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The Purpose of
the CoLT Group is to facilitate the development and exploitation
of members research and development activity and to assist in the
building of new partnerships in communication and learning technology
research and development.
The CoLT Focus & Approach
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Member Support |
To facilitate interdisciplinary CoLT research and development
across the university and beyond.
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Member Development |
To seek projects and initiatives to develop and refine the work
of group members.
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Applied Research |
To apply CoLT research to a range of disciplines and industrial
settings.
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| User
Focus |
To
work with end users of CoLT research and development to maintain
focus. |
| Exploitation |
To
work together as a group and with partners to find exploitation
routes for past, present and future CoLT research and development
work. |
| Commercial |
To
work to ensure that appropriate tools and approaches are taken
to the market place. |
Communication and
learning technologies, especially Internet based technologies, allow
more information to be made available, to more people, more rapidly.
Not only can this growing audience be reached but ever greater interaction
between individuals, over distance can also be facilitated.
The CoLT Approach
to Distance Learning
Communication and
learning technology does not simply replace more traditional forms
of communication and learning environments, but can add to and enhance
them.
When trying to
educate, train or inform through the medium of communication and
learning technology, established educational good practice should
guide the approach chosen. For example...
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Learning
is a social process - learners do not just learn from books
and tutors. |
| • |
Online
and CD based learning should engage as many senses as possible
- as this stimulates the learner and aids retention. |
| • |
Online
and CD based learning programmes need variety in the method
of delivery and assessment - not all learners have the same
preferred or most effective learning style. |
| • |
Online
and CD based learning should be an active process - passive
use of communication and learning technologies has few advantages
over and can be more costly than face to face, postal or video
based systems. |
| • |
Online
and CD based learning should use pervasive technology - learning
to use the technology should not detract from the subject
matter. |
The CoLT research
group is committed to building in these approaches to online learning
design and delivery in order to make the online learning experience
both deep and satisfying.
The CoLT Approach to Business
Communication and
learning technology usage will and should change...
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The
organisational culture |
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The
way organisation works |
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The
way the organisation is seen within the market place |
CoLT aims to work
with and not for our clients. Our principles are that...
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To
be successful technology must be imbedded in both working
practices and business systems. |
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Systems
must be integrated together |
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Technology
use must be driven by clear business, communication and training
priorities, not by the technology itself. |
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