Demonstrating digital transformation: enabling flexible learning

• Heidi Fraser-Krauss, Chief executive of Jisc.
• Professor April McMahon, Vice-president for teaching, learning and students.

Flexible Learning @ Manchester

In this keynote, Professor George will be presenting the ambitious, yet pragmatic and achievable strategy in place at the University of Manchester for making a more flexible, more inclusive, and more diverse learning community.

• Professor Danielle George, Associate vice-president for teaching and learning.

Breakouts will be repeated twice. Delegates to select one of four options.

Breakout option one:

Design and delivery

Contemporary education demands that educators possess an extensive understanding of both pedagogy and digital technology, more so than in the past. Instructors are expected to to be adept in reaching a varied student base, each with unique requirements, by employing a wide range of tools and methodologies. It is, however, impractical to assume that a subject matter expert will also excel in every other aspect. The question then arises: how can we effectively assemble a team of specialists in these various fields to collaboratively design and deliver educational programmes that play to everyone’s strengths?

• Professor Stephen Pettifer, university academic lead for digital learning.

Breakout option two:

Facilitating 'flexible first' and getting the blend right

Successful blended learning consists of a thoughtful and responsive blend of on-campus and online learning experiences that promote active learning. While the choice of individual learning activities should be selected according to what best delivers specific learning aims, consideration also needs to be given to providing a balanced programme of activities that offers the flexibility learners require and maximises their engagement.

• Dr Jane Mooney, University academic theme lead for digital skills and literacy.
• Professor Caroline Bowsher, University academic theme lead for digital learning environment.
• Dr Alison Fisher, University academic theme lead for UCIL (University College for Interdisciplinary Learning).

Breakout option three:

Adapting policy and processes

With any large-scale institutional change programme, especially those relating to teaching, learning and student experience, there will inevitably come a time when innovative approaches and new practices come up against old processes and policies which might no longer be fit for purpose. It is integral to the success of any change programme that relevant policies and processes are identified as early as possible and to engage stakeholders in the review, amendment and re-approval of any policies in order to maximise the potential for the change activity to have long term impact beyond the life of the programme.

• Simon Thomson, Professor of hybrid learning & director of flexible learning

Option four:

Tour of Booth Street East

As part of the Flexible Learning Programme at the University of Manchester, we have supported the refurbishment of Booth Street East which includes investment in new innovative spaces for teaching and learning, alongside more traditional teaching spaces.

The tour will give participants an opportunity to visit a number of spaces including:

• Hyflex teaching space
• Emulated Lecture Theatre
• Technology Playground
• Tech Free Zone
• Lifelong Learning Suite
• Podcasting Studios
• Virtual Reality Pods
• Video Theatre / Green Room

A number of these spaces are being used to help inform longer-term estate planning as well as developing staff in using new technologies and spaces for learning and teaching.

Students also have access to these spaces for content creation but also as part of our work to evaluate the effectiveness of these spaces for learning and teaching and to directly inform future plans.

Breakouts will be repeated twice. Delegates to select one of four options.

Breakout option one:

Design and delivery

Contemporary education demands that educators possess an extensive understanding of both pedagogy and digital technology, more so than in the past. Instructors are expected to to be adept in reaching a varied student base, each with unique requirements, by employing a wide range of tools and methodologies. It is, however, impractical to assume that a subject matter expert will also excel in every other aspect. The question then arises: how can we effectively assemble a team of specialists in these various fields to collaboratively design and deliver educational programmes that play to everyone’s strengths?

• Professor Stephen Pettifer, University academic lead for digital learning.

Breakout option two:

Facilitating 'flexible first' and getting the blend right

Successful blended learning consists of a thoughtful and responsive blend of on-campus and online learning experiences that promote active learning. While the choice of individual learning activities should be selected according to what best delivers specific learning aims, consideration also needs to be given to providing a balanced programme of activities that offers the flexibility learners require and maximises their engagement.

• Dr Jane Mooney, University academic theme lead for digital skills and literacy.
• Professor Caroline Bowsher, University academic theme lead for digital learning environment.
• Dr Alison Fisher, University academic theme lead for UCIL (University College for Interdisciplinary Learning).

Breakout option three:

Adapting policy and processes

With any large-scale institutional change programme, especially those relating to teaching, learning and student experience, there will inevitably come a time when innovative approaches and new practices come up against old processes and policies which might no longer be fit for purpose. It is integral to the success of any change programme that relevant policies and processes are identified as early as possible and to engage stakeholders in the review, amendment and re-approval of any policies in order to maximise the potential for the change activity to have long term impact beyond the life of the programme.

• Simon Thomson, Professor of hybrid learning & director of flexible learning

Option four:

Tour of Booth Street East

As part of the Flexible Learning Programme at the University of Manchester, we have supported the refurbishment of Booth Street East which includes investment in new innovative spaces for teaching and learning, alongside more traditional teaching spaces.

The tour will give participants an opportunity to visit a number of spaces including:

• Hyflex teaching space
• Emulated Lecture Theatre
• Technology Playground
• Tech Free Zone
• Lifelong Learning Suite
• Podcasting Studios
• Virtual Reality Pods
• Video Theatre / Green Room

A number of these spaces are being used to help inform longer-term estate planning as well as developing staff in using new technologies and spaces for learning and teaching.

Students also have access to these spaces for content creation but also as part of our work to evaluate the effectiveness of these spaces for learning and teaching and to directly inform future plans.

A group activity based on the maturity model

Enabling lifelong learning

• Professor Susannah Quinsee, Vice-president (digital and student experience) at City, University of London.
• Anna Dawes, Board of governors at The University of Manchester, representing further education.
• Paul Rogers, Product director at MOL.
• Samuel Hanes, Director of performance at Faculty.
• Simon Joos, Work and skills specialist at Manchester City Council.