Start of Project: eLearning for Transition, Progression and Retention

Thursday 10 July 2008Comment on this article Permlink

Start of Project: eLearning for Transition, Progression and Retention

This West London Lifelong Learning Network funded project had a flying start with a training session for nineteen transitional students at the Southall site of Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College on Monday, 7th July. The aim of the session was to familiarise the students with Brunel’s virtual learning environment, as the vehicle for the online developmental opportunities to follow.

An “Introduction to u-Link” was presented by Anu Sharma:

  1. What is u-Link?
  2. Logging on and accessing u-Link
  3. Accessing and using your e-Portfolio
  4. Finding your way around u-Link
  5. Accessing, saving and printing content from u-Link
  6. Using u-Link communication tools
  7. Using u-Link assessment tools
  8. Logging out.

This was followed by a more detailed “Introduction to u-Link e-Portfolios” presentation:

  1. What are e-Portfolios?
  2. Logging in to u-Link and setting up your e-Portfolio
  3. Adding files to your e-Portfolio
  4. Formatting your e-Portfolio
  5. Adding & managing guests
  6. Creating & sharing blogs.

The students were provided with a memory stick containing the two presentations, as well as an opportunity to download materials from their College virtual learning environment onto the memory stick for possible future reference and use.

An overview was provided of the forthcoming online opportunities for the students: A programme to introduce them to e-learning (August 2008), a higher education preparation programme (September 2008), and a personal development programme with e-portfolios (for the rest of the first year).

The students seemed to respond very positively and enthusiastically to the presentations and had no problems with downloading their College materials.

A similar training session was presented at the Willesden campus of the College of North West London on Wednesday, 9th July. Three students were expected; one turned up. However, the student indicated that he would pass on the memory sticks containing the presentations to the other two students.

It is evident that both colleges have sound virtual learning environments of their own and that the students were well-prepared for using u-Link at Brunel. Due to the relatively late start of the project in relation to the academic year, it would seem that further training sessions at college campuses are not feasible this year. If the arrangement of sessions can be initiated earlier in future, they can be promoted well in advance.

Posted by Phil Alberts, Head of e-Learning at Brunel University.

Your Comments

Comment on this article

More eLearning News