Uplift timeline

High-level view of trimester phases and sprint scheduling

Unit Uplift Progress

As of July 2023, 371 out of 1123 units have been evaluated, and 144 units have started or completed implementation 

Evaluation – The 16 Elements

The 16 elements are the essential building blocks that define our User Experience​ – evaluation is undertaken against these elements.

A grid diagram showing the 16 elements, colour-coded to the relevant domains.

The 16 Elements are grounded in standards such as TELAS (Technology Enhanced Learning Accreditation Standards) and UNE’s Online Learning Standards, and draw on extensive consultation and feedback from other projects (Commencing Student Success Project; FutureFit Campus) to articulate the elements that define a consistent, current and compelling user experience in our next-generation ecosystem.

Explore the 16 Elements in more detail below:

Domain: Layout and Interface

Rationale: Consistency of presentation with a distinct visual identity of units

Essentials:

  • A curated set of unit tiles is in place for the unit
  • An appropriate dashboard image is in place
  • UNE preset styles, fonts and colours are used throughout
  • Consistent preset styles reference different activity types

 

Standards: 

  • TELAS: 2.1
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 7

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Early unit coordinator presence and student engagement

Essentials:

  • A video to introduce the unit and explain what the unit is about
  • The unit coordinator or teaching team is introduced
  • The video is hosted in appropriate platforms

Consider: Video introductions to topics and/or assessment tasks

Guidance: Think longevity, remove reference to dates or details that can change quickly.

Standards: TELAS 4.3


Domain: Layout and Interface

Rationale: Students from the outset have clear understanding of the unit and a consistent location for the information across all units

Essentials:

  • The Unit Information and Assessment overview book is present in the unit
  • Communication processes are in place to provide students with key information regarding the unit
  • Clear instructions and expectations are provided for instructor availability
  • Instructions are provided for navigating the unit and locating key resources
  • Module reflection points and clear learning goals for each topic are in place

Standards: 

  • TELAS: 2.1, 2.2
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 4 and 5

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Students have access to any readings required via a system that is copyright compliant and centrally managed.

Essentials:

  • All unit readings are kept in the Reading List system
  • The Reading List is concise, with all resources current to the period of delivery
  • If there is a set text, the text is fit for purpose and the best option available

Standards:

  • TELAS: 1.3 and 7.2
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 7

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Provide access to a wide variety of resources

Essentials:

  • Use of OER resources is considered where appropriate

Standards:

  • TELAS: 7.2
  • UNE Course Design Framework 4.8

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Learning resources are compliant with copyright regulations.

Essentials:

  • All media and resources are copyright compliant and correctly attributed

Standards:

  • TELAS 7.2
  • UNE Copyright Policy
  • Copyright Act

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Students have access to high quality media designed for online delivery.

Essentials:

  • Media has clear audio and visuals
  • All media is hosted in appropriate systems (eg Echo360, Kaltura, Pedestal3D)
  • All media is current (or not dated if reused from previous sessions)
  • Media is used purposefully (eg chunked and targeted video, long lecture recordings only used when appropriate to purpose)

Standards:

  • TELAS: 7.1
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 5 and 7

Domain: Media and Resources

Rationale: Student can engage with the materials directly in the LMS (no download or separate software required) and can actively engage with the materials

Essentials:

  • Static PDFs or Word documents are limited. Information is presented in HTML or other on-screen formats
  • Learning resources make use of a range of digital technologies and media (eg H5P)

Standards:

  • TELAS: 7.1
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 7

Domain: Communication and Interaction

Rationale: Giving students the ability to visually track their progress through a unit

Essentials:

  • The content is divided into manageable segments that are appropriately labelled (topics, weeks, modules etc)
  • Unit completion tracking (either manually set by student or automatic) is set up
  • Module reflection points and clear learning goals for each topic or module

Standards:

  • TELAS: 2.2
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 3 and 5

Domain: Communication and Interaction

Rationale: Student are encouraged to take an active role in their learning and engage deeply with the materials and with their peers

Essentials:

  • Opportunities are provided for students to interact and communicate with each other and with teaching staff

Guidance: This could take the form of:

  • Group work
  • Forums
  • Synchronous tutorials
  • Other tools such as polls, online whiteboards etc

Standards:

  • TELAS: 4.1, 4.2
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 5

Domain: Assessment

Rationale: Deeper student engagement with the assessment tasks

Essentials:

  • Emerging media and technology is considered in more assessments (eg multimedia OLX)
  • Assessment tasks make effective use of digital technologies

Standards:

  • TELAS: 6.1
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 7

Domain: Assessment

Rationale: Assessment tasks and criteria are clearly defined to aid student success; students are provided with feedback to support success

Essentials:

