Project Title
ANCIENT HISTORY VIRTUAL CAMPUS
$ Amount Awarded
25,000
Brief Outline of the Project
The Ancient History Virtual Campus (AHVC) Project is designed to address the deficit
in on-line induction and enhanced learning experiences by providing OUA students
with a range of interactive digital experiences that draw on and complement the model
of induction provided by the Telemachus’ Angels program currently offered by
the Department of Ancient History to its commencing on-campus students. Using
the existing Blackboard LMS, the AHVC Web Portal provides a linked network
of virtual learning and teaching spaces. This network furnishes OUA students
with a vibrant introduction to, and a rich educational resource for, an innovative
action learning program of study in Ancient History at Macquarie University.
Project Outcomes
The AHVC Project has advanced a variety of the University’s Learning and Teaching
goals, complementing aspirations outlined in Macquarie@50 – namely, Goals 11
(improving learning and teaching infrastructure) and 15 (using technology to further
educational goals). The Web Portal now
 contributes to the quality of OUA undergraduate training by providing electronic access to a range of educational resources
 emphasizes Ancient History research and highlights Ancient Cultures as a
Concentration of Research Excellence at Macquarie
 provides quality-enhanced outreach to a developing off-campus community by allowing access to a raft of Department-developed Ancient History resources
 contributes to the development of the University’s virtual environments by providing a quality learning and teaching experience
 ensures ongoing and regular evaluation of a dedicated virtual learning and teaching space with specific reference to student outcomes, teaching requirements and technology in learning and teaching
 generates a virtual environment grounded in new research in the area of learning and teaching spaces
 promotes collaboration between academics, the Learning and Teaching Centre,

OUA, and the Tele’s Angels student mentoring program
 serves as a billboard by which to promote the various Units offered by the
Department, attracting continuing students and consolidating the University’s market share
 increases inter-disciplinarity and e-learning in the Faculty and strengthens the effectiveness of Units in the Department in an innovative and cost-effective way
 draws heavily upon new technology and online tools to provide flexible learning and teaching development within a dedicated virtual L & T space.
Where will the project outcomes be documented (report to faculty or University Learning and Teaching Committee? journal publication? conference paper? Other?)
To date, AHVC project outcomes have already been disseminated via
 a presentation delivered as part of a panel on distance education practice during Learning and Teaching Week (September 2010);

OUA Operations Group meetings (2009-2011);

Departmental L & T committee meetings feeding into monthly reports to academic staff (2009-2011);
 a dedicated L & T session on distance education policy and practice at the annual departmental retreat (April 2010)
Further opportunities for documenting the AHVC project include:
 reports to FLTC and SLTC;
 conference paper delivered at the 1 st International Australasian Conference on
Enabling Access to Higher Education (University of South Australia, 5-7
December 2011)
 submitting a Case Study for review to MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching
What is the next step? Or, how may the outcomes of this project be replicated and good practice spread across the
University? Is there an opportunity to apply for an ALTC grant?
Next steps in replicating the AHVC template and disseminating good practice include
 collaborating with the Department of English in developing a model Capstone unit (incorporating features of the AHVC) for delivery through OUA in 2012;
 contributing to the ongoing LTC workshop series: Supporting and Engaging
Distance Education
 enhancing the current project, including
transforming the AHVC site to Moodle, and
applying established practice to the delivery of online external distance education

Project Representatives
Name
Signature
Date
Dr Peter Keegan
31/3/2011