Bob McClelland

Digital Learning and Teaching: Evaluation of Developments for Students in Higher Education.

Whilst there has been a great deal of activity in the exploration of learning situations, especially with the development of computer-aided learning, the introduction of holistic views of learning situations can be useful. In particular, one current approach is that of supported web-based learning systems to complement traditional teaching. This paper focuses on recent work at Liverpool John Moores University (JMU) for one undergraduate module, which with one other has served to provide a rationale for a web-based teaching, learning and support environment for academic staff and students. The approach has enabled researchers at JMU to explore module/programme support development possibilities on the web from academic, quality and commercial perspectives as well as the cybernetic and evolutionary nature of learning. It has also enabled an exploration of student attitudes and perceptions to the technology, insights into the learning strategies adopted by students and their relation to student learning styles. The emphases in studying this system are appropriateness in terms of pedagogy, quality of content, presentation and technology fit. The innovation has appeal with students, it has flexibility as a delivery platform and there are cost benefits and external commercial possibilities. The development process for academics has been mapped and cost benefits of the web site gauged, in order to develop the strategy of a quality-based web-supported teaching and learning environment, coupled with a suitable support mechanism and evaluation model, for staff and students at JMU.

The Move towards Managerialism: Perceptions of Staff in "Traditional" and "New" UK Universities.

The raison d’être of higher education institutions is to educate individuals, undertake research, and disseminate knowledge into the public domain. Changing values and norms in HEIs, partly as a product of “managerialism”, as well as increased competition for funding and other environmental factors, have moved autonomous institutions towards more business-like and private-sector ideals. These factors have different effects on the different “traditional” and “new” universities that operate within the higher education sector in the UK. This paper utilises the results of a UK survey of universities to determine the impact of these changes in universities. Results of a quantitative survey indicate that staff members in “traditional” universities feel strongly pressured to be research-recognised but that academic decisions are made by academics, whilst “new” universities viewed higher education as a business. Interestingly, both groups felt pressured to improve student numbers.

End of life care: The experiences of advance care planning amongst family caregivers of people with advanced dementia - A qualitative study

Background End of life decisions for people with advanced dementia are reported as often being difficult for families as they attempt to make appropriate and justified decisions. Aim To explore the experiences of advance care planning amongst family caregivers of people with advanced dementia. Design Qualitative research including a series of single cases (close family relatives). Methods A purposive sample of 12 family caregivers within a specialist dementia unit was interviewed about their experiences of advance care planning between August 2009 and February 2010. Results/Findings Family caregivers need encouragement to ask the right questions during advance care planning to discuss the appropriateness of nursing and medical interventions at the end of life. Conclusions Advance care planning can be facilitated with the family caregiver in the context of everyday practice within the nursing home environment for older people with dementia.

Demonstrating Access to Public Services Diagrammatically

The Nomogramma di Gandy is a practical analytical tool and presentational method that can be applied to the subject of access to public services, such as universities, prisons, and hospitals. Illustrative examples are provided. It is flexible, requires minimal data, and can compare access across many geographical areas in one presentation. It addresses the need to appreciate the dynamics that can exist behind summary statistical analyses that focus on net changes, and can show trends over time. Such visual scanning of multiple data points and their relative juxtapositions, enables many common thinking errors to be minimized, if not completely avoided.

Evaluating the delivery, impact, costs and benefits of an active lives programme for older people living in the community

Aim Age UK Lancashire received Big Lottery funding to deliver an active lives programme from January 2012 to December 2014 to the population of West Lancashire aged over 50 years. The overall aims of the associated evaluation were to measure older peoples experiences of participating in the programme, identify the impacts on their health and well-being and their suggestions for services development, and establish the costs and benefits of the programme. BACKGROUND The World Health Organisation recommends older people should be able to achieve physical, social and mental well-being throughout their lives, and that international, national and local policies should be developed to support older adults, promote their independence and well-being, and encourage physical exercise. Consequently, the West Lancashire programme was to establish preventative community support for older people to assist in improving their well-being and physical and mental health, particularly those isolated due to age-related illness or disability. It was to provide interventions not available from local social care providers. METHODS A mixed methods approach was adopted, with the qualitative evaluation utilising focus groups to establish peoples experiences, identify impacts on their health and well-being, and suggestions for services development. This paper describes the quantitative evaluation, which involved three surveys and a costs analysis. The surveys were scheduled to give timely feedback to management about programme delivery and content, and overall benefits of participation. Findings The active lives programme and groups offered a wide range of flexible and local activities that provided benefits for older people in terms of health and well-being, social well-being and quality of life, and reducing social isolation. There was interconnectivity between these benefits. The programme was delivered in an affordable and flexible manner. Such programmes should be made more widely available.

Digital teaching, learning and program supports: an examination of developments for students in higher education

While there has been a great deal of activity in the exploration of learning situations, especially with the development of computer aided learning, the introduction of holistic views of learning situations can be useful. In particular, one current approach is that of supported Web based learning systems to complement traditional teaching. This paper focuses on recent work at LBS on one undergraduate module, which with one other has served to provide a rationale for a Web-based teaching, learning and support environment for academic staff and students. The approach has enabled us to explore module/programme support development possibilities on the Web from academic, quality and commercial perspectives as well as the cybernetic and evolutionary nature of learning. It has also enabled us to explore student attitudes and perceptions to the technology, the learning strategies adopted by students, and relate it to student learning styles and approaches to study. The emphases in studying this system are appropriateness in terms of pedagogy, quality of content and presentation, technology fit. There is appeal to students, flexibility as a delivery platform, cost benefits and external commercial possibilities. The development process for academics has been mapped and cost benefits of the Web site recorded, in order to develop the strategy of a Web supported teaching and learning environment, coupled with a suitable support mechanism, for staff and students at Liverpool Business School.