The MSc Urban and Rural Planning is a programme delivered entirely online. As such, it is essential that teaching and learning, including the opportunities for remote student interactions, is effectively enabled virtually. This is a challenge in a context where students can be anywhere in the world pursuing their studies and the importance of addressing common online learning barriers, such as learner isolation, is an important priority within this context.

Oli has led in the development and execution of a strategy to overcome these barriers and deliver an innovative and effective learning environment online. Oli played a vital role in the programme design team, leading not only on the effective use of the Virtual Learning Environments (Blackboard, Piazza etc) for this programme, but also providing important direction, guidance and direct support in relation to the creation of an interactive and engaging virtual learning experience embracing video, audio, interactive tools, visual aids and appropriate structural, format and style techniques to deliver online text content to support desktop learning.

Oli demonstrated clear knowledge and understanding of the potential use of innovative learning technologies, but also showed awareness of the limitations, ensuring packages have been employed to best effect.

Importantly, Oli has also provided ongoing support to the academic members of the team to support content delivery and online interaction between students, making key interventions to improve engagement and participation. Oli continues to be an important member of the programme and module teams, maximising the student experience.
Adam Sheppard, Programme Leader