[Contents] [Newsletter Index]

Newsletter 12, June 1996 Reporting Back

• WebFacts
• Video Productions in Progress and Recently Completed
• Ever-Increasing Media Loans Service

WebFacts

The mounting of this Event was prompted partly by a situation in which most UK universities had established Web Sites by initially concentrating on the provision of corporate information and on access, for staff and students, to external information providers. There is now a new focus on the ability of the Web itself, and its supporting technology, to be used innovatively in providing students with constructed learning environments, and a realization that this process must ultimately be managed by the teaching staff responsible for study programmes in specific subject areas.

The Event was opened by John Heap, Director of Learning Support Services, who spoke about the nature of the Web, some policy issues relevant to teaching institutions, and about the need for their Web Sites to be structured in a way which will provide: Support for teaching. Support for student learning. Access to information sources. Access to University information.

	There were three presentations dealing with the substance of these issues: Teaching and the Web Presented by Dennis James, this addressed the issue of using the Web Site to provide student learning environments. This was introduced by looking generally at the history of World-Wide Web development and its use as a tool for professional interaction, as a vehicle for teaching and learning, and as an opportunity for advertising and publicity. Following this, there was an examination of the structural requirements of a site to fulfil all these functions and, finally, the issue of design methodology for web sites and specific page arrays was explored by reviewing the nature and relevance of different structural forms. A World of Information Services Presented by Mike Berrington, this outlined the Library service in mediating access to the Web through the identification of useful sites, and the role of Tutor Librarians in this process. Sample pages were displayed in order to illustrate different categories of information available on the Web. LMU and Promotional Uses of the Web Presented jointly by Anne Creyke and Gary Taylor, this illustrated the current structure of the University information and publicity area of the LMU site, dealing with the issues of providing University information as "a window on the University" and the communication of information internally. Also addressed was the question of providing mechanisms by which information about faculty/school organization and course provision could be submitted for inclusion.
	Group Discussion and Plenary Sessions Following the presentations, discussion was organized in three interest groups concerned with educational aspects, information services and promotional applications. Approximately equal numbers elected to attend each group. The Plenary Session provided for the reporting on, and exploration of, the issues raised in group discussion.

Many issues of interest emerged, including:

• A concern with the quality and reliability of information provided over the Web, given the general absence of any kind of refereeing, standards, verification or organizational guidelines.
• The need for students to be provided with mediated access to this material in a way which identified good source material in relation to specific subject areas, and the corresponding question of who should be responsible for this mediation process and how it should be implemented.
• A question of how to decide whether to expend financial resources on Web subscription services or on alternative resource materials.
• The need for training staff at three levels: in the use of Web browsers, in the design of Web structures and pages as a learning environment for students, and in the mechanics of writing Web pages.
• The necessity for resourcing development by providing for staff release to attend relevant training courses and to design and create subject-related site areas for their students.
• Mechanisms by which locally-generated material intended to be provided on a secure basis (course materials for example) could be protected from unauthorized use or copying, and the related need to make charges for the provision of services or resources within the constraints of the JANET agreement.
• Confusion about responsibility for the LMU Web Site and the role of Faculty/School staff in its construction.
• Fundamental concern over the social and educational desirability of Web-based learning if it is seen as an alternative to human interaction in more traditional academic contexts.

It was clear that some of these issues were already being addressed within Leeds Metropolitan University, whilst mechanisms for tackling others remain to be found. In particular:

• The planned existence of an area of the LMU Web site dedicated to providing students with access to locally-generated or other material, and under staff control, was announced. This area will be structured by those teaching staff who wish to become involved in presenting Web-based activities and information to their students. In order to help with this task, Learning Support Services will be responsible for mounting a Web Staff Area which will provide supporting information and resources to involved staff. A trial form of this Staff Area is currently under construction and it will be developed on the basis of faculty/school participation.
• Also reported was the current availability of a range of relevant courses (provided free to LMU staff). These include LSS Educational Development Course No.16 "Creating a Web-based Learning Environment"; and the Computing Services courses "Exploring the Internet" and "Hands on HTML".
• All staff are individually invited to discuss, with LSS, the opportunities presented by the Web in relation to their own needs or interests.

Further Events are planned, including a series of lunchtime discussion sessions which will provide an opportunity to explore issues of interest to staff. If you would like to attend a lunchtime session of this kind and have a particular topic in mind (concerning not just the Web but any other issue related to support for teaching and learning), we would be grateful for you to talk to us about it.

Video Productions in Progress and Recently Completed

This service continues to be busy and productive, making a wide range of programmes from simple lecture recordings to programmes involving complex location, technical and delicate interpersonal shoots. The programmes mainly support teaching, but some are for LMU and faculty promotions.

Nutrition Trigger Video

This video is to encourage responses from children viewing the programme and to record those responses. It takes the form of a series of adverts for products. This is part of a European Initiative, with other trials being conducted in France and Belgium.

Producer Mike Hooper for Keith Tones, HSC.

Tourism & Industrial Community

This video explores the efforts being made by towns to promote and encourage tourism after the collapse of the manufacturing base over the last decade.

Producer Mike Hooper for Alan Maichin, CES.

School of Engineering Promotion

This programme promotes School of Engineering in IES, and is aimed at school-leavers in general. This work came to MEDS after a successful video on Dyslexia and Engineering.

Producer Bob Bajorek for Edward Reed, IES.

Basic Gymnastic Skills

This teaching video focuses on the various techniques required to use standard gym equipment.

Producer Andrew Riley for Matt Greenwood, CES

Sports & Recreation Video

This video will show the range of sports clubs and facilities open to students and staff.

Producer Mike Hooper for David Newman, CES

Global Vision 2020

Children and young adults were interviewed on a wide range of topics on life in the year 2020. Their responses have been complied into a series of 7 programmes giving a unique look into the aspirations of tomorrow's generation.

Producer Paul Wilmott for Martyn Robertson, LBS, and Steve Rennie, CES.

Accommodation Video

This video shows the range of accommodation and facilities available for students at LMU.

Producer Mike Hooper for Kerri Welch, Business Services.

Measurement & Documentation - Series 1

A series of studio-based programmes made using the lecturer’s PowerPoint presentations as a structure. These teaching materials are to be lodged in the library and packaged for distance learning.

Producer Andrew Riley and Bob Bajorek for Robert Ellis, DBE

Ever-Increasing Media Loans Service

The growth in the number of equipment loans made over the counter continues with the unit set to break the 10,000 loans barrier this year. These figures do not include use of built-in facilities in lecture theatres, specialist recording rooms such as in the School of Law, or in labs etc. The growth can be attributed to the increasing use of technology for teaching, the range of modern equipment available for staff and students to use, and the drive to make video playback more accessible by installing TV monitors in classrooms and recording a wider range of programmes on the 24-hour recording system. It is expected that the change in Faculty locations and the opening of the Learning Centre at Beckett Park will further increase the number of loans for 1996/97. John Lynch