[Programme] [Venue] [Previous 'Beyond' Colloquia]

Target audience: Schools, FE, HE, and lifelong learning

This event discussed, at a high level, the development of C&IT material for use in teaching. In particular had pedagogical theory/best practice fed into this in the past, and if not, should we be trying to remedy the situation for the future? Were commercial VLEs the answer to our prayers or are we being pushed into a corner against our better judgement as teachers and designers?

These questions and many more were answered in the one-day colloquium "Beyond Theory: Educational best practice and the use of ICT for teaching and learning". For the last eight years Oxford University has organised a series of successful events which have discussed the place of technology in the spheres of learning, culture, and society and 'Beyond Theory' continued this.

The event included a lengthy debate on the motion:

"This house believes that commercial Virtual Learning Environments (LMS) provide sufficient facilities for the teaching and learning needs of Higher and Further Education"

Result: 35 FOR 96 AGAINST

We will be updating this site in the near future with presentations from the speakers and images from the event.

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Speakers included:

Professor Oleg Liber (Bolton)
Dr. Gilly Salmon (Open University Business School)
Vijay Kumar (MIT, OCW/OKI)
Professor Andrew Booth (Leeds)
Dr. Andrew Ravenscroft (UNL)
Professor Angela McFarlane (Bristol)
Professor David Unwin (UK eUniversities Worldwide)
Bill Olivier (CETIS)
Tom Franklin (TechLearn Centre)
Dr Andy Syson (Coventry)

 

 

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The venue - the Debating Chamber of the Oxford Union

The Oxford Union is the world's most famous debating society. Established in 1823 and located in glorious Victorian Buildings in the heart of Oxford University, it aims to promote debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe. The Oxford Union is on St Michael's Street, Oxford (between Cornmarket and New Inn Hall St). For more information see http://www.oxford-union.org/.

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Programme

9.30-10.00 - Registration

10.00 - Welcome: Stuart Lee, Head of the Learning Technologies Group, University of Oxford

10.05-10.30 - Opening Plenary

'Alone together - learning in higher education'

Prof Angela McFarlane, University of Bristol

10.30-12.30- Round Table Discussion: 'The influence of educational best practice on ICT in teaching and learning'

• Andrew Ravencroft, London Metropolitan University
• Professor David Unwin, Learning Programmes Director, UK eUniversities Worldwide
• Bill Olivier, Director of the Centre for Educational Technology Interoperability Standards (CETIS)
• Vijay Kumar, OCW/OKI, MIT

Including a discussion on 'The impetus behind the development of ICT material and major national projects is always one of two things: advances in technology or economic necessity. The needs of education always come a poor third.'

12.30-1.00 - Second Plenary

'Reclaiming the Teritory'

Gilly Salmon, Open University Business School

1.00-2.30 - Lunch ( not provided, but coffee will be served from 2.00-2.30)

2.30-4.30 - Formal Debate: 'This house believes that commercial Virtual Learning Environments (LMS) provide sufficient facilities for the teaching and learning needs of Higher and Further Education'



For:

• Tom Franklin, TechLearn
• Andy Syson, Coventry University

Against:

• Oleg Liber, Bolton Institute
• Andrew Booth, Leeds University
(Chair: John Stone, JISC Committee for Learning and Teaching)

Result: 35 FOR 96 AGAINST

 

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Picture credit: Hulton-Getty Archive, HELIX project.

HTML by M. Cacioppo, January 2003. Updated by S. Lee, April 2003.