2022 Winner – iLearn Insights

Macquarie University

The iLearn Insights platform is a university-wide toolset designed to improve teaching engagement and resource development in the online learning environment. Since its launch in 2018, the platform has enabled educators at Macquarie University to monitor and act on student activity and performance data. With its integration into Moodle, Zoom, and Echo360, iLearn Insights allows teachers to track student engagement and re-engage students through personalized, targeted communication. The platform’s capabilities include analyzing quiz data, providing macro and micro-level insights on student progress, and automating processes to reduce academic workloads. As of Session 1, 2022, 581 staff members from 40 departments used the tool to send over 330,000 targeted emails, with a 95% re-engagement rate among students. iLearn Insights also played a critical role in swiftly adapting content for students isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Feedback:

• Positive Impact on Teaching Load: Academics noted that iLearn Insights significantly reduced their teaching workload. For example, it allowed unit convenors to focus on improving teaching quality rather than manually tracking and responding to student engagement.
• Improved Student Engagement: Educators reported that sending targeted, personalized emails through the platform was effective in re-engaging students, especially in core first-year units and postgraduate courses.
• Enhanced Learning Monitoring: Some academics highlighted the platform’s ability to evaluate quiz question effectiveness, leading to improved course design and learning materials.
• Departmental Benefits: iLearn Insights has proven useful for both individual units and entire departments, providing insights into student engagement across various units and aiding in strategic decision-making.

Student Feedback:

• High Re-engagement Rates: Data shows that after receiving a personalized email from iLearn Insights, 95% of students re-engaged with the unit. This suggests that students appreciate the timely, targeted support provided via the platform.
• Improved Learning Support: Students benefited from more responsive teaching interventions, especially those struggling with course content or needing guidance on specific activities.

Team and Sustainability:

• Development and Maintenance: The iLearn Insights platform has been developed and maintained by a small team, led by Shamim Joarder, as part of regular duties. The platform is built using PHP and is housed on industry-standard infrastructure, allowing for future-proofing and ease of maintenance.
• Scalability and Adaptability: The platform was designed with scalability in mind, able to handle fluctuating demand and be adapted for use by other universities, especially those using Moodle. Integration with external platforms (Zoom, Echo360) further enhances its flexibility.
• Sustainability: iLearn Insights is a cost-effective solution that can be scaled back or maintained at a low cost, ensuring its longevity in dynamic financial environments. Its modular design allows for additional features as needed, ensuring the platform remains responsive to evolving academic needs.

iLearn Insights has proven to be a valuable tool in enhancing online learning engagement, reducing teaching workload, and providing actionable insights into student performance. Its scalability and adaptability make it a potential model for other universities, ensuring its continued impact in educational settings.

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University of Auckland
Going Above and Beyond: Revolutionizing Online Student Learning through Faculty Development

At the University of Auckland, a dedicated team of educators are making significant strides in enhancing the online learning experience. Their innovative work focuses on transforming traditional teaching methods through faculty development programs designed to empower instructors and enrich student engagement in the virtual classroom.

A key aspect of this transformation is the development of interactive online learning content using H5P (an open-source content collaboration framework). By incorporating H5P, the team is not only improving the interactivity of digital learning materials but also fostering sustainable teaching capabilities across disciplines. This approach allows educators to create dynamic, engaging, and accessible content that can be easily integrated into various learning management systems, promoting long-term, scalable improvements in online education.

Through this initiative, the University of Auckland is paving the way for a more engaging and effective learning environment that supports both students and faculty in the evolving landscape of digital education. By focusing on faculty development and the adoption of innovative tools like H5P, the university is setting new standards for how online learning can be both impactful and sustainable.

The team: Dr. Rachelle Singleton, Dr. Tanisha Jowsey, Dr. Amanda Charlton, Dr. Monica Kam, Ms. Megan Clune