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Introduction to the PALATINE project

Project title

An exploration of learner and tutor experience in using online synchronous learning environments across disciplines within the School of Drama and Creative Industries.

Background

This was a small, 9-month project funded by PALATINE (the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Dance, Drama and Music) which focused on use of online synchronous learning environments, such as Wimba and Eluminate, in drama and cultural management studies at Queen Margaret University (QMU).

The project aim and objectives were:

Aim

To investigate whether, and in what ways, tutors and learners engage with online synchronous learning environments such as Wimba and Eluminate.

Objectives

To conduct an in-depth, comparative study of tutor and student experiences of using an online synchronous learning environment (OSLE) in order to:

  • Build a rich picture of actual learner and tutor engagement with such technology across four drama programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level;
  • Develop an understanding of the impact of using an OSLE in the learning experience;
  • Develop guidelines and case studies for educators to improve learner and tutor use of OSLEs.

The five sections

The project was divided into five mini projects with specific time frames:

Project 1

A literature review of student perceptions and tutor use of OSLEs

 

In this section of the project we reviewed emerging research on the use of OSLEs or equivalent in higher education from the tutor and student perspective

 

1 December 2009

Project 2

Case studies from QMU drama and cultural management programmes using an OSLE

 

Each of the tutors using an OSLE completed an online form outlining their intended use of the OSLE, how they planned to introduce it to the students and their hopes and concerns for using an OSLE in the learning environment.

 

1 December 2009

Project 3

Exploring student attitudes to using OSLEs in learning and teaching

 

After students were introduced to the OSLE, they were invited to participate in the project. They could either:

  • complete an online questionnaire form after having been introduced to the OSLE;

and/or

  • create online video diaries using the OSLE.

Prior to approaching the students to engage with the project, the team sought and gained ethical approval from QMU.

 

31 March 2010

Project 4

Exploring tutor and student attitudes to using OSLEs in learning and teaching

 

The tutors who were introducing the OSLE to their students completed an online form about their intended use of the OSLE. The tutors also created regular video diaries using the OSLE to reflect on their use of the OSLE. Towards the end of the project the tutors were interviewed individually. Five students were also interviewed.

 

31 March 2010

Project 5

Guidelines to using OSLEs in drama.

 

The final section of the project focused on providing guidelines for tutors in higher education who might consider using an OSLE, drawing upon our experiences in the project.

 

31 July 2010

 


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