(John Traxler for) Brendan Riordan School of Computing and Information Technology University of Wolverhampton

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(John Traxler for) Brendan RiordanSchool of
Computing and Information TechnologyUniversity
of Wolverhampton

• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Retention
  Strategies using SMS, WAP and WWW Student
  Support
• LTSN Development Project

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Context

• Course
• HND Computing HND BIT 2nd Year, Full Time
• Module
• Web Site Management - core module
• Format
• One Hour Lecture, Two Hours in Workshop
• Two Assessments (40), Exam (60)
• Second Run of this module
• Single semester, final semester of course
• Previous year poor exam results

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Context

• Previous Learning Technologies
• Previous use of WAP, course site
• Institutional VLE, Wolverhampton On Line Forum
  (WOLF)
• Individual Learning Profile, institution-wide
• Targeted Support in Numeracy and Literacy in SCIT

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Project Aims

• The School currently uses a WAP site to support
  its HND course and has WAP experience with some
  of its BSc modules. The School already provides
  one-to-one support in literacy, numeracy and
  other basic learning skills in-house, through
  the Learning Centre and on-line. The aim of the
  proposed project is to encourage and evaluate
  targeted take up of a radically enhanced version
  of these services using a blend of mobile
  technologies and increased networked resources.

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Project Objectives

• to develop, deliver and evaluate blended learning
  that exploited the different potentials of SMS
  text, WAP and VLEs

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Project Focus

• Retention and Progression
• The focus was on support for basic skills and
  literacy for HND computing students

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Project Priority

• Enhancement/enrichment (of better students)
• Alternative mode (for mainstream students)
• Support (of "at-risk/remedial students)

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The Students

• 57 students on the module, 46 opted in (81)
• 86 of University students have mobiles, 100 of
  target group

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The Technology

• Single/bulk SMS txt into PC interface with
  address book to individual mobiles
• TextNow! from RedRock Software
• Why RedRock ?
• 350 000 users World-wide
• Chosen by AOL to provide SMS service
• Software 1400 - we got a demo
• Messages 70 per thousand

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The Technology
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The Technology

• Stand -alone use
• problems with University networks, with Windows
  on networks
• used on private machine with timer
• needed secretarial support
• course admin especially at start of year
• revision tips
• Proposed integration and use
• with MRS/SITS
• with lecturers marking coursework - problems with
  buy-in
• with referrals to VLE and personal support
• broadcast grades vs individual messages re
  pastoral/support matters
• VLE- existing VLE material very unsuitable

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Informal Feedback

• Students excited with idea of SMS feedback
• Largely used for Assignment Feedback, and
  Revision Tips for students
• Not used for Discursive Education/Discussing
  possible use for an on-line forum for
  course/module
• Students keen for instant feedback of grade,
  less interested in comprehensive feedback
• Do u snd mssgs lke ths ? Are you in fact
  sending the wrong message ?

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Initial Student Feedback
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Initial Student Feedback
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Initial Student Feedback
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Initial Student Feedback
Yes, definitely Maybe No, no way Didnt answer
Are you pleased you took part in the experiment? 43 2 0 1
Did the experiment help you in your studies? 40 5 0 1
Would you recommend the experiment to other students? 38 7 0 1
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Lecturer Feedback

• Probably the wrong group of students
• target group already dropped out
• Cost-effective ?
• fee income vs running costs
• Technical problems pushed deployment too late
• Students swap/lose mobiles
• Easy to use once set up
• requires second run to look at catching at risk
  students in first semester

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What Next ?

• Will it continue? What was the wider
  reaction/response?
• Talks with IT Infrastructure Group
• LTSN workshop
• sponsorship from SONY
• PDA project
• once SITS has settled down, possible integration