Designing and Developing Digital and Blended Learning Solutions

Mark Loon

• Publisher: CIPD - Kogan Page
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781843984146
• eBook ISBN: 9781843984221
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Human Resource Management
• Index: Business

Designing and Developing Digital and Blended Learning Solutions is essential reading for anyone studying the Level 5 CIPD L&D module of the same name as well as all learning and development professionals looking to understand the growing role of technology in L&D. Covering both current and emerging learning technologies, this book will help readers assess which technologies are right for their needs. It also covers how to design blended learning solutions, how to develop digital learning content as well as how to evaluate the effectiveness of this digital content. Most importantly, Designing and Developing Digital and Blended Learning Solutions provides guidance on how to implement digital and blended learning solutions including identifying the appropriate platforms and the roles, tools and processes needed to support effective implementation. Full of practical examples and advice, this is an invaluable guide for students and practitioners alike.

01

Digital Technologies, and Learning and Development

The term ‘digital technologies’ can mean many things to different people, and this is understandable given its broad definition that refers to digitised information stored, transformed and/or distributed using computerised tools, devices and/or mediums. So what does this ebook refer to in terms of digital technologies? Well, it plainly includes content (e.g. content found on web pages), media (e.g. video and audio), some productivity tools (e.g. reading list) and even products (e.g. virtual learning environments such as Moodle).

EXERCISE 1.4

• To what extent do you think it is millennials who are driving the digitisation of learning?
• What about other generations? How well have they adapted to the use of digital technologies?
• How has your organisation prepared different generations for using technologies in learning and development?

Classifying digital technologies is a challenge as it comes in different forms. Some have singular function but may be aggregated as part of a larger solution, whilst others come as ‘multi-function’. There are many ways you can categorise technologies. However, as this book is designed for L&D practitioners, technologies will be explained from a functional and user perspective, rather than a technical perspective. The categorisation of the technologies in this ebook is informed in part by the Learning and Skills Group (2015) and the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA 2015). The categories of digital technology discussed are:

1. virtual learning environments
2. digital/learning repository and document sharing tools
3. blogs (and vlogs)
4. media streaming systems and video learning
5. screencasting and lecture capture
6. e-portfolios
7. podcasting tools
8. synchronous communication tools
9. wikis
10. virtual worlds
11. digital/video games
12. simulation games
13. social media and enterprise social network
14. mobile learning
15. other learning-related digital technologies.

Current learning technologies

Virtual learning environments

Virtual learning environment (VLE) is a generic term for web-based systems that are used for delivering courses entirely online or in support of face-to-face delivery. As the term suggests, VLEs are essentially classrooms in the ‘virtual’ world. VLEs usually contain a collection of other digital technologies (e.g. a repository, a communication tool). The term VLE has also been used to refer to course management systems (CMS), elements and components within learning management systems (LMS) and massive open online courses (MOOCs). Some of the most common features and uses of VLEs are:

1. as a repository. This is the most basic function of a VLE that allow materials to be organised in any way the instructor feels is appropriate. VLEs can also be used as a portal, such as a gateway to social learning websites, tools and other materials.
2. as a communication and collaboration tool. Some VLEs have built-in modules for participants to have synchronous discussions. Collaboration may also take place as some VLEs have forums that allow participants to debate and work on problems asynchronously.
3. for self-assessment and reflection. Some VLEs allow learning activities such as quizzes to be created (or integrated with third-party software), and automated scoring that shows how well the student is doing. VLEs may also include blogs and wikis for learners to reflect on their own work and performance.
4. in tracking students’ progress. Some VLEs allow learners to use their personalised page on the VLEs to track how well they are progressing in terms of completing work required in a course.
5. as a submission and feedback mechanism. Education providers such as universities use VLEs as a submission point for students’ work, and to communicate the students’ grade and feedback. Some VLEs allow integration with third party programs such as plagiarism detection tools.

Whilst e-learning is very useful, it needs to be carefully designed. Some VLEs provide the ‘infrastructure’ for instructors and L&D practitioners to design and create their own content. However, VLEs such as MOOCs (via, e.g. Future Learn and Coursera) provide both the infrastructure and content, which is created by other providers e.g. universities. MOOCs are a good source of courses for L&D practitioners to use in curating learning content. The following video from the BBC provides an overview of MOOCs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-23127327 (this was posted in mid-2013. Future Learn, as referenced in the video, has been implemented since then). Content curation is further discussed in Chapter 3.

