Ruth Greenaway

Reducing the Split-Attention Effect in Assembly based Instruction by Merging Physical Parts with Holograms in Mixed Reality.

Split attention in instructional materials is a recognised problem known to cause an increase in cognitive load. Instructional designers often try to resolve this by using a variety of methods that do not account for the spatial disconnect between diagrams being matched up with physical parts during an assembly task. The emergence of Mixed Reality offers a solution, using “holograms” which can project 3d images into the physical environment around the user. This paper reports on a project that proposes the creation of a software prototype that simultaneously enables part identification and tracking of parts for assembly. It conceives a new way of providing instructions when assembling flat pack furniture by endeavouring to facilitate working memory constrains. The software prototype will assist the user by showing where parts should be placed and by providing real-time feedback based on interaction.

Student experiences of learning in a technology-enabled learning space

ABSTRACT When students are given the opportunity to articulate their experiences in a technology-enabled space, we gain insights into how the space impacts on their learning. This research contributes to the growing interest in the development of technology-enabled learning spaces in Australian higher education. A qualitative participatory research approach incorporating Photovoice, provided insights into students’ experiences of a tiered technology-enabled learning space. Participants included students who attended courses delivered in a 4-tiered learning space which accommodates 75 students at 14 small group desks. Thematic analysis of 85 student Photovoice reflections identified both learning environment challenges and affordances. Findings suggest that physical and technological affordances of this type of learning environment accommodate collaborative learning and indicate that technology-enabled learning spaces can encourage group work, self-directed learning and facilitate deeper learning through collaboration.

Extending the Reach with Blackboard+ - Enhancing the Student Blended Learning Experience through Good Online Course Design

The implementation of Bb+ supports the increasing use of a blended learning approach in tertiary education: a fundamental requirement of modern tertiary education. The use of a blended approach facilitates the expansion of the University both physically and virtually as courses are increasingly offered online across the sector. The Blackboard Plus (Bb+) initiative has been developed to broadly and significantly improve the quality of the student experience when using the University’s online learning environment. This will ensure consistency in design and structure across courses in a degree program to improve access to learning materials and for ease of navigation. Bb+ consists of a number of components to guide and support academics with its implementation as they design blended educational programs. To empower academics a bottom-up approach to the implementation of Bb+ is utilised to create the change and to maintain momentum and lasting change across the University.