These posts get published with the most recent first - if you want sequential feedback from day one, start with the one below.
The second session was on technology strategies to support the transition into that first year at university. Lots of really vibrant and interesting conversation. In short, the consistent messages from this session were that:

• you need a multi-modal approach to providing information: one message  but different methods of delivery.
• Use the technological tools that students use.
• Use the technology for learning outcomes, including presenting information in different ways: “bite-sized learning”.

I was particularly interested in the “bite-sized” learning concept that was mentioned by one participant. His approach to blended learning involved the development of 3 online sessions of 15 minutes duration each week (the sessions were recorded but participatory, asking students to think about answers to questions and look up information etc), and followed by more participatory interactive lectures (not online).

Other issues that came up were scalability (what works for 40 can then be made to work for 4000) and sustainability, a reminder that not all students are young, and of course being aware that some students have disabilities which impacts on their ability to engage with various technologies.

The inspiration I took from the session (and Mark’s session earlier) was that two ideas we’ve had in the Centre for a while now could work really well (of course this is idealistic dream world stuff, but bear with me... J ).

Using connect with distance students could be really useful, especially during the second critical period identified in Mark's research. Also the idea of designing short (1-3 minute) YouTube videos to both market our workshops and remind students of some of the key concepts, is also a good idea (based on other people who are embarking on similar projects). One woman mentioned that she used a third year student to help her design her online component for her paper because he knew the subject matter (having been one of her students) and also understood the technology. So the idea of using students in the design school to help with the YouTube videos, and giving them some “real world” experience could be a real winner J.