1.3 Excellent Learning Resources
1.3.1 Ensuring that learning resources, in particular e-learning resources, are appropriate for the education provided
Summary of Strategy
|
Strategic Aim |
(Ongoing) Action |
Appropriate bodies and student representatives |
|
1.3 Excellent Learning Resources |
||
|
1.3.1 Ensuring that learning resources, in particular e-learning resources, are appropriate for the education provided |
§ Support and facilitate the work of the LLP. § Lobby for the use of applications and tools (e.g. CamTools, PDP) in Faculties. § Lobby for the development and availability of online Lecture notes and resources where insufficient. |
§ CUSU AAO § CUSU EO § CUSU FLO through: § LLP Steering Group § Student FBMs |
Strategy
1.3.1 Ensuring that learning resources, in particular e-learning resources, are appropriate for the teaching provided
The ULTS stated aim 4.1.4 (b) under 'Excellent Learning Resources' is to ensure that learning resources and in particular e-learning resources, are appropriate for the teaching provided.
Participation on the LLP steering group will help determine the various useful media through which contemporary Cambridge students learn. At the same time CUSU continues to lobby for improvements in online resources, such as the availability of lecture notes[1], where appropriate. Students miss lectures from time to time for different reasons, whether it is due to illness or Saturday lectures due to religious reasons, and can benefit from online lecture notes. Students with specific learning difficulties (SpLDs) can also benefit from an access to online lecture notes. Departments such as Geography and Plant Sciences have a pioneering approach to online resources and it is hoped that other Faculties follow suit. In its guidelines for good practice the University recommends that lecture notes are made available online where possible. The University has also invested in the development of CamTools[2], which is online software to be shared by students and teachers that allows for the easy uploading of lecture notes, a Wiki function for students working on projects together and many other useful functions.
Ongoing action: To continue supporting the LLP's research though participation on the Steering group, while at the same time working through Student FBMs, Student Staff Consultative Committees, and the General Board's Education Committee to lobby for the use of applications and tools such as CamTools and the availability of lecture notes where appropriate.
Return to CUSU Strategic Aim One: Improving Learning Opportunities for Students
[1] In recent years successive CUSU Academic Affairs Officers have campaigned for a greater availability of online resources. Most recently, from March to April 2007, the CUSU Welfare Officer and AAO worked through the Joint Committee on Disability (JCD) and the General Board's Education Committee (GBEC) to request that more Faculties make lecture notes available online under their obligations to the Disability Discrimination Act. The GBEC however ruled that to make such availability was an 'unreasonable adjustment' and therefore Faculties were not obliged to make it.
[2] See online at https://camtools.caret.cam.ac.uk for more information.