  • Assessment tasks use consistent terminology
  • Assessment criteria (e.g. rubrics) for all tasks are provided and clearly defined
  • Feedback processes are in place to provide students with actionable feedback for all assessment tasks
  • Feedback processes make effective use of digital tools and workflows

Standards:

  • TELAS: 5
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 3
  • UNE Course Design Framework 4.3
  • UNE Assessment Policy

Domain: Communication and Interaction

Rationale: Provide unit coordinators access to unit information to assist with student support, engagement and future unit improvement

Essentials:

  • Unit and student analytics are easy accessible either via built-in reporting tools or external tools (eg ATRIUM)
  • Student have access to relevant analytics where appropriate

Standards:

  • TELAS: 3.5
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 5 and 7

Domain: Layout and Interface

Rationale: All students can engage in learning in ways that maximise their success

Essentials:

  • Content, where applicable, is offered in multiple formats (audio/video/text)
  • Transcripts are provided for every video
  • Media has clear audio for automatic transcript accuracy
  • Media reflects the diversity of our student cohort

Guidance: Consider providing multiple ways for student to engage with idea and present their own work.

Standards:

  • TELAS 1.1, 1.3, 7.3, 8.2
  • UNE Online Learning Standards: 1, 7
  • Future Fit – Personalised Learning Journeys

 


Domain: Communication and Interaction

Rationale: All students are able to access information and services that support learning

Essentials:

  • Links to relevant services, information and policies are provided
  • Clear instructions for accessing technical support resources are provided
  • Clear and consistent instructions/guides/best-practice-methods for using the technology (in the relevant context) are provided.
  • Information and support to answer learner questions is provided.
  • Links to Studiosity
  • Links to PASS

Standards:

  • TELAS 3
  • UNE Online Learning Standards 4

Rationale: UNE remains a leader in online learning and digital innovation; UNE units utilise digital-first design

Essentials:

  • Opportunities for PebblePad in this unit
  • Opportunities for H5P in this unit
  • Opportunities for rich media in this unit
  • Opportunities for MS Teams in this unit for groupwork / collaboration

Standards:

  • TELAS 6, 8
  • UNE Online Learning Standards 7
  • UNE Course Design Framework 4.2

Categorisation

The evaluation process will categorise units into three different categories — Refresh, Revamp & Renew – based on the level of alignment with the 16 Elements.

Click the circles below for detail.

RefreshClick me
Light-touch updates
and improvements

(most UNE units will
fall into this category)
Refresh
RevampClick me
More extensive updates
or development work needed
Revamp
RenewClick me
New unit, or significant
development work needed
Renew

Workplan development

The workplan captures the work to be done – the team review the evaluation results and collaboratively agree a set of tasks to align with the 16 Elements.

 

Table itemising tasks under various elements and allocating them to different team members

 

 

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Team-based model

The uplift work is undertaken by a team who come together to share the workload and contribute their expertise:

Training Support
System and training expertise
Capability building
Technical support
Other expertise roles
Advisory and development
(Exams & eAssessment,
Library, student partner
etc)
Academic Staff
Subject matter expertise
Decisions around work plan
Content review and update
Development Support
Development & technical expertise
Develop and build
Setup and configuration
Media Production
Design & development expertise
Media creation
Media advisory
Learning Design
Pedagogical & design expertise
Conducts evaluation
Creates work plan
Design and development

Implementation

The development and implementation work is scheduled as an agile sprint according to category and trimester of offer

 

Sprint anatomy

A breakdown of what a sprint could look like for a ‘Refresh’ unit

Diagram showing a planning phase (survey and planning meeting), design phase (review workplan and design essentials), implementation phase (creating welcome video, review and update resources), and review and release phase for final approval

 

Uplift in Practice

Element 2 – Welcome Video

This element focuses on developing a strong digital presence to facilitate connection through the use of welcome videos. In the first post below, Dr Fincina Hopgood talks about her experiences with creating unit introduction videos and the value they offer students.

 

Element 16 – Opportunities

This element presents some exciting opportunities for implementing innovative practice through Project Uplift. A key opportunity area is 3D media, such as 3D scanned objects. 3D media can be integrated into online units in a huge range of ways, from teaching activities to assessment tasks, to create a rich and engaging student experience. In the second post below, Jackson Shoobert from the Learning Media Team explains the techniques and possibilities of 3D scanning.

In the third post, Steve Carruthers from the Learning Design Team and Sebastian Hesselmans-Dirven from the Exams & eAssessment team showcase ways that 3D media can be integrated into assessments such as OLX. You can look forward to working with our team through Project Uplift to explore some of these exciting possibilities in your units…!

An example checklist of 16 areas which can make a successful unit.
A graphic showing the proposed timeline for the uplift work.