Professor Roger Murphy, the VLL Director says:

"The publication of this Showcase Report marks a highly significant moment for the VLL. It has captured the essence of pioneering research and development work in the field of visual learning in higher education, undertaken within the University of Nottingham over the last four years since we were awarded Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning status by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I congratulate all those who have contributed to it, and commend it to all those who are interested in finding out more about new developments in this field."

An electronic version of this Showcase Report can be downloaded here and printed copies can be requested from Marian.Anderton@nottingham.ac.uk

The VLL is this year supporting The Big Draw event, 'Body Sun Sand and Sea'. This is a national campaign for drawing and has one aim: to get everyone drawing! Drawing helps us to think, invent and communicate – regardless of age and ability.

Please see the flyer for details.

The main Big Draw open event at the University of Nottingham will be held on Saturday 10th October 2009 from 10am-2pm in the School of Education using the Visual Learning Lab (C47) and the Atrium. This will be an exciting and creative day for all. All materials are provided and there is no charge for the event.

The event will be led by Yewande Okuleye (a former MAERM student and artist). Yewande will be supported by VLL staff and other academics from the University of Nottingham.

If you would like to come along please register on the website yewyoluley@yahoo.co.uk or look on http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106819745274

Please contact Marian Anderton, Visual Learning Lab Manager on marian.anderton@nottingham.ac.uk if you require any further information.

In addition, the Learning Team have recently released v1.0 of Xerte Online Toolkits in Open Source. Latest features will be demonstrated at next e-learning community meeting (in conjunction with the VLL). Below is an example of an RLO created using Xerte Online Toolkits on Nottingham's developments in Second Life. This took about 2 hours to put together from start to finish and demonstrates just some of the powerful features available to you...

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/toolkits/play_922

Overall purpose

The Visual Learning Lab (VLL) is a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning based at the University of Nottingham. It is working with staff and students throughout the University to extend the use of visualisation as an important aspect of university learning. Many courses are already making innovative uses of visual methods to enhance student learning, and in some cases new technologies can greatly assist this process. The VLL supports such work in many Schools and student interns are involved in disseminating such ideas and working with staff and students to extend the impact of VLL resources throughout the University. Further information about the VLL can be found at www.visuallearninglab.ac.uk.

The VLL is seeking to recruit three further student interns to join the existing team. Start dates and working hours are negotiable, but the commitment is usually around 90 hours of work within a one year period. Successful applicants will be provided with support and training and given every opportunity to develop useful transferrable skills.

Outline of role

1. Actively promote the work of the VLL
2. Contribute to VLL student induction and training on open access technologies (including video-editing equipment and the Thunder Wall)
3. Obtain and record feedback from students engaged in VLL activities
4. Motivate, encourage and support students engaged in VLL activities
5. Help identify good practice in the VLL
6. Engage with and help develop the national student CETL network
7. Other duties to be discussed on appointment

Knowledge, skills and experience

1. Be studying at the University of Nottingham
2. Have an interest in learning and teaching and/or student development
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
4. A positive and flexible approach to the role and a willingness to travel in connection with the role
5. Good IT skills desirable
6. Ability to work on own initiative and ability to work as part of a team - essential

Management of Work

Interns will carry out duties agreed with the VLL Co-ordinator. Hours of work will be agreed in advance with the VLL Co-ordinator and the VLL Administrator.

Start Date

A start date will be agreed with each successful candidate. It is likely to be in the period May - July 2009, allowing some preparation and induction before the start of the 2009/10 academic year.

Pay

Hourly rate of £10 for 90 hours of work (work pattern to be negotiated).

To discuss any aspect of this role, please contact either the VLL Office or one of the current team of student interns.

VLL Office - Marian.anderton@nottingham.ac.uk

VLL Student Interns

Ellie Stone - ahybels@nottingham.ac.uk

Lola Ogunbadejo - aayaoo@nottingham.ac.uk

Sparsh Chandan - lpyasc@nottingham.ac.uk

Claire Mann - cvxcm@nottingham.ac.uk

Li ShanShan - ttxsl11@nottingham.ac.uk

Letters of application (including a CV) outlining your knowledge, skills and experience, your intended approach to the internship and clearly stating your Faculty should be sent to Marian Anderton at Marian.Anderton@nottingham.ac.uk. Please put "VLL Internship" in the subject heading.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 28 April 2009. Interviews will be held in the VLL on Wednesday 6 or 13 May 2009 in the afternoon.

Date: Wednesday 4 March 2009

Time: 9.15-10.45am

UK venue: Flexible Learning Room, Learning Science Research Institute, Exchange Building, Jubilee Campus

Title: Video technologies for teaching, learning and research

Presenters:

• Brenda Rush (School of Nursing) - Clinical Practice Teaching and Learning Observatory
• Rolf Wiesemes and RuoLan Wang (Visual Learning Lab and School of Education) Videoconferencing: interactive teaching and learning observatory
• Quang Nghi Luong (ed:it): Video Interactive Platform (ViP)

Please confirm your attendance with Marian Anderton (marian.anderton@nottingham.ac.uk) to help with catering.

The exemplar site for the project can be found here.

Start Time: 12.30pm-2.00pm

Venue: C35 Coates Building, University Park

Presenters: Michele Clarke (Geography), Paddy Tighe (Molecular Medical Sciences), Rolf Wiesemes (Visual Learning Lab, School of Education)

Description: Multi media as an Assessment Tool encompasses the use of Avid video for student assessment, production of vod- and podcasts for formal and non-formal learning and the use of related (audio) visual technologies. The presenters will talk about the different ways they have developed the available technologies.

If you wish to attend please confirm your attendance with Marian Anderton (marian.anderton@nottingham.ac.uk) to assist with catering.

You are invited to attend a two-part session, specifically aimed at postgraduate students who would like to increase their knowledge of the visual learning work being carried out by the Visual Learning Lab within the University.

The first part of the session will focus on a VLL research project using the Thunder interactive flipchart system, while the second part will give an overview of a range of technologies used by the VLL in its work, including Thunder, Interactive Whiteboards and high-definition Video Conferencing. There will be plenty of opportunities for hands on experience of the technology, with the ability to sign up for further, more targeted discussion and training in specific project areas.

As spaces are limited to a maximum of 20 please email marian.anderton@nottingham.ac.uk if you would like to come along.

Refreshments will be available.

The sponsored studentship will operate under the title Visual Learning in Higher Education. The studentship will focus upon the role of different types of visual representation, for example images, video, animations and multimedia, in student learning in higher education.

If you are interested in applying for this studentship, then please browse both our webpages and those of the LSRI. For more details on the application process, please visit the LSRI Studentships page.