Lydia Arnold's Profile

I am a researcher at Ultralab and am currently predominantly examining online learning and pedagogy. After completing my BA in Education and Geography with Mathematics at Keele University, where I also completed my PGCE I moved in to research at Anglia Ruskin University's Health Business School where I had became involved in researching online communities for health professionals, with particular attention to the use of video resources as a stimulus to social learning. I moved over to the lab in 2003 and found a new home with the Ultraversity project where many of my research interests are central.

Presently I am researching a number of dimensions of online learning and pedagogy, both independently and as part of the wide collective and collaborative project that is Ultraversity.
As part of my MA Education research I have recently undertaken a study of personalised learning in online higher education ; this study sought to discover what strategies may be used in an online environment to promote autonomous learning. In addition this work critically examined the concepts of personalised learning in given context. As part of my exploration in to personal and autonomous learning online I have also contributed to a collaborative paper visible here.

In addition I am currently undertaking a piece of action research to explore and identify what actions in terms of the creation of course resources impact on learning, particularly social learning.

Much of the research at Ultraversity is embodied in artifacts and products which are the cumulative outcome of research from the whole team (for further explanation of this process see Action Inquiry & Ultraversity) . Personal contributions to this process include :

Methods of facilitation
The role of blogging in distance learning | literature review of the topic contained here
Refining online induction
Developing pre-induction/recruitment community
Resource development (including the use of audio as complementary media)
Refinement of the peer review process
The evolution of community structures
Methods of personalising (and scaffolding personalised) learning in practice
Developing strategies for remote management of online distance education

 

Some insights in to the reflective practice and action research may be seen on my blog www.lydiaarnold.net.

VIEW MY COS PROFILE

lydia@ultralab.net