Aims:
The aims of the development described in this case study are to:
- provide an interactive technical resource for staff and
student use;
- enable students to browse and view construction operations
without visiting a site;
- provide 'real life' case study material.
- To compliment the University's slide library and enhance
the School's learning resource base.
- To enhance the student learning experience.
Resources:
The slide library contains in excess of 6000 images. Originally these
were made up of the existing departmental slides that were then scanned
into the computer. With the advent of digital cameras, the current data
is downloaded directly to the relevant folder directly from the camera.
The images are broken down into a series of folders relevant to the subject
matter. These folders cover individual construction operations, such as
floors, retaining walls etc or refer to a specific project for example
the Inland Revenue building. Where applicable the slides are accompanied
by descriptions of the site and in some cases drawings and other relevant
information such as method statements, risk assessment schedules etc.
Within the School there are in excess of 60 computers dedicated for student
use. The 'StudRes' intranet facility can be accessed from any of these
machines. Having selected the slide library facility, the students can
scroll down the page to select their relevant subject matter. Having selected
this, thumbnails are available of all the slides to enable the student
to find the most appropriate image. Once selected, a file containing larger
images can be selected and printed off, if required. Figures 1 and 2 are
indicative examples of the information available to the students. The
adobe file contains thumbnails images and the main images are contained
in the other data files. The example selected is typical of the information
contained within the slide library.
the figure shows thumb-nail presentations of some of the available slides
This resource has developed significantly over the last three years and
future developments include the use of an online media library containing
digital film clips and images. The university has invested heavily in
its virtual learning portal www.elearn.ac.uk (1) and this is to be utilised
to allow students to have unlimited access to the slide library, via a
computer, from anywhere in the world. In addition, a major refurbishment
of one of the school's learning areas is underway to provide a school-wide
resource centre and information Technology suite.
individual thumb-nails can be viewed in greater detail
Details
Although the division received an excellent rating for its resource provision
in the 1997 QAA inspection, it has long been recognised that the information
on the built environment available within the library needs complimenting
with detailed subject specific data. Whilst this provision has existed
in the form of displays, material show boards and slides, the development
of Information Technology enables the school to broaden the access provision
for this material and there by enhance the student learning experience.
The slide library is used across the School and Division encompassing
Building, Civil Engineering, Surveying and Environmental Health disciplines.
Modules making regular use of the slide library include Design and Technology
(levels 1, 2, and 3), Dissertation, Food Technology, Building Conversion
and Adaptation, and Construction Methods.
In order to encourage the use of this facility, the School Intranet forms
a specific part of the Information Technology and Communications module.
Students are shown how to navigate through the 'Studres' facility and
how to download and print slides from the slide library. This module also
includes a workshop-based tutorial on using the slide library.
Evaluation:
Evaluation of the module has been carried out formally via module leader's
feedback forms that contained specific questions relating to the use and
value of the slide library as an addition to the teaching and learning
resources available to the students. In 90% of cases, the feedback has
been positive with students commenting that the slide library has been
extremely useful in helping the students identify and visualise details
that they could not have understand through traditional forms of communications
such as text books and sketches. The negative comments related in all
cases to problems associated with difficulties accessing the system and
understanding how to most efficiently navigate the system, these issues
have been acknowledged and improvements and upgrades have been made.
Many staff have received informal feedback and the benefits to the students
of the slide library are best measured by the increasing reference to
slide library material in students projects and in their Directed Learning
Portfolios. This was noted initially with level 1 students but, as they
have progressed through their course, its use has become widespread at
all levels.
Benefits:
At all levels of the course, the benefit of an offsite method of visualising
construction activities and providing a complete record and the sequence
of construction operations is clear. At levels 1 and 2, the majority of
the students on the course have no construction experience with most of
them having never set foot on a building site. The slide library enables
the site to come closer to the classroom and enhances the student's learning
experience. Site visits are also visually documented and the data is stored
on the slide library to be revisited during lectures and workshops. This
gives the students a longer assimilation period and maximises the value
and benefit of site visits.
The breadth of the information is far greater than anyone person could
attain in a lifetime in the construction industry. This provides the students
with and invaluable visual data bank of information and a huge historical
archive of construction techniques, methods and differing architectural
styles
Issues and lessons to be learnt:
Coupled with the rapid development of Information Technology and the level
of information available to all via the world wide web, it could be argued
that the benefits of an in-house computer based slide library are outweighed
by the effort required to start up and maintain the project. However,
rather than detracting from external sources of information and developments
in Information Technology, the slide library has help inspire the students
to embrace these development.
It is evident by the student usage of this system the it gives are students
a unique local knowledge base and provides a catalyst to source and find
information from other sources when required. The slide library compliments
alternative sources information available to students both within and
outside the university. This is clearly evident by a considerable improvement
in the range and quality of literature and visual aids used by students
within the school to enhance their work.
Ongoing Developments:
The slide library can currently only be accessed from within the university.
It is anticipated that in the very near future the material will be available
to all students via the university's web based learning portal (www.elearn.ac.uk).
This will significant broaden the access base and allow registered students
access, via the Internet, from anywhere. Currently this system is being
piloted with 5000 students in the university and is proving a great success.
Over 400 students from the school have been involved in the pilot scheme
and as part of this many have gained web-based access to the slide library.
The Virtual Learning Portal provides each user with a custom set of resources
to access course materials, communications and a range of services. Staffs
are able to manage their course materials over the web via an administrator
interface from within the Portal to allow direct linkage to course notes
and lecture material. It is anticipated that the slide library will interface
directly with the Virtual Learning Portal.
References, Further Reading and Sources of Further
related information:
For further information see:
- The Virtual Learning Portal, the Nottingham Trent University, IT Development
Group, C & IT Development Group - E-learning, www.elearn.ac.uk,
Accessed May 2002.
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