This document discusses the university's journey in building a culture of flexible online learning. It identified issues with the current bespoke platform and outlined project aims to identify an effective technological solution to meet pedagogical needs now and in the future. The university chose to implement WordPress due to its flexibility, support for responsive design, and large community. Examples of implemented sites include a welcome page and training sites. Future plans include online professional development and linking to other systems.

1. Building a culture of
flexible online learning
James Little @jimjamyahauk | Kirsten Thompson @_KirstenT | University of Leeds
Peter Shanks BotheredByBees Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/botheredbybees/245215927/

2. Overview
This session identifies the journey in building a culture of
flexible learning from both a departmental, learner and
institutional perspective in order to deliver an enhanced
‘Welcome to the University’ orientation for staff
and
build capacity for future developments.
Moyan Brenn Moyan_Brenn_BACK_FROM_ICELA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/5849712695/

3. Need for change:
Enhancing accessibility
Better mobile device support (responsive)
Informal learning
Fees
Professionalisation of HE workforce
Redesign of accredited programmes
Policies: OER / Social Media)
Meeting increasing demand
Drivers

4. Evaluating Current Platform
Current bespoke platform wasn’t able to meet
needs:
X Compatibility
X Lack of extendibility / needed features
X Usability for content creators

5. Project Aims
• Identify an effective and customisable
technological solution to fulfill pedagogic
requirements, now and in the future.
• Empower educators to create engaging online
learning opportunities with minimal support.
• Foster a collaborative approach towards the
development of online learning provision.
• Increase learner engagement with
professional development.

6. How to implement?
Carried out comparison of available platforms:
Images copyright respective holders (linked images used)

7. How to implement?
Chosen: WordPress
Already some use on campus
Flexibility of use/extendibility (plug-ins)
Support for modern responsive web standards
Supported by established global community

8. Implementation
Technical
Network of sites
Plug-ins (Security/Community/Collaboration/Social
Media/Assessment)
Access to content creation tools
Embedding of third party content
Instructional Advice
Accessibility
Usability
Pedagogical
Picture from: http://wpmu.org/wordpress-multisite-guide/

9. Example: Welcome to Leeds

10. Examples: VLE Training (before)

11. Examples: VLE Training (before)

12. Examples: VLE Training

13. Examples: VLE Training

14. Examples: Community Site

15. Examples: Community Site

16. Future Directions
• 12 Months
– Launch of online CPD as separate from existing
departmental website
– Migration of existing content
– Collaborative spaces
• Long-term
– Badges for staff development / accreditation
– Links to other institutional systems
– Some resources OER’d
Image By Nepenthes (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

17. Thoughts on journey so far
• Starting small but planning for future aims
• Existing content refreshed
• Department given time to familiarise with new platform
• Underpinnings enable future options already waiting in
wings (BuddyPress)
• Testing and selection of plug-ins
• Network of sites enables large amount of potential features
to be available – but enabled as appropriate for each
resource.
• Content creators given access to high quality tools both
within WordPress and through laptop loaded with tools

18. Thoughts on journey so far
The first steps to enabling a new approach to
delivering online self-directed professional
development and interaction is possible, which
may inspire educators to model best practice in
their own work.