The Uni-View platform and student experience of UTAS

Title

The Uni-View platform and student experience of UTAS

Author(s)

Dr Carolyn King, Ms Netty Gibson, Ms Ellen Ennever, Mr Michael Valk

Presentation Goals

The session will:

• Explain how the nexus between marketing and learning and teaching platforms can be used to promote Open resources.
• Show how orientation to study experiences prior to enrolment can be achieved.
• Address the possibilities inherent in improving student engagement through virtual tours and gateways into Open resources.

Subtheme

Distinctive to Us

Presentation Type

Spotlight on Practice

Keywords

Open resources, orientation, virtual tour, introduction to course material

Room

Social Sciences 209

Time

14.05-15.05

Abstract

In 2013, UTAS staff in Launceston undertook the development of virtual tours of Rural Health Teaching Sites across Tasmania and subsequently the tours were demonstrated to UTAS staff at TechEx (2014). The Faculty of Health saw the potential to orient students to other learning and teaching locations, as well as to showcase Open content, collaborating with the School of Medicine in the latter half of 2014 to arrange for panoramic photographing of a tour of Medical Sciences 1 and 2, and Pharmacy and Psychology spaces at Sandy Bay.

The resulting virtual tour of these buildings was entitled 'Uni-View'. Over the next year, the tour was fine-tuned; images were 'stitched' and examples of learning and teaching events and Open resources were embedded in the tour to create a space where students could 'taste' the environment and the content of courses delivered by the School of Medicine. The aim was to help orient students to the School, introduce them to course specific material, and permit them to access selected course content licensed for Open use.

'Uni-View' was released publicly in time for Open Day in 2015 (Health Virtual Tour). The potential of the platform to build into student orientation, student experience and the wider 'tasting' of courses through Open content will be discussed in the session.

As a pilot 'Uni-View' is still an unknown quantity, but its capability to be adapted and expanded to be a gateway to Open resources, a 'taster' for course content, an orientation tool and an expandable platform for these purposes is worthy of exploration and discussion at an institutional level.