Further to this area of development which derives from my strategic H5P work and continued online asynchronous learning. For this year I centered one of my appraisal objectives on the following:
- Develop an IHAP-specific online asynchronous learning standards and requirements framework and guidelines. To ensure quality, pedagogical requirements and compliance of the digital learning design of online asynchronous learning experiences, with a specific focus on addressing the design quality of H5P objects, and ensuring that all online asynchronous learning content is fully established in and across modules and are consistent and coherent in their design.
- Leading and working with bioscience lecturers and the standards and requirements framework and guidelines, establish expectations and what a complete module looks like with online asynchronous learning material and activities. Addressing; what does an hour’s worth of online asynchronous content look like that is not overwhelming.
Below is the final document I produced and there are two projects underway that will test this process. Also below is feedback back that I received during it's development. Which I appreciated to make it as clear and effective as it can be. I often find with things like this that I have to do the broader thinking and detail first which is the main challenge, and next is to present it in a palatable and accessible way. So I appreciated the feedback to help balance detail and readability through a bit of fine tuning.
Digital Curriculum Support and Developer - "This reads really well and has been thoughtfully put together. I have added a couple of recommendations and noted one or two minor typos, but overall, thank you for developing this Dan, as it helps to lend structure and more credibility to the asynchronous work."Head of Department - "Thank you for the work on this and for sending it through...It would be good to have a chat through. I think the detail is really valuable, particularly for the team to refer to when they are starting asynchronous learning but a short 1 -2 page summary of key points would be helpful for people to get things started. We can look at which aspects might be included in this."Deputy Head of Department - "Firstly, thank you for putting this together. Asynchronous learning is a valuable educational tool, and we are eager to further develop it within the Department due to its many benefits. I’ve provided some commentary on the document itself for your consideration, and also attached a checklist for staff, which may be a more ‘busy academic-friendly’ way to present your written text."
A related and insightful webinar 'The power of Asynchronous learning' was delivered on 15 January 2026 by the Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE).
