Technologies that promote & support higher order learning

TELRI believes that C&IT tools that provide opportunities for learners to give meaning and value to information and concepts are particularly useful to developing higher order learning, whilst the ability to reflect critically on working processes is also vital. Such tools are most effective when they offer immediate feedback to the learner.

The TELRI team is in no way recommending one technology over another. Teaching staff and course developers should use the tools that best fit their purposes and are commonly available at their institution. Information on the TELRI tool and other commercially available tools is in the pages that follow.

Appropriate forms of C&IT are those that support document sharing and discussion, such as virtual learning environments and conferencing software. However, bearing in mind the need of lecturers for simplicity, "fitness-for-purpose" and cost-effectiveness of technology solutions, a simple web- publishing tool has evolved from the TELRI project that facilitates these basic functions and avoids the complexity and expense of commercial software. The TELRI tool enables students to publish work, ideas, comments and discussions, quickly and easily onto the web without requiring any specialised web page publishing or production skills.

The increased visibility of student work offered by web publishing and discussion makes the educational process of good study practices more explicit to both students and tutors. The advantage to particular learning styles or international students is obvious.  Furthermore, where such activities are the main focus of the course (especially where contributions during the process are linked to assessment), the approach can ensure active participation by all students. Using the web, the students can:

• View the work of others
• Submit and edit their own work
• Comment on the contributions
• Work individually or in groups

Using the TELRI tool, staff have been able to implement the course design approaches far more quickly than would have been possible with large, complex packages should they be available. Nevertheless, such approaches might also be supported by conferencing software, such as WebBoard and FirstClass, or virtual learning environments, such as WebCT, Learning Space and COSE. For an overview, reviews and case studies of various technological approaches and tools, see the Reviews of Tools section.

Click the link Demonstration course to try out  web publishing for yourself.

The TELRI tool is based on simple CGI (common gateway interface) scripts running on a Unix web server. The interface used by the students for submitting their work is a form-based web page used to upload the students' files and comments to the web site.