Speaker
Description
Learning Management Systems (LMS) are widespread in HE, serving mainly as administrative tools for tasks like distributing lecture slides and giving feedback. While students appreciate LMS for administrative purposes, their satisfaction declines with interactive and collaborative activities, and when engaging in more innovative tasks. The use of LMS has become a default, with alternative approaches often overlooked due to perceived workload and skill requirements. Educational research, however, suggests a shift towards selecting digital learning environments based on course objectives and audience, and integrating tools that support social constructivist pedagogies and are valued by both students and teachers. SPLOTs, simple privacy-conscious tools developed to align with learning objectives and open education principles (www.splot.tools), are highlighted as effective alternatives. These tools have been successfully implemented in institutions like the University of Edinburgh, University of Copenhagen and Karlstad University. SPLOTs facilitate content creation that is structured, engaging, and contributes to a larger learning ecosystem. This approach not only enhances individual and collective learning experiences but also fosters community building and creative expression as they make use of open source software like WordPress. The upcoming session aims to immerse participants in using SPLOTs, showcasing their simplicity and potential to transform educational practices while inviting to build a European community of practitioners.
