eLearning Trendsand Challenges

John Beaumont, CEOUK eUniversities Worldwide

Monday 14 April 2003

AgendaeLearning context

Generation of eLearning

UKeU’s positioning and progress

eLearning: it deserves its poor reputation historically

Technology

Instructional design and content

Service support

To meet unmet educational needs

What is eLearning for?

First GenerationeLearning

Online courses as direct analogues of conventionally-delivered coursesReplicating course structure, elements and delivery

Incorporate existing support materials

Delivery dependent on course originator

Not scalable

Always inferior to original course

“Horseless carriages”

Second GenerationeLearningOnline courses purpose designed for mediumSame top-level learning outcomes

Educationally derived, precept-driven design methodology

Team developed not faculty led

Course requires mentoring not teaching when delivered

Fully scalable

Third Generation eLearningOnline education that does not adhere to course conventionsCourse is an artificial construct born of practicality –

old constraints no longer apply

ExamplesLearning pathways through knowledge management

systems

Personalised curricula

Just-in-time education

UK eUniversities:

Strategic response by

ObjectiveWiden access to UK higher education through global delivery of courses online

StatusNot a university

Licenced by UK universities to deliver globally their higher education courses online

A company with shareholders

UK Government funded

UK Government

Mission and valuesCustomer focus

Quality driven

Integrity

Shareholder value

Innovation

To deliver

the best of

UK

university

education

online

across the

world

To deliver

the best of

UK

university

education

online

across the

world

Business overview

World-class Learning Environment

World-class course content

Worldwide service provision

Effective marketing, sales and distribution globally

Why develop a new

Learning Environment?

DriversA new generation of eLearning

Learner centric

Comprehensive and integrated requirements

Design objectivesPedagogically prioritised feature set

Connectivity with university administration systems

Modular and standards based

Scalability

24 x 7 operational availability

PortalPortal

UserUserManagementManagement CollaborationCollaboration EventEvent

ManagementManagement

Database(s)Database(s)

Services architecture:

a logical model

LCMSLCMS LMSLMS AssessmentAssessment AdministrationAdministration

Course development aims

Discourage first Generation

Encourage second (and third) Generation

Support broad spectrum of students Culture Learning preferences Special needs

Follow international standards (including IMS, SCORM, WAI)

Adopt a fine grain object-oriented approach to course design

Adopted eLearning standardsIMS Content packaging

Metadata

Question and test interoperability

Learning architecture

Watching other standards

SCORM 1.2 Assets but not sharable courseware objects

Also tracking Open Knowledge Initiative (OKI)

AccessibilityWorking to offer support for Blindness Partial sight Colour blindness Deafness Fine motor skills Dyslexia

Following best practice guidelines W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Guidelines Advice from national agency TechDis SENDA (UK equivalent of US Section 508)

Planning a UKeU accessibility roadmap

Student eLearning strategiesLinear (following default sequence) ~ 30%

Text-led (printed all texts and used as course framework) ~ 30%

Aural (played all audio-graphics before referring to texts) ~ 20%

Assignment-orientated (prioritised all course elements based on relevance to assignment) ~ 20%

Course structureProgram of study

Modules

Units

Sessions

Learning objects

Our offeringVariety of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees Continuing Professional Development courses

Subject areas includeBusiness and managementScience and technologyHealthEnglish languageTeacher trainingEnvironmental studiesLaw

Market led

Programme clusters

University of Oxford

Some existing university partners

The course teamAcademic staff Course specifies

Content creators

Reviewers

Tutors

Techno-pedagogic staff Learning technologists

Web developers / media specialists

Graphic designers

Editors

Project management Quality Assurance

Upfront investment

Course development, instructional design and production

Ongoing services

eLearning platform operation and service support

Marketing

Varying commercial relationships with

universities

linked to student fees

Research CentreApplied research on eLearning practice

Monitoring and evaluation of student experiences

Dissemination of findings

Janet connectivity

Internet connections

Data centre services

Help desk

Janet connectivity

Internet connections

Data centre services

Help desk

Operational infrastructure (24 x 7)Operational infrastructure (24 x 7)

StudentAccreditation for established universities

Modular programmes achieving variety of qualifications

Robust student support systems

CorporateSingle access for all corporate eLearning programmes

Customisation

Continuing Professional Development

Course delivery matching customer

demand

Marketing and Sales:

Initial target markets for volumeEnglish language competence

Some affinity with UK education

Inadequate supply by state sector to market demand

High status of international qualification

Willingness to pay for education

Necessary infrastructure

the key

eLearning integral to campus life

Managed service

In service!

How can we

collaborate?

JRBeaumont@UKeU.com