Otago Polytechnic has developed an innovative approach to curriculum redesign.
The NZQA's Targeted Review of Qualifications provided Otago Polytechnic with an opportunity to systematically review its programmes in order to improve learner satisfaction and learner success. The innovative Designing for Learner Success (D4LS) project team is led by an instructional design consultant, Carolyn Levy, and a project manager. This centralised team supports programme teams by providing expert capability, for example in online learning, and develops and applies best practice consistently across various programmes.
The D4LS team members work with programme teams across Otago Polytechnic, using good practice educational design principles and practices, and communicating with collaborative technologies. The team tasks teachers to consider programme and course structure, content, learning methods, and assessments, and to reflect on programme delivery so that experiential, inclusive and blended learning are all embedded.
While it is too soon to evaluate the benefits of D4LS for learners, anecdotally learners are finding it easier to navigate the online learning platform, Moodle, and easier to move from one programme to another because there is more consistency in the online learning design approach.
D4LS is already having an impact on organisational culture, with programme teams more engaged in the redesign process, and communities of practice starting to appear across the Polytechnic. Results include higher levels of collaboration within and across teams, improved technological capabilities, increased motivation and greater confidence in learning design and teaching. These learnings have been shared by Claire Goode, from the Learning and Teaching Development team, and Carolyn Levy with other learning and teaching development experts internationally at the World Conference on Online Learning in Canada.
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Contact Claire Goode for more information.