1 Introduction to e-Learning..........................................................................................2
1.1 What is an ePBL...................................................................................................2
1.2 Definitions............................................................................................................2
1.3 Types of ePBL......................................................................................................2
1.3.1 Practice and Assessed....................................................................................2
1.3.2 Trial and Error...............................................................................................2
1.3.3 Others............................................................................................................3
1.4 Who to contact if you have problems with your e-Learning................................3
1.4.1 Submitted enquiries.......................................................................................3
1.4.2 Etiquette........................................................................................................3
1.4.3 Response to Enquiries...................................................................................3
1.5 Announcement emails, list-server email and Bulletin boards..............................3
2 Completing ePBLs......................................................................................................4
2.1 Deadlines..............................................................................................................4
2.2 ePBLs during Holidays........................................................................................4
2.3 Bulletin boards.....................................................................................................4
2.4 Accidental submission..........................................................................................4
2.5 Missing a node.....................................................................................................4
2.5.1 Losing Marks.................................................................................................4
2.6 Intranet 30 minute time out..................................................................................4
3 FAQ’s...........................................................................................................................4
4 My ePBL records.........................................................................................................6
this is not completed, the user scores 0% for the
1 Introduction to e-Learning node in question, cannot retake the node (except
in exceptional circumstances) and is
1.1 What is an ePBL automatically locked out of subsequent nodes;
Electronic Problem Based Learning (ePBL) is a users must then contact the e-Learning Team to
method of leading students through a process of request to be reinstated on to the system. NOTE
continuous learning. The system was created reinstating rules depend upon ePBL type.
several years ago by the Faculty of Life Sciences and • Threshold – Each node has a threshold, this is
has been used as a learning tool since this time. the minimum score you must achieve to pass the
ePBL has proven to be a very useful learning tool in node.
previous years with students gaining basic skills in
course units before they ‘cram’ for exams. 1.3 Types of ePBL
Each ePBL falls into a category with specific
Students completing the ePBL’s, in the way they
progression rules, each of which is explained below.
have been designed, have found them to be an
Before you start your ePBLs you should read all the
excellent support tool for their studies and Time
information in the introductory page for each ePBL
Management skills. Students are encouraged
you are taking (each one may have a different
through the ePBL system to manage their own
format), this will inform you of course information and
studies and this helps to teach them self
ePBL progression rules.
dependence. Students keep on track by completing
their ePBLs before the deadlines.
1.3.1 Practice and Assessed
Evidence has shown that when run as a simple The ePBL system is a learning tool that provides
‘learning tool’ the ePBLs are completed by constructive feedback to your responses. The
approximately only 10% of students on any given practice and assessed system helps students to have
course. For this reason, it was decided to award practice at key concepts and obtain constructive
marks for completing ePBLs, thus using the ePBLs feedback, while also accurately recording student
as a form of assessment. abilities.
Some students believe that the point of ePBLs is just Each weeks work is comprised of 2 nodes, one
an easy way to obtain marks for their units and so the practice and one assessed. The practice nodes are
ePBLs are often rushed. However, the ePBLs are a designed to give you practice on a subject, feedback
learning tool, that when used correctly will help in and allow you to increase your competency in order
exams. The ePBLs encourage students to read their to progress to the assessed node. Students must
lecture notes, go through extra learning material and achieve a predefined threshold (in as many attempts
complete their own research into a topic. Due to the as they require) to prove their competency prior to
nature of the ePBL and the ‘deadline’ system, this taking the assessed node. The assessed nodes
revision of the unit is occurring at several points assess a student’s ability in the subject and only the
within the semester and not just as ‘cramming’ for a initial attempt score will be taken, this contributes
few weeks prior to the exam, This type of learning is towards the unit mark, no feedback is given with
termed ‘Continual Learning’, and increases students’ assessed nodes.
broader knowledge of the subject and information
gathered is remembered for much longer then in 1.3.2 Trial and Error
normal revision.
