CETL Interactive Technologies for Active Learning

A superficial understanding of new technologies, and zealous advocacy of their use, has often resulted in a haphazard approach to their adoption in learning programmes.

Interactive Cultures worked on a pilot study to deepen Birmingham City University's understanding of how best to implement interactive technologies within its teaching.

The CETL Interactive Technologies for Active Learning project considered the difference between the deployment of technology because it makes a genuine and exciting contribution to the learning and teaching process, and the deployment of technology simply because it is present, new or popular.

The project was delivered in partnership with colleagues across the University within the School of Secondary and Post-Compulsory Education and the Centre for Research into Quality.

The aims of the pilot project were to:

• Develop appropriate use of new technologies for the support of specific learning and teaching activities
• Develop lecturing staff's awareness of, and expertise in, e-learning and podcasting technologies and how such technologies can best be utilised
• Equip staff with the necessary competence to enable them to introduce innovative practice into the workplace
• Capture the process through which university academic staff and student teachers engage with new technologies as learning tools
• Capture the views of staff and students on the process and experience of using the technology in university education and school classrooms.

The research undertaken during the project resulted in the Enabling Digital Participation in Higher Education paper.

More information on the CETL Interactive Technologies for Active Learning project is available from the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR).