Engaging tutors and learners through audio supported pedagogy

The JISC-funded Audio Supported Enhanced Learning (ASEL) project used Action Research methodology to examine the use of audio in four key areas of Higher Education (HE) educational practice, namely: selfreflection, formative and summative feedback, assessment, and collaborative learning. A community of practitioners from across two Higher Education Institutions and six subject disciplines were involved in this study (Law, Accountancy, Computing, Health, Optometry and Business). The intention of this paper is to present examples of how learners engaged with audio from across Law, Computing and Business subjects, and how strategies were developed by tutors and learners for the effective and innovative use of audio. Examples will include the use of freely available web 2.0 technologies by learners and used to support their community for learning. The use of recording devices such as mp3 recorders, and the development and use of purposely built audio software to facilitate pedagogy. Findings indicate that the creative use of audio in each of these subject areas facilitated a more personalised learning experience leading to increased student motivation, and engagement. Furthermore, results show how learners used the technologies for self, and peer assessment and assessment feedback. In each of the subject areas strategies were developed by tutors and supported in an Online Community of Practice which has been shown to help encourage a redesign of the curriculum in terms of pedagogy and assessment. This paper will add to the debate on Community, the use of Web 2.0 technologies, Audio in Curriculum Redesign, and the Learner Experience