Innovative Teaching Methods - E-learning

Problem Based Learning Teaching practical skills: sharing best practices AOATL E-learning

Supporting Occupational Therapy Education in Europe through shared e-learning resources

The internet combined with digitalized multimedia has the potential to provide Occupational Therapy educational programmes in Europe and throughout the world, with powerful tools to express and communicate professional knowledge and share teaching materials. However, developing good online material is a time-consuming and often expensive process where the final product may appear surprisingly simple or limited when compared with the resources that are put into its production. Investment in developing online material lies in the "economics of scale" and "economics of scope". Teaching material can be distributed to large numbers of students and be made available independent of time and place. Teaching materials can be reused and, if designed well, used in different contexts and combinations.

This project group will develop a web site that will promote and support production and distribution of internet based Occupational Therapy teaching materials and learning resources. The site will have facilities for registering and retrieving information about available internet based e-learning resources in the public domain. The site will also include suggested guidelines for producing and using materials and offer advice on pedagogical and technological solutions. At the time of writing it would seem that there is a limited amount of material available in the public domain. At a later stage a system for peer review of materials will be introduced.

Project group members

Linda Renton, Queen Magaret University College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom	LRenton@QMUC.ac.uk
Brian Ellingham, Høgskolen I Oslo, Norway	Brian.Ellingham@hf.hio.no
Marc Warlop, Artevelde Hogeschool, Belgium	marc.warlop@arteveldehs.be
Barbara Lavin, Bethlehem University, Palestinian Authority

Objectives

The internet has a huge potential as an arena for transmitting and developing professional knowledge and educational programmes, however in order to release this potential the profession and educational institutions must gradually build competence and confidence in the use of this "new" medium. It will require patience, persistence and time. In view of this the objectives are both modest but at the same time have a potential for flexibility and growth as our future needs become clear.

To establish internet resources to promote and support development and sharing of internet based teaching and learning resources.
To develop and make available a searchable online database. A catalogue of existing online teaching resources that are available, or can be made available for Occupational Therapy programmes and students. This database will be in the public domain with a low threshold for inclusion.
To develop a system for peer review of material in the database.
To develop recommendations and guidelines for criteria for content, and technological and design solutions.
To develop a forum for sharing experiences with developing and using e-learning solutions.
To develop an online manual on developing and using digital media in teaching and learning.
To present the project at a major international Occupational Therapy Conference.

Outcomes

A website that will include

A database application for registering and retrieving information about online Occupational Therapy teaching material.
A system for reviewing the registered teaching materials, guidelines and extensions of the database application.
A manual consisting of recommendations and suggested guidelines for design and development of online teaching materials.
Articles and reports on experiences with developing and using online teaching materials.

Presentation of the project and website at a major National and International Occupational Therapy Conferences.

Draft Workplan for the e-learning group 2005-2007

Time period	Objectives	Outcomes
September 05	ENOTHE meeting Vienna Work plan for the e-learning project group. Workshop: presentation of the project feedback on the project proposal input on existing resources input on database construction recruiting participants	Final work plan to Board by 1st October.
December 05	Build a test version database in cooperation with Oslo University College, Centre for Educational Research and Development. Contact ENOTHE member and associate institutions from Vienna Workshop, and create contact/distribution list of products. Encourage key persons and institutions to adapt or develop material for inclusion in the database. Review literature and earlier ENOTHE projects	Test version of database application.
February 06	Meeting of project group to synthesise material and progress work.	Draft version of website
March 06	Meeting in Amsterdam with ENOTHE webmaster (not all group)	Integrate website with ENOTHE site
April 06	Meeting Brussels, project groups and board Review progress Review/design website Begin discussion about criteria for guidelines and solutions for peer review Begin discussion about pedagogical application of online material. Begin discussion about technological solutions. Plan workshop
July 06	Presentation at WFOT Education Day.	Presentation.
August 06	Publish website and database application Write annual report Finalize workshop	Website online Annual report
October 06	ENOTHE annual meeting Workshop Present the website and database Discuss criteria for what makes good online teaching materials Discuss technological solutions Discuss how teachers can start producing material Recruit peer review group	Workshop: Present and launch website
December 06	Open peer review function in database Review registered material Encourage key persons and institutions to adapt or develop material for inclusion in the database	Launch and use peer review system
April 2007	ENOTHE project group meeting Review progress Plan manual on technological and pedagogical solutions Plan survey of users Plan Workshop
July 2007	Review registered material Write material about technical/pedagogical solutions Encourage contributors	Publish manual/articles/material on website
August 2007	Write annual report Design survey of users Finalize workshop	Annual report
September 2007	ENOTHE meeting Workshop: Presentation of website and database Discussion and update about technical solutions Discussion about advantages/disadvantages of different media Discussion about using digital media in teaching and learning Send abstract to 2008 European Congress	Workshop: Present website and database Discussions on pedagogical issues.
November 07	Survey of users of the database Continue encouraging contributors
December 07	Analyse survey results
February 08	Project group meeting Interpret survey results Plan project evaluation Review website, refining of material
March 08	Write up results from survey	Survey report
April 08	ENOTHE project group and board meeting Plan workshop Hamburg (May) Plan workshop ENOTHE (September)
May 08	Present project at European conference in Hamburg	Conference workshop/presentation
August 08	Continue encouraging contributions. Refine product. Write annual report	Annual report.
September 08	ENOTHE meeting Workshop Presentation and evaluation of website and database Dissemination of the online manual Discussion about possible future areas for development	Workshop.
September 08	Refine product Publish a short report and evaluation of the project on the website.	Final version of website Project report.