University of Southampton » ECS » Lexdis » Project » overview

Start date: 01/03/2007
End date: 30/09/2010
Funded by:

Project Overview

1. Background

The LExDis project will explore the e-learning experiences of disabled learners within one institution; The University of Southampton. The need for such a project has been highlighted by previous JISC studies of learners’ experiences, which identified the value of learning from the particular issues that applied to disabled students, noted the near impossibility of ascertaining a disabled learner’s experience solely from observable behaviour and recommended further studies. Based on our extensive knowledge and experience of working with disabled students, it is our view that there are many very special issues that will not be fully understood or illuminated by a general study of a cohort that includes only one or two disabled students. Recognising that disabled students are not a homogenous group, students with a wide range of disabilities and experiences of using e-learning and assistive technologies at Southampton, will be included in the study.

The LExDis project will contribute to the field of knowledge by developing user-centred participatory methods that produce rich in-depth descriptions of the e-learning experiences of disabled students and help practitioners, support staff, managers, learners and developers address with some confidence the issues faced by disabled students in higher education. This project will have an important impact on wider participation and ease transition issues for those requiring equal access to on-line teaching and learning. The 62.3% institutional contribution reflects the fact that the results of the project’s research will help The University of Southampton to achieve the objectives of its learning and teaching and e-learning enhancement strategies.

2. Aims and Objectives

The overarching aim is to increase our understanding of the many complex issues and interactions introduced by disabled learners’ requirements for accessible e-learning, compatible assistive technologies and effective learning support.

The specific objectives we wish to achieve are the:

• Exploration and description of how disabled learners experience and participate in learning in technology-rich environments
• Investigation of the strategies, beliefs and intentions of disabled learners who are effective in learning in technology-rich environments and identity factors that enable or inhibit effective e-learning
• Development of user-centred methodologies for eliciting the e-learning experiences of disabled students and disseminate these widely in order to promote a participatory approach to designing and evaluating e-learning
• Development of recommendations for those involved in designing learning systems and developing support services for disabled students based on our understanding of their diverse needs, experiences and preferences.

3. Overall Approach

The LExDis project will use a "participatory" [1],[2] research methodology, with a focus on the learner voice’ where disabled students are involved as consultants and partners not just as research subjects and help to identify and (re)frame the research questions; work with the researchers to achieve a collective analysis of the research issues and bring the results to the attention of each of the  constituencies that they represent (disabled students, HE staff). Following consultation with the project participants (disabled learners), it is anticipated that a variety of approaches to eliciting the learner experience will be used that build on techniques used in previous JISC projects:

• Defining what ‘effective’ means relative to learners’ own goals and self-perceptions, and the difference technology has made to their experience of learning;
• Combining an adaptation of phenomenographic (IPA) [3] and ethnographic approaches
• Eliciting learner narratives through audio recorded semi-structured interviews and identifying uses of technology through written and audio logs through Interview Plus methodologies;
• Using artefacts (e.g. blogs, e-portfolios, wikis) actually produced by learners as a means of helping the learner to reflect in depth on the technologies used, their learning strategies and social and learning impact;
• Using social software and concept mapping software to support analysis.

The critical success factors of this project include:

• The number of students that take part and the technologies they bring to the various e-learning environments
• The skills and abilities of the students to portray their thoughts as well as the competent analysis of the data provided by the team  
• The wide dissemination of outcomes.

4. Project Outputs

The deliverables of the project will include:

• 30 case studies describing disabled learners’ different experiences of learning and the role e-learning and other technologies plays in those experiences;
• A summary report detailing how the research questions have been addressed and drawing out lessons learned from the particular institutional context;
• A brief methodological report outlining the tools and techniques used, together with any tools developed and any transcripts produced;
• A critique of the chosen methodology;
• Recommendations and guidance for practitioners, support staff, institutional managers, learners, content providers, instructional designers, technical and program developers.

5. Project Outcomes

This project will:

• Enhance the understanding of interactions undertaken by disabled students using Assistive Technologies with their e-learning materials.
• Enable teaching and learning communities, instructional designers and web developers to recognise issues around ease of use, accessibility and Design for All principles in the field of e-learning through the student’s voice linked to guidelines.
• Encourage further interest by staff at the University of Southampton’ in the provision of accessible, easy to use e-learning materials by providing real case scenarios.
• Guidance for future research as to how the methodologies used influenced the project outcomes.

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