The EdQuarter Fireside Chat Series
Advancing learning for a better future
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Webinar series in association with:
SESSION 1
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A GUIDE TO LEARNING EXPERIENCE PLATFORMS
In this session we outlined what to look for in learning platforms and VLEs.
We discussed the advanced pedagogical thinking required for a best-in-class platform, along with the other key pillars for providing excellence in learning experience:
Efficiency
Progression
Integration
Collaboration
We also took an in-depth look at Blackboard Learn Ultra, Collaborate, Ally and Data, as well as integration with other leading tools and platforms, including Microsoft M365 and Teams.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Dr Charles Knight - Associate Dean, Student Experience, University of Salford
Charles is an academic leader who worked extensively with a range of universities at the strategic level to develop their offering with a specific interest in the use of data to drive performance. Before joining Salford, he was a director of Edge Hill University's Productivity and Innovation Centre working with commercial clients.
Gillian Fielding - Client Experience Manager, Blackboard Europe
Gillian Fielding, BA (Hons), MSc, PGCE, SFHEA, FIITT, is a Blackboard Client Experience Manager . She has worked in education for 30 years in a variety of roles: Digital Skills Manager, TEL Champion, Lecturer, Module Leader, special needs trainer and worked in higher and further education.
Hervé Didiot-Cook - Client Experience Manager, Blackboard Europe
As a Client Experience Manager (Europe), Hervé Didiot-Cook has the opportunity to work directly with current clients especially in the UK, Ireland, France and Belgium and help them to have the best Bb experience possible. Prior joining Blackboard in November 2016, Hervé has worked in the UK Higher Education for more than 25 years. He held various roles and responsibilities: lecturer in French, head of department, external examiner, community of practice lead.
SESSION 2
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Student experience, quality enhancement, accessibility and inclusion
In this session we heard from our expert guests on what the university experience means for today’s student.
Dr Graham Bird, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor at Bangor University and Gillian Fielding, Client Experience Manager at Blackboard shared their experiences and observations.
We discussed why accessibility matters, what accessibility and inclusion means for students, including how to cater to the unique needs of international students, and looked at accessibility trends around the sector, and much more
The session also included a live demonstration of Blackboard’s Ally platform.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Dr Graham Bird, Associate Pro-VC, Teaching and Learning, Prifysgol Bangor University
Graham is a physical geographer with a specialism in environmental geochemistry. Graham teaches a number of modules in geography and environmental science ranging from introductory earth systems, to river systems, climate change and environmental geochemistry. His teaching utilises a wide-range of learning environments and includes field- and practical-based classes. As Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor –Teaching and Learning he is part of the University’s leadership team, and lead of specific projects aimed at developing and enhancing teaching and learning within the University.
Gillian Fielding - Client Experience Manager, Blackboard Europe
Gillian Fielding, BA (Hons), MSc, PGCE, SFHEA, FIITT, is a Blackboard Client Experience Manager . She has worked in education for 30 years in a variety of roles: Digital Skills Manager, TEL Champion, Lecturer, Module Leader, special needs trainer and worked in higher and further education.
SESSION 3
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Pedagogical redesign during the pandemic
The Covid crisis has accelerated changes in teaching and assessment practice – not least in terms of the scale of digital activity and the wider exposure that instructors have had to the use of collaboration and assessment tools.
In this presentation we showcased some examples of pedagogic redesign at the University of York that have emerged over the past academic year (2020-21) as responses to this teaching context, in which Blackboard Learn and Collaborate have been used to support both on-campus and remote learners.
We discussed the principles that module leaders have been following in designing equitable learning opportunities for both physically present and remote learners. This has involved a review of contact time with students, with an emphasis on greater flexibility and choice in how our students participate in teaching and assessment activities.
Born out of necessity in supporting both on-campus and remote learners at the University of York, this redesign approach promises to bring about enduring change in how staff think about student participation and the need for flexibility in learning, teaching and assessment activities
GUEST SPEAKERS
Dr Richard Walker - Head of Programme Design and Learning Technology, University of York
Dr Richard Walker has over 20 years’ experience supporting learning technology developments within the higher education sector. He is currently leading the strategic development of e-learning services as Head of Programme Design and Learning Technology Team at the University of York (United Kingdom). This encompasses service management responsibilities for all key learning technology systems including the virtual learning environment, lecture recording and e-assessment solutions. He also coordinates curriculum developments for blended and fully online programmes and leads on staff development activities for the effective use of learning technologies in programme design and delivery.
Hervé Didiot-Cook - Client Experience Manager, Blackboard Europe
As a Client Experience Manager (Europe), Hervé Didiot-Cook has the opportunity to work directly with current clients especially in the UK, Ireland, France and Belgium and help them to have the best Bb experience possible. Prior joining Blackboard in November 2016, Hervé has worked in the UK Higher Education for more than 25 years. He held various roles and responsibilities: lecturer in French, head of department, external examiner, community of practice lead.
SESSION 4
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Student Mental Health Analytics: Clustering, Profiling and the Opportunities for Student Services
Hear how Blackboard ROAR reports are being used alongside mental health and wellbeing data to potentially inform targeted and personalised mental health support. Carly Foster, PhD student at Lancaster University, will share her observations from using clustering and data analysis to develop mental health profiles. The session will include: reflections on the process of clustering using blackboard and mental health data alongside early insights from interviews with university stakeholders on the opportunities for improving student support.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Carly Foster - Head of Student Success, Arden University
Carly has been using data and analytics to improve the customer journey for 15 years in multiple sectors. For the last 8 years she has worked in Higher Education and delivered several strategic insight projects including a research-based approach to operationalising predictive Learning Analytics. Carly is passionate about ensuring that data and technology is culturally embedded within organisations and understanding the theory of change afforded by technology solutions.
Andy McGinn - Director of Learning Data and Analytics, Blackboard
Andy’s professional mission is “to share the stories behind the data” or, in other words, focusing on the education/business lens of data. He has developed two approaches to help facilitate this: 1-Data User Story workshops – Enabling institutions to explore their data use cases from a non-technical angle. 2-Fireside Chats – Data and Analytics – Interviews with clients about their successes in using data.
Over 150 million users in more than 80 countries use Blackboard tools.
Blackboard is a leading EdTech company, serving higher education, K-12, business, and government clients around the world. We connect a deep understanding of education with the power of technology to continuously push the boundaries of learning. Our mission is to advance learning together with the world’s education community so that all learners, educators, and institutions can realise their goals today and prepare for tomorrow.