Sustainable e-distance learning

Arne Kolb / Charlotte Waelde / Erin Jackson

Sustainability

= offer/embed e-distance learning in a way that is beneficial and profitable for your School/College over a longer period of time

Common misconceptionsof e-distance learning

• It is less work for staff– Teaching! Not merely content delivery– Creating a learning community– Support

• It is easier for students

… but its worth doing!!!

How to make it sustainable?

Lessons we have learned:

1. Make use of synergies / repurpose material for different programmes and markets

2. Embed e-distance learning in School

3. Continue being innovative and responsive

DLmodule

On campus LLM e-LLM e-CPD/other

Face toface

course

Law andMedical Ethics

Law and Medical Ethicsfor NHS

Data Protection /Freedom ofInformation

repurposeadapt

adapt

Self study material (eg guide to legal resources)

VLE (eScript)

Academic staff / distance learning team

Entrepreneurship coursefor PhDs

ada

pt

repurposeOn campus coursepartly taught on-line

On campus students doing DL

DL students doing face to face

1. Synergies

2. Embed it in School

• Need to persuade management that e-distance learning is integral activity

• Need to persuade academics about benefits for teaching and on-campus students

3. Continue being innovativeand responsive

! Highly competitive market !

• Offer innovative courses / expand your portfolio

• Let your research feed into the teaching

• Offer what people want/need

It’s working

eLLM

2005/06: 10 students (2FT, 8PT)Currently 41 students (3 FT, 38 PT)

2 graduates in 200610 graduates in 200726 graduates in 2008

* All pay overseas fees to the University

eCPD Law & Medical Ethics

Launched in April 2006Run three times a yearTotal of 213 students

eScript (our VLE) 213 eCPD Law and Medical Ethics57 eLLM students40 on-campus double streamed honours students36 on-campus LLM students20 IP eCPD S&W4 library staff

Total: 370 students

It’s worth it!

‘The outline of the programme is extremely well designed and provides you with an excellent structure in which to work

of while being flexible at the same time.’ (eLLM student)

‘I have amazed myself by embracing this virtual world - having been a complete stranger to the whole concept of distance learning the entire experience has been very fulfilling and unlocked all sorts of future possibilities for continued professional development.’ (eCPD student)

Thank You !