OER update for Science and Technology

Recap on what the Open Educational Resources (OERs) so far released for the School of Science and Technology are and the statistics on their views an downloads.

Problem-Solving

Author: Dr Scott Turner

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Details

These mini lectures are intended for undergraduate computing students, for providing simple steps in problem solving before the students learn a programming language. Problem-Solving and Programming is a common first year undergraduate module on the BSc Computing Programme at the University of Northampton. This material was taken from the problem solving part of the module and provides an introduction to five topics in problem-solving.

The resource can be found at: http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/19001

Statistics are:

Pollution And Pollutants

Authors: Paul Cox and Nigel Freestone

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18529

Details

Pollution is the undesirable introduction of pollutants (contaminants) into the natural environment (land, air and water) and can have an adverse affect on human health. This resource provides an introduction to pollution and pollutants. The classification and distribution of pollutants is also considered. A number of self-assessment questions are provided to allow you to check your new knowledge. The material comes in Word format and its HTML equivalent. The pollutants.htm file includes two images (poll.gif and ld50.gif) and an answers page (SAQ_Answers.htm) related to it that need to be put in the same folder as the pollutants.htm file.


Statistics are:

Properties of Ultrasonic Waves

Author: Phil Picton 

http://find.jorum.ac.uk/resources/18755

Details

This material gives the description of the physical processes involved in the propagation of ultrasonic pressure waves as they pass through a material. It includes a mathematical derivation of the amplitude of the transmitted and reflected pressure waves, and an explanation is given for the differences between the near and far zones. This material has been used in the Advanced Inspection Methods and Techniques module as part of the BSc programme in Non-Destructive Testing at the University of Northampton.

Statistics are:

URB@N Project: Evaluation of the barriers and opportunities for wastes management distance learning courses

The School of Science and Technology, University of Northampton has funding from URB@N for three projects. URB@N stands for ‘Undergraduate Research Bursaries at Northampton’. It is a bursary scheme offering opportunities for current undergraduate students to participate in a pedagogic research project taking place at the university. Details of one of these projects is included here.

Evaluation of the barriers and opportunities for wastes management distance learning courses

Staff Involved:

Terry Tudor

Paul Cox

Nigel Freestone

Louise Maxwell

Ruth Copeland-Phillips

Margaret Bates

Overview:

In recent years there has been increasing emphasis globally on managing the

environment, particularly wastes, in a more sustainable manner. Linked to

this has been a desire to increase the competencies and skills of individuals

in the field of environmental management and more specifically wastes

management. The Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences,

at the University currently offers a range of environmental management

courses, with a growing provision of distance learning. Indeed, within the

past few months, the Department has been approached by universities in

India, Kenya, Nigeria, Iraq and China, with requests for provision of waste

management course. However, it is not possible to deliver by traditional

classroom based methods in all interested institutions. The Wastes Team is

therefore looking at a range of alternative delivery methods including, but not

limited to, blended learning, flying faculty and distance learning. We wish to

undertake research into the perception and logistics of wastes management

course delivery by distance learning so that we can better meet the student

expectations and enhance their learning experiences. The project’s main

objectives are to:

Examine the key socio-economic, cultural and logistical factors that

might influence the successful uptake of alternative delivery methods in

waste management courses

Identify possible strategies to overcome these factors which would

facilitate an enhanced student experience.

For more information about this project go to Evaluation of the barriers and opportunities for wastes management distance learning courses

More details about URB@N can be found at: http://www.northampton.ac.uk/urban

Technology for Transition

Re-blogged from: http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/02/28/technology-for-transition/ by Julie Usher

Staff in the School of Science and technology have been looking at ways in which technology can help to widen participation and ’increase support and retention on non-full-time programmes’. This began with a project to develop online introductory materials, for applicants to Waste Management courses to use before their taught course started.

The team used a range of tools, including NILE and Wimba Create, to build an informative, interactive site for incoming students to use. The resources were based on the team’s previous research into induction of distance learners. These materials can be seen in the guest access NILE site for the course.


The project was a success and led to the project team – Ruth Copeland-Phillips, Paul Cox and Louise Maxwell  – gaining a Teaching Fellowship award. It has also led to the development of further online materials, aimed at helping distance learning overseas students ‘make a successful transtion to the University of Northampton academically, socially and culturally’.


Read the full project report for more information.

Double the Teaching Fellows!

The School of Science and Technology is going to double the number of Teaching Fellows to six (joining Jonathan Adams, Greg Spellman and Scott Turner). Three colleagues were successful in their application for Teaching Fellowship (one of only four to be awarded). 


Ruth Copeland-Philips, Louise Maxwell and Paul Cox will be awarded their fellowships for their work on Technology to help with the transistion into Higher Education of distance learning students.


Details of their work can be found at:

• The University of Northampton Teaching and Learning Conference (May 2009), Piloting Induction Strategies for Distance Learners. Poster presentation and conference paper.
• The University of Northampton Teaching and Learning Conference (May 2011) Technology Enhanced Transition Programme for Distance Learners, Poster presentation
• Widening Participation Seminar at The University of Northampton, (September 2011), Technology Enhanced Transition Programme for Distance Learners, Poster presentation and conference paper.

• Poster presentation available in Park Library atrium (24^th October - 4^th November 2011) .
• Widening participation web pages: http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200284/widening-participation/1132/projects
• School of Science and Technology blog (18 September 2011) Technology Enhanced Transition Programme:http://apslandt.blogspot.com/

Technology Enhanced Transition Programme

A recent present poster on work in progress on a steps to help distance learning students make the transition into Higher Education.