EXERCISE 1.5

• Does your organisation use VLEs, and if so how are they used (e.g. types of ‘courses’, support on-the-job-training)?
• How does the VLE function and how would you improve the VLE to enhance the learning experience?
• Is the VLE linked to any content management system (CMS) or learning management system (LMS)? If so, how are they integrated?
• What might you imagine the future holds for VLEs?

Digital/learning repository and document sharing tools

Digital/learning repositories and document sharing tools offer a basic but important function of uploading, storing and collating learning materials into one space. Such technologies also allow users to organise materials in almost any way and search for materials according to key words, file types, and even size of file. Some repositories enable users to provide ‘editing’ rights to other users, allowing them to also upload new materials, and/or modify existing files. When multiple users are granted access and rights to modify materials, these systems help track and audit these changes to help with transparency. You will probably recognise this functionality in many other technologies e.g. VLE, Google Docs, SharePoint.

Blogs (and vlogs)

Blogs are personal journals, and can be used in a variety of ways. A quick survey of blogs demonstrates how varied they can be in terms of topics and indeed quality. Blogs are used by individuals to capture the day’s events, focus on specific matters such as sports, note and share ideas, and as a mechanism to reflect on lessons learned. Whilst blogs are meant to be personal, they are useful in helping individuals keep connected with others as visitors can usually comment and respond to specific entries. Whilst most blogs are text-based, other media can be used, such as audio and video (also known as vlogs). Blogs are a key tool for professionals to enhance their reflective practice, which to some extent can help promote metacognitive skills and mindfulness. These technologies also play a prominent role in creative writing courses. Shared and used collaboratively, blogs can be a powerful way for learners to learn from one another.

Podcasting

Podcasting is an audio recording that may be presented as a series with multiple episodes. Podcasts are usually recorded as an audio file to enable users to download and listen offline, differing from audio streaming that requires users to be online and is not downloadable. Learners can learn using podcasts when reading is not possible (or not recommended) e.g. whilst driving. This technology is an alternative to blogs (it can be described as an audio blog), and provides an extra richness to the information conveyed, as presenters are able to vary their pitch and tone to add excitement. CIPD provides a number of podcasts. How helpful have you found them? Are podcasts used in learning and development content in your organisation? (More information on podcasts as digital content in Chapter 3.)

E-portfolios

Electronic portfolios (e-portfolios) are a collection point of evidence of an individual’s learning, achievements and other digital artefacts. They can usually cater for a variety of multimedia such as text, audio (e.g. podcasts), video, images and blogs. Some of these items may also contain hyperlinks to other websites. They are very useful when it is important for learners to keep evidence of events and activities undertaken, and to record reflections over a significant period of time. E-portfolios are also useful when the experiences are varied, thus necessitating different types and forms of evidence to be collected. This learning technology has been used in a work-based learning curriculum that involves learners demonstrating accumulated learning and experience. The use of e-portfolios has, to some degree, formed the basis of many personal learning environments (PLEs, which are discussed in Chapter 4).

EXERCISE 1.6

Think about the four types of learning technologies: Digital/learning repository and document sharing tools, blogs (and vlogs), podcasting, and e-portfolio and reflect on the following questions about their use in your organisation.

• How familiar are learners with these technologies?
• How can learners benefit from using these technologies in their own learning and development?
• How are these technologies used in the design of learning and development curriculum?

Synchronous communication tools

Learning and development has been greatly enhanced by the advent of Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology that allows for voice and video communications over the Internet. The most evident advantage is the cost savings that users benefit from, when compared to traditional telephone and mobile lines as instructors and learners are able to communicate with one another over long distances. In addition, with the...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of figures
• List of tables
• Introduction and Overview
• 1 Digital Technologies, and Learning and Development
• 2 Designing Blended Learning Solutions
• 3 Designing and Developing Digital Learning Content
• 4 Implementing Digital and Blended Learning Solutions
• 5 Conclusion