The University of Northampton (UON) prides itself on breaking the higher education mold and "doing things a little bit differently." This commitment to innovation has earned the university numerous distinctions, including being the first university in the United Kingdom to be named a Changemaker Campus, an Ashoka designation that recognises colleges and universities with a proven track record of campus-wide excellence for social innovation and changemaking.
UON's innovative spirit underscores the university's approach to providing transformational learning experiences. "UON takes an active blended learning (ABL) approach to teaching and learning," shared Northampton Learning Technology Manager Rob Farmer. "Students learn in small groups and through close interaction between staff and students. Our courses are designed for active learning on- and off-campus, in digitally rich environments that integrate 'live’, real-time sessions with activities students can undertake where they like and at the time they choose."
Farmer also noted that UON's commitment to using best-in-class technologies has brought about a fundamental shift in how students consume course content. Three years ago, the number of students accessing content using a mobile device began to outpace desktop users. This fact, combined with a desire for ongoing accessibility improvements, prompted the university to re-evaluate its virtual learning environment (VLE).
We chose Learn Ultra for several core reasons. It's intuitive, mobile-friendly, device-agnostic, responsive, and accessible.
Rob Farmer, UON's Learning Technology Manager