Trial and error nodes are based around the concept
that people can learn from their mistakes. The nodes
1.2 Definitions
have a 100% threshold to ensure that when students
• ePBL – An ePBL is an e-Learning component of a answer incorrectly, they are given the chance to
unit. Usually containing a number of nodes. Each review their answers, obtain feedback and improve.
unit’s ePBL can be identified by it containing the Students are not penalised for incorrect answers but
units ‘course code’ and unit title, e.g. BIOL10111 are expected to pass the nodes. There is no limitation
Biochemistry. on the number of attempts at the node. This type of
• Node – Each ePBL is split up into sections called node is scored in a pass/fail manner, if a student
reaches the 100% threshold, they will receive a pass
nodes. Nodes are small learning tasks (such as
on the node. If the student scores less than 100%,
attending a lecture, reading a chapter out of a
they will receive a fail on the node. A percentage of
text book, looking at a website/scientific paper,
the ePBL mark is obtained per node passed.
etc.) and a short assessment of multiple choice
questions. Nodes are only open for a short time,
during this time tasks and an assessment must
be completed to a pre-defined node threshold. If
1.3.3 Others 1.4.3 Response to Enquiries
Occasionally there are ePBLs that do not fit into the The e-Learning Team guarantee to respond to an
above categories, (ePBLs that have no marks, enquiry within 1 working day, however resolution of
ePBLs that are for revision purposes, used in a problems may require more time. If no response is
classroom session etc). The progression rules for received within 1 working day, the enquiry form
these ePBLs are always explained in the should be resubmitted with the information and the
introduction. original request reference number for investigation.
1.4 Who to contact if you have NOTE: 1 working day is 9-5 Monday to Friday,
problems with your e-Learning excluding bank holidays, Christmas and Easter
shutdown etc. Requests sent after 5pm on a
If you have any e-Learning enquiries you must ONLY Thursday are not guaranteed to be dealt with
contact the e-Learning Team. Do not contact unit co- before the Friday deadline, and any requests
ordinators and lecturers as they are busy and may submitted after 5pm on a Friday will not be
not take action in regards to e-Learning enquiries; accessed until the following Monday at the
this may mean that you miss a deadline. The e- earliest.
Learning team will guarantee to respond to any
enquiries with 1 working day of receipt. The e-Learning Team will do everything possible to
restore user access to relevant ePBL nodes before a
e-Learning enquiries, such as technical difficulties, deadline, however high numbers of requests and late
requests for information, requests for re-activation etc requests may mean that any request submitted after
must be submitted via the e-Learning enquiry form: 5pm on Thursday (1 working day prior to the
located in the left hand menu on every ePBL deadline) will not be resolved prior to the deadline.
page. Alternatively you can access the form via Re-submission of requests within 1 working day will
* Life Sciences not increase response time. Despite this, enquiries
* > Intranet Services that are submitted prior to 5pm on a Friday, may be
* > Information Services Office resolved prior to the deadline, therefore, you must
* > IS contact keep checking your access until Friday 6pm. NOTE:
* > e-Learning Team If the e-Learning team give a user access to a node
The direct link is: at 5pm on the deadline day and that node is still not
http://www.intranet.ls.manchester.ac.uk/itservices/for completed by the deadline, the user will score 0% for
ms/arsikdelearning.asp that node and NOT get a second chance to complete
the node.
1.4.1 Submitted enquiries
When filling in an e-Learning enquiry form, please Personal email addresses (such as hotmail and
ensure that you give as much detail as possible yahoo) are not permitted for use when contacting
about the problem (i.e. error messages, details of University of Manchester staff, and staff email filters
which node and ePBL your enquiry is about, etc), this generally move these emails into junk mail boxes,
will ensure that the enquiry will be completed sooner. therefore if for any reason you are asked to contact a
You must NOT supply us with your university login member of staff via email, you MUST use your
password; University of Manchester policy states that University of Manchester email address.
this password remains completely private to you.
If you have submitted a request you must check for
When an enquiry is successfully submitted, a our reply. The subject of the email will be
“confirm submission” page and a reference number is “Servicedesk - Incident Acknowledgement ID:
assigned, this number should be recorded in case ******”. You must ensure that you look out for this
of a problem. If no reference number is assigned, the email and read it immediately when it comes through.
request has not been submitted correctly and the This will tell you what action has been taken and
form must be re-submitted. what you need to do next.