Title: Findings from the HEI ''Flip'' project: application issues

Authors: Will Simpson, Debbie Evans, Rob Eley, Mark Stiles

Addresses: Technology Innovation Centre, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK. ' Technology Innovation Centre, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK. ' LTSN Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK. ' Learning Development and Innovation, Staffordshire University, The Octagon Beaconside, Stafford ST18 0AD, UK

Abstract: The Flip project focuses on the delivery of flexible work-based learning to engineering postgraduate students who are studying whilst in full-time employment. During the project, research was carried out to identify good practice in e-learning and pilot studies were undertaken to test the findings. In the project pilots the project team attempted step changes in methodology and style to investigate an e-learning approach that would enable flexible learning in the workplace. In this paper, attempts at putting e-learning theory into practice are described together with good and bad experiences, in order that others attempting similar activities might benefit from the successes and avoid making the same mistakes. Real-life problems and difficulties arising from the project are highlighted, especially where these relate to learning and teaching cultures, technology, pedagogy and the systems development process. The implementation of two pilot modules is described to demonstrate the impact, on both staff and students, of a significant change in teaching and learning styles and to indicate how the change process could be managed successfully.

Keywords: e-learning; learning culture; learner support; systems approach to e-learning implementation; teaching culture; work-based learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2003.004005

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2003 Vol.13 No.5/6, pp.471 - 482

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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