Abstract:

The Digital Learner Support Hub (DLSH) is a framework implemented through the University of Limerick’s (UL) Learning Management System (LMS) that allows content to be deployed easily and sustainably, acting as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the five Learning Centres (LCs) academic support services to University of Limerick (UL) students. These centres are namely the: ICT Learning Centre (ICTLC), Peer-Supported Learning Centre (PSLC), Mathematics Learning Centre (MLC), Science Learning Centre (SLC) and the Regional Writing Centre (RWC). It was conceived to address the increasing need to provide a more flexible and responsive learner support, to ensure UL’s commitment to a higher education accessible to all types of learners, including part-time, mature, study abroad, and those students with disabilities. DLSH aligns with UL’s academic transformation strategy: ‘Transformative Learning and Pedagogies First Principles’ by being student centred, personalised, supplying active & connected learning through technology-enhanced, flexible, and multi-modal learning.

As well as supporting students more flexibly, DLSH aims to address some of the constraints on accessibility, reachability, and sustainability of current face-to-face services offered by the LCs. These relate to:
a) scheduling in a manner that suits both tutors and tutees; and
b) resourcing particularly in terms of tutors, physical space, and associated cost.

The LCs fashioned a framework based on literature, best practice, and feedback from our stakeholders that allowed each centre to offer the best blend of online support in an engaging, structured, and accessible way to students. What developed was a delivery framework based around blended learning with both passive and active learning elements to ensure a good mix of student-to-content, student-to-tutor, and student-to-student interaction. A dedicated portal for the delivery of these supports was created, with selected modules across disciplines trialled.

The supports were well received by both staff and students and the LCs felt that, as well as providing a bank of online resources, DLSH gives them the opportunity to improve and expand their skillsets in supplying online pedagogy and support.

Our paper will explain the creation and delivery of DLSH, its evolution over the last 4 years. Student engagement with these new supports using both qualitative and quantitative data, with a particular focus on early-stage computer science (CS) students supported primarily by the ICT Learning centre and Peer-Supported Learning Centre. It will also discuss the challenges and opportunities offered by a digital support hub in engaging and supporting students. We strongly believe that this support is applicable and would be beneficial to other institutions.

Keywords:

Digital Learner Support, Learning Management System, Framework, technology-enhanced, blended Learning, Student Engagment.