Collaboration in Educational Technology

Presentation outline:

• Introduction• Brief history of ACTIC/AAHEIT• AAHEIT initiatives• Collaborative Framework• Canadian Campus Computing Survey• Benefits and results of collaboration• Challenges of collaboration• Summary

Introduction

• Historical focus of IT Departments• Educational Technology Needs• Rapid technological change means

planning cycles are being shortened• Boundaries are blurringA collaborative effort is requiredIntegrated planning of IT and ET

History of AAHEIT/ACTIC

• Started in 1991 with one deal -

DEC VAX 11/780

History of AAHEIT/ACTIC

• Started in 1991 with one deal - • Expanded in 1995 with deals funded

by Alberta Government – &• Review in 2003 – increase in staff

and mandate• Now - Deals, Projects, Relationships

AAHEIT Deals• HP• PMDF, MultiNet, Borderware• Cognos• Oracle• Microsoft• Forrester information service• e-Portfolios• Elluminate

AAHEIT Projects

• Collaborative Framework• Campus Computing Survey• System Recovery Planning

Collaborative Framework

• Grew out of the October 2005 joint meeting of AAHEIT, ACET and GoA

• Four necessary elements:– Engagement– Communication– Information– Reinforcement

Collaborative Framework

• Determine the entities and define relationships

Collaborative Framework

• Determine the entities and define relationships

• Determine who wants to know what• Determine who can supply the info• Describe existing collaborative

efforts• Build the repository

Campus Computing Survey

• Campus Computing Project in US since 1990

• Continuing study of the role of IT in higher education

• AAHEIT arranged a Canadian survey, hosted by the US organization

• 48 institutions responded from across Canada (22 in Alberta)

Campus Computing Survey

Some interesting results:• Has technology improved instruction

on campus? 92% said yes• Do you have a formal plan for

integrating technology into curriculum?– AB 45%; BC 23%; East 31%

• Do you help Faculty integrate IT into instruction?– AB 18%; BC 23%; East 31%

Campus Computing Survey

Some more interesting results:• Integrating Academic and Admin IT:

– AB 9%; BC 48%; East 15%

• Provide on-line distance education via the web:– AB 14%; BC 15%; East 0%

Collaboration: Examples

• ACET-AAHEIT meetings• eCampusAlberta• AOC – Elluminate offer• WebCT Training Offer• Ad hoc assistance:

– Job descriptions– Facilitation– Planning

Collaboration: Benefits

• Economies of scale/volume discounts• Enhanced functionality• Build on other’s accomplishments• Avoid other’s mistakes

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Washington, 1940

Collaboration: Benefits

• Economies of scale/volume discounts• Enhanced functionality• Build on other’s accomplishments• Avoid other’s mistakes• Leverage other’s expertise• Keep the ball rolling – maintain

momentum when spirits flag

Collaboration: Future Benefits• All of the previous• Collaborative framework becomes

more valuable as it grows and is used

Dammit, now I wish I had built two of these things!

Collaboration: Challenges

• More complex – takes longer• “Not invented here” syndrome• Accepting cultural change • Differing requirements • Differing agendas• Who calls the shots• Who gets the glory

Collaboration: Observations

• Some dedicated resources are necessary

• AAHEIT’s role:– Facilitation– Moving things along

Summary

• “Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together, we survive.”

Maximus (Gladiator)

Summary

• There have been successes to date• More challenges lie ahead• We must value collaboration while

respecting diversity• We must be relentless

Continue with joint meetingsBuild the Collaborative Framework

repository

Questions?

Doug Bakerdoug.baker@aaheit.ca(403) 210-5753