What does the student experience mean to you?
A couple of years ago, no, a couple of months ago, if someone talked about the "student experience" they would have been laughed off the campus. It's the sort of phrase that made listeners squirm and speakers sound pretentious. However, now - it's all anyone is talking about and the difference is remarkable. Maybe it's a symptom of the Leitch Report and a realisation that skills in the UK has to be a priority focus for education in order for prosperity to become a reality. Anyway, I'm all for this kind of terminology and it really speaks to the work my colleagues and I are working on.
I have many theories on how to enhance the Student Experience in a university but I’ll stick to the main educational ones for now. I believe areas of personalisation will be of increasing importance and this reaches right across the board. Students will be looking to learn when, where, how and also to choose what they learn
How can technology help? Well, I’d go for the obvious such as social based learning supported through a comprehensive learning environment that is not oriented around a structural hierarchy rather one that works with the students allowing the flexibility they need. Communication tools that work with the student and from many different devices and locations. Also, tools that have real life value and skills in how to use those that can be fed directly in to a CV.
I guess the main question of the Student Experience really has to be “is this going to enhance my employability?”
What does the “Student Experience” mean to you and what are you doing to improve it? Please get in touch, I’d love to know but please don’t mention Shibboleth because I’m beginning to feel that not one student on this Island has heard of it (ok, a few might have) and I’ve other posts that address this ;-)
I’m looking for ePortfolio stories, student oriented collaborative environments, social learning technology for example.
Examples of where I believe Microsoft is helping are at the following locations:
Learning Gateway – connecting learners and teachers www.learninggateway.net
Advanced Collaboration and Distance Learning http://research.microsoft.com/conferencexp/
Innovative social learning in developing regions http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/dec06/12-14MultiPoint.mspx
