Definition
A flexible curriculum is one which, aided by learning technologies, provides students with multiple points of access to course content, teaching and assessment both on and off campus and within a flexible timetable. It provides students with choice over the time and place of learning and their pathway through it.
Rationale
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Widening access and student participation
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Increasing student retention
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Development of the student as a lifelong, autonomous learner
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Utilisation of a range of resources through which to enhance student learning
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Recognition of where technology can enhance learning and teaching
How
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Supporting lifelong and distance learning
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Using a diverse set of learning materials and technologies
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Supporting teaching with online content
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Part-time study
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Flexible routes and exit points through programmes
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Flexible timetabling
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Providing students with the research skills to be future autonomous learners
Implications for programme and course design
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Provide student choice over forms of assessment (e.g. exams vs. coursework), modes of assessment (e.g. handwriting vs. electronic typing), timing and location of assessment
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Encourage the development of personal research skills by actively teaching students how to access and use online learning technologies e.g. databases, libraries, virtual learning environments such Moodle
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Support the development of these skills by setting online research tasks
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Encourage student interaction and the development of teamwork skills by making use of virtual learning groups and set collaborative online tasks in Moodle
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Support lectures with online content, e.g. electronic handouts, reading lists, diagrams and illustrations, links to databases, websites or research papers
Examples
Use of Electronic Voting Systems (EVS) in lectures at the University of Glasgow http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/learningteaching/goodpracticeresources/learningandtechnolog y/electronicvotingsystemsandinteractivelectures/
Use of EVS, Mechanical Engineering - University of Sheffield http://www.shef.ac.uk/learningmedia/evalreports/pdfs/P39-Diprose_evaluation_report.pdf
“From tomb raider to tome raider” widening access through the use of new technologies -
Theology and Philosophy Subject Centre, HEA http://prs.heacademy.ac.uk/view.html/prsdocuments/62

“Making group work work - the development, dissemination and evaluation of a web-based resource” - University of Leeds http://www.learnhigher.ac.uk/index.php?p=2_6
A number of case studies on various innovative technological practices, JISC http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/programmes/elearninginnovation/oucasestudies.aspx
Resources
Flexibility of provision was the subject of a recent QAA / SFC Enhancement Theme and the outcomes of the theme are available at http://www.enhancementthemes.ac.uk/resources/publications/flexible-delivery
Electronic voting systems, Dr Steve Draper’s website, University of Glasgow http://www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/ilig/