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Colin Milligan

Dr. Colin Milligan
Colin Milligan is a Research Fellow (Educational Communities) with the Caledonian Academy. Although initially trained as a Geneticist/Molecular Biologist, I have worked in the area of educational development for almost fifteen years. During that time I have undertaken a variety of roles (in Further and Higher education, in the commercial sector and as part of a commercial consultancy) which have given me a broad range of experience in all aspects of teaching and learning, particularly where technology can support and enhance the learning process. For example:

  • designing and creating learning content which stimulates the learner (work on simulations with JeLSIM: http://www.jelsim.org/),
  • designing learning experiences, and considering the role of standards in supporting the adoption of best practice (the Reload project: http://www.reload.ac.uk/)
  • designing online learning environments which are centred on the needs of the individual learner rather than restricted by limitations imposed by the institution (recent work on Personal Learning Environments with CETIS: http://wiki.cetis.ac.uk/ple)
  • examining the barriers and mechanisms for sharing e-learning content (the CD-LOR project, http://www.academy.gcal.ac.uk/cd-lor/)
  • examining the role of technology in supporting formative assessment practices which enhance the learning experience (recent work with David Nicol reported at http://www.reap.ac.uk/public/Papers/Nicol_Milligan_150905.pdf)

My current research interests centre on the online learning environment - focusing on the opportunity provided by social software to create an environment for learning that more suits the needs of the learner, through providing greater control and customised tools (e-Portfolios, personalised start pages, wikis and collaborative software environments): Can these tools be helpful in supporting modern learners throughout their undergraduate and postgraduate study and into their chosen career? See also: http://cdmilligan.edublogs.org/  
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
 
Refereed Journal Publications

  • Milligan, C.D., Beauvoir, P., & Sharples, P., (2005) The Reload Learning Design Tools. Journal of Interactive Media in Education (Advances in Learning Design. Special Issue, eds. Colin Tattersall, Rob Koper), 2005/07. ISSN:1365-893X [http://jime.open.ac.uk/2005/07].
  • Thomas, R.C. & Milligan, C.D. (2004). Putting Teachers in the Loop: Tools for Creating and Customising Simulations. Journal of Interactive Media in Education (Designing and Developing for the Disciplines Special Issue), 2004 (15). ISSN:1365-893X [http://www-jime.open.ac.uk/2004/15]

Book Chapters

  • Nicol, D. J. & Milligan, C. (2006). Conceptualising technology-supported assessment in terms of the seven principles of good feedback practice. In G. Gibbs, C. Bryan and K. Clegg (Ed), Innovating in Assessment, Routledge Falmer. [http://www.reap.ac.uk/public/Papers/Nicol_Milligan_150905.pdf]
  • Ashton, H.S., Beevers, C. E., Milligan, C. D., Schofield, D. K., Thomas, R. C., Youngson, M. A., (2005). Moving Beyond Objective Testing In Online Assessment. To appear in Online Assessment & Measurement, Volume II: Case Studies from Higher Education, K-12 and Corporate (ed. Howell, S.L.)

Conference Papers

  • Milligan, C.D., Beauvoir, P., Johnson, M.W., Sharples, P., Wilson, S.B., Liber, O. (2006) Developing a Reference Model to describe the Personal Learning Environment, LNCS 4227, 506-511. Proceedings of the First European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning, Heraklion, 2006 [http://www.box.net/public/x7top3kzxk]
  • Wilson, S.W., Liber, O., Beauvoir, P., Milligan, C.D., Johnson, M.W., and Sharples, P., (2006) Personal Learning Environments: Challenging the dominant design of educational systems. Paper presented at: Joint International Workshop on Professional Learning, Competence Development and Knowledge Management (LOKMOL and L3NCD) Heraklion October 2006
  • Johnson, M.W., Liber, O., Wilson, S., Sharples, P, Milligan, C.D., Beauvoir, P., (2006) Mapping the Future: The Personal Learning Environment Reference Model and Emerging Technology, ALT-C 2006, Edinburgh [http://www.box.net/public/aelnye9kfb]
  • Thomas, R. C., Ashton, H.S., Austin, W.J., Beevers, C.E., Edwards, D., Milligan, C. D. (2005) Cost Effective use of Simulations in Assessment, Proceedings of the Ninth International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference (pp. 421-430). Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Loughborough University. [http://www.jelsim.org/talks/caa0705/thomasCAA2005FullPaper.pdf]
  • Thomas, R., Ashton, H., Austin, B., Beevers, C., Edwards, D., Milligan, C.D. (2004). Assessing Higher Order Skills using Simulations. Proceedings of Eighth International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference (pp417-427), Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Loughborough University. [http://www.jelsim.org/resources/thomasetal_caa2004.pdf]
  • Thomas, R. C., & Milligan, C. D. (2003). Online assessment of practical experiments. Proceedings of the Seventh International Computer Assisted Assessment Conference (pp. 421–430). Leicestershire, United Kingdom, Loughborough University. [http://www.jelsim.org/resources/thomasandmilligan_caa2003.pdf]

Reports and Whitepapers

  • Milligan, C.D., Gordon, J., and Christie, B., (2002) eLearning Standards Report: A Resource for the Scottish eLearning Industry, [written for Scottish Enterprise, available from: http://www.eurolearn.net/docs/ELU-standards-02.pdf]
  • Milligan, C.D., (1999) The Role of Virtual Learning Environments in the Online Delivery of Staff Development, [written for JISC, available from: http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/jtap-573/deliverables.html]
  • Milligan, C.D., (1999) Delivering Staff and Professional Development using Virtual Learning Environments, [written for JISC, available from: http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/jtap-573/deliverables.html].

Articles

  • Milligan, C.D. (2003). Question and Test Interoperability (QTI): Extending the specification for Mathematics and Numerical Disciplines. LTSN MathSTOR CAA Series, November 2003 [http://ltsn.mathstore.ac.uk/articles/maths-caa-series/nov2003/index.shtml]