Graeme Prescott

Underpinned by the LEAP (Learning Excellence Achievement Pathway) framework and awarded the Digital Literacy Award at LILAC in 2018, LEAP Online continues to evolve and support students with their academic and personal development at the University of Bolton.
This presentation will reflect on the journey so far, specifically focusing on how LEAP Online has evolved since its implementation in 2017 and its role in the coordinated approach to blended learning, information literacy and student retention and success at the University of Bolton.
The presentation will emphasise on key developments of LEAP Online, namely the newly created Academic Writing Tutorial - an interactive module that incorporates innovative learning technology to support students with all aspects of the academic writing process.
Additionally, we will then focus on ‘LEAP Live’. Launched in September 2022, following a successful pilot in the previous academic year, LEAP Live is an extension of LEAP Online and offers University of Bolton and off-campus partner students, the opportunity to attend a series of in-person and/or remote workshops, sessions and events, all of which are designed to complement the work we undertake in the digital world and support students with their academic and personal development. The presentation will consider some of the challenges associated with its launch, including the collaboration between professional and academic services to facilitate the programme.
While LEAP Online offers students the opportunity to explore skills and competencies that will help them to develop their academic and personal practices, LEAP Online badges are also awarded to students who complete modules. Quantitative data from badged assessments demonstrates over 121,000 badges have been awarded since 2017. This, together with qualitative feedback from both staff and students indicates that LEAP Online remains firmly embedded in the student journey and the University’s learning and teaching strategy. We continue to take pride in its success, and following an initial evaluation, we are also optimistic that LEAP Live will have the same impact.

Traditional “chalk and talk” lecture-style classrooms are quickly evolving to become student-centred, technology-rich flexible learning environments that support active and collaborative learning. An active learning environment facilitates greater collaboration between tutor and learner by the introduction of student-centred pedagogy and supporting learning technologies. It is now recognised that using an active learning approach results in greater student engagement, retention and success. There are many potential challenges to adopting an active learning approach. None more so than, what happens if it all goes wrong? Therefore, it is vital for tutors to be effective and familiar with the use of technology to support active learning in conjunction with new pedagogies and room facilities.
This presentation will examine the affordance of using an active learning approach to enhance the student experience. Central to the theme of the presentation will be the state of the art active learning room within the Institute of Management, University of Bolton facilitated by Sony Vision Exchange and Ubicast lecture capture. Lecture capture systems provide opportunities for students to review lecture content at any time. Delegates will be encouraged to engage in discussion around how to embed active learning in their teaching and in particular the use of the Sony Vision Exchange suite.