This paper draws on pedagogical research, and in particular it focuses on a research project developed by the Photography team at the University of Northampton: Leet, S., Sherwood, T., Murphy, A., Kalpaxi, E., Franchi, E., Wardle, C., Lowe, C., Smith, J. A. (2016-2017) ‘Online Photography Toolkits: Digital Approaches to Practical Delivery’, funded by the Institute of Learning and Teaching (ILT) of the University of Northampton.
The Photography team at the University of Northampton created a series of digital toolkits to enable students to access information ‘on demand’ through a number of platforms and mobile devices. The development of effective digital resources to facilitate independent asynchronous skills-oriented learning (that commonly involves a hands-on approach) has been acknowledged as an essential need and a challenge in previous Photography CAleRO workshops. The development of these resources also provides potential for greater openness, in terms of sharing resources among departments and the wider public, for educational, pedagogic, and marketing purposes.
In line with the University’s Waterside move in 2018, the toolkits will provide a digital resource to aid blended and flipped learning within Photography undergraduate programmes – a way to provide access to essential technical information and support beyond the confines of conventional teaching environments. This project would be appropriate for first year students needing additional support, as well as second year and Top-Up students requiring a refresher of practical skills. Traditional teaching approaches can pose barriers to a number of students, and offer only a finite duration of contact through practical delivery. It is hoped that the implementation of online toolkits will promote inclusion and lead to improved engagement and achievement for all learners, including the significant number in our cohorts who have learning differences and physical disabilities (e.g. deafness)