Using the D2L Intelligent Agents, the Newsfeed, widgets, Facebook, audio Note, and Video note to engage students and enhance communication in a large subject (1700+ students).

1. Blended learning:
Enhancing communication
and student feedback
using D2L
Dr Jaclyn Broadbent
School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia

2. Talking Aussie
style
• When I say Unit = I mean
subject / unit of study.
(One semester in length)
• When I say Course = I
am referring to the
whole degree i.e.
Bachelor of Psychology
(may be 2-4 years).
• ………..And remember a
THONG is something you
wear on your feet

4. A diverse range of students attend
Deakin University

5. • 1750+ students trimester 2
• Runs on 4 campuses and off-campus
• 2100+ over the year
• Primarily First years
• Core Unit
• 30+ sessional staff (TAs)
The unit (subject) I run Health Behaviour

6. Blended learning is……
Learning that is facilitated
by the effective
combination of different
modes of delivery, models
of teaching and learning
styles and applying them
in an interactively
meaningful learning
environment.

7. Paradigm
shift in
learning
It is now being recognized
that there is a need to
blend traditional face-to-
face learning with
eLearning

8. On a whole education has been slow to catch up

9. Desire2Learn: What a great opportunity to
increase student engagement!

10. We have been using
Desire to learn for
the last 2 years….
And I was excited
when I realized all
the new ways I
could communicate
and engage with
students

11. Customizing learning with Intelligent
Agents
You need to tell the
IA:
• What criteria it is
looking for
• When it looks
• What is sent in the
email

12. Engage students not logging on to D2L
regularly

13. To inspire high achievers

14. To motivate low achievers

15. Student Survey (n=309)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Agree
0
4
7
41
48
These emails motivate me to do
well in the next assessment piece
or to log on to CloudDeakin more
often %
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Strongly
Disagree
Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
Agree
0 0
4
26
70
These emails made me feel that
the Unit Team cared about how I
was progressing in the unit %

16. The emails were fantastic as it made me really feel the teaching team
were there anytime we needed them and were keeping an eye on our
progress, it truly did motivate me to continue to pursue high marks.
I was so happy with the first journal email I got, that I even sent it to my
parents.
Made me feel that someone acknowledged my achievements and
cared, made me feel included and special.
It made my self esteem go through the roof and I felt extra proud.
[The email] encouragement goes a long was especially when things are
getting a bit overwhelming.
It definitely made me feel better about my results and made me want
to do better the next time.

17. The News feed - a Road Map to
Success!

18. “Just wanted to feed back
that the D2L page for this
subject is fantastic….. it is
much more
interactive, and student
friendly, than any of the
other pages I have seen
thus far. The YouTube
videos are a great idea”
(Unsolicited student email
T1, 2012).

19. Why not link your newsfeed to
a Facebook group?

20. Why not link your newsfeed to a
Facebook group?
RSS Graaffiti
Can automatically post all
of your newsfeed items
onto your Facebook wall

21. @HBS110 AND #FACEBOOK USER STATS
Staff
22%
Question from
students
60%
Sharing from
students
8%
Feedback from
students
10%
Percentage of Posts on Facebook
Question from
students
100%
Percentage of Posts on CloudDeakin
Discussion Boards

22. @HBS110 AND #FACEBOOK USER STATS
Student
miscellaneous
20%
Staff
(encouragement)
12%
Staff (answer)
54%
Student
(answer)
14%
Replies on Discussion Boards
Student
miscellaneous
30%
Staff
(encouragement)
13%
Staff (answer)
20%
Student
(answer)
37%
Replies on Facebook

23. …and include a Twitter widget?
Most amazing teaching I have experienced yet! Jaclyn went above and
beyond with reminders, emails, Facebook, twitter and weekly updates to
ensure that students felt in control of their work (T2 2013).

24. Video
Note
It made if feel as
though we were in
the room with the
tutors giving us
the feedback. Was
very personal, and
helped reflect on
what was done
well and what
could be improved
on (2013 student
feedback)

25. Audio Note "The audio
feedback was
really motivating
because hearing
the feedback
rather than seeing
it made me feel as
though my tutor
cared more which
then motivated
me to want to do
well and improve”
(Student Survey
2013)

26. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 0
8
31
62
The audio feedback provided by my
tutor helped me improve my next
journal(s) %
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
0 0
8
23
69
The audio feedback given to me by my
tutor made the marking feel more
personalised %
Student Survey (n=309)

27. Student Evaluation T2 2012 (mean;
n=435)
3.4
3.6
3.8
4
4.2
4.4
4.6
This unit was well
taught.
The course
materials in this
unit were of high
quality.
The teaching staff
gave me helpful
feedback.
I would
recommend this
unit to other
students.
The technologies
used to deliver the
online content in
this unit
performed
satisfactorily.
The on-line
teaching and
resources in this
unit enhanced my
learning
experience.
HBS110
University

28. Technology is transforming our learning, it is very difficult to
be able predict the future, let alone the next year

29. Learning should
be about gaining
connections

30. With different solutions for different
learners

31. Where learners will have the flexibility to
choose their own learning path

32. The future of education is a
of online and traditional learning.

33. Thank you, I hope I see you at Fusion this year 
Any Questions?

34. FUSION 2014
• Desire2Learn’s Annual Users Conference
• Registration is open! Early bird available until May 1
• Why should you attend?
• Join the discussion on the most heated topics in eLearning
• Build your network, share best practices and techniques
• Learn about updates and future direction of Desire2Learn
• Participate in hands-on training workshops
• Be inspired by world renowned industry keynotes
• Main Conference Dates: July 14 – 16
• Post Conference Dates: July 17 – 18
• Pure Product Training will be offered
• Venue: Music City Center, Nashville, TN
• More information – visit www.Desire2Learn.com/FUSION