoption and adaptation of learning technologies, with the goal of helping individuals and groups to update their working practices and raise their productivity.

The Impact of Interaction and Integration in Computer Mediated Higher Education

Members Involved: Stephen Godwin, Mary Thorpe, John Richardson

Funder: Andrew Mellon Foundation, until June 2006

Interaction and Integration are two key dimensions in the design of computer based teaching at the Open University (OU) and many other institutes that provide e-Learning opportunities.  This project investigates the impacts of these dimensions on student learning and performance and what the implications of these impacts might be in relation to effective course design using computer-based teaching.  Implications for associated staff and student workloads are also considered.

The central research question being investigated in the project is:

What is the impact of the degree of interactivity and degree of integration in the design of computer-based teaching in relation to:

• student retention and student achievement
• student perceptions of course quality and workload
• staff perceptions of teaching workload during both course production and presentation?

E-Learning in the RAF

Robin Mason, John Slater

Funder:RAF, £28,000 plus VAT, 6 months.

This activity involves interviews with e-learning training providers and desk research on models of e-learning.

Mobile devices

Members Involved: John Pettit and Agnes Kukulska-Hulme

Through questionnaire and interview, capturing MAODE Alumni’s  uses of mobile devices for informal and formal learning and teaching, social networks and entertainment; relating these findings to more general patterns of emergent use; exploring implications for the pedagogy of e-learning.

Online conferencing in health and social care

John Pettit

Through questionnaire and interview, capturing data on students’ and tutors’ experience of online activities in K205, particularly in relation to scenario-based activities; exploring pedagogical implications for teaching and learning in this area.

Web-based audio conferencing

John Pettit

Collecting data as participant observer in a self-help group that used web-based audio conferencing; exploring practice and potential for self-help and similar informal learning.

Open content

Martin Weller, Alex Little, Will Woods, Patrick McAndrew

Funder:Hewlett Foundation, 2 years, £5M.

Part of a university team that will be making OU content freely available in a supported environment.

Learning Design

Martin Weller, Alex Little, Will Woods, Patrick McAndrew

Funder and amount - JISC £50K.

Further development of Learning Design player and approach.