An evolutionary approach to strategic planning for eLearning

Prof Sandra Wills & Dr Kate BowlesUniversity of Wollongong

Australia

UOW Dubai Campus

UOW Wollongong Campus

and 5 smaller Australian locations

plus teaching partnerships in about 10 international locations

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All Australian universities have an IT Plan

and aTeaching & Learning Plan

but only 11 %have a

published separate plan for

IT in Teaching and Learning

Type Number %

Integrated into general plans 14 39

Discrete e-learning strategy 4 11

Discrete e-learning strategy under development

9 24

Related strategy 2 6

Related strategy under development 1 3

No attempt to document strategy 7 19

No response 1 3

The planning options: discrete or integrated plans

when e-learning strategies have been embedded in more general documents the range of aspects covered tends to be less wide-ranging (Inglis, p.419)

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Intended Consequences

Unintended Consequences

1994 Distance Education

access for individuals

on-campus use of RBL

1999 Distributed Access Centres

access for F2F cohorts

on-campus use of LMS

2004 Blended eLearning

network of

multi location classes

?

500

1500

50

6000

The institutional context for eLearning

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Intended Consequences

Unintended Consequences

1994 Distance Education

access for individuals

on-campus use of RBL

1999 Distributed Access Centres

access for F2F cohorts

on-campus use of LMS

2004 Blended eLearning

network of

multi location cohorts

?

500

1500

50

4000?

The institutional context for eLearning

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Individual Off Campus

On Campus

Distributed Learning Centres

“evolutionary approach” vs “condensed approach”

Phase 1 2004-2007Consultation & information gathering

Phase 2 2005-2008Implementation of a replacement LMS

Phase 3 2008-2010Implementation of Strategic Plan

Phase 4 2008-2009Evaluation and review

Total Number of Subjects

BLENDEDBLENDED

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Phase 2:eTeaching Business Plan

22 ActionsCategorisedByMIT90sFramework

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MIT90’s Schema

Culture &IT Strategic Planning

5 factorsfor “High Fit”

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Yetton Framework

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Structure

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Technology – Emerging Technologies

ISSUE: moving from pilot to mainstreamfor stability & support

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Roles & Skills – More Staff Development

Balance:

•workshops•materials•hand-holding

ISSUE: Faculty Service Agreement

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Strategy – Design New Spaces

Issue: hybrid multi-skilled support staff

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Strategy – Focus on Learning Designs

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Strategy – Focus on Learning Designs

Approaches to active learning:•collaborative group work•innovative & integrated assessment

including peer & self assessment•problem based, cased based &

role based learning designs•highly visual & interactive learning objects

active

STRATEGIC PLAN 2008-10

Evo

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ase

3

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Draft Plan:

by 2010 increase # of : • blended subjects to 80%• multi location subjects to 40% • active and collaborative learning experiences

by 2010 in all courses one Global Learning Project

implement online Graduate Qualities ePortfolio

Objectives

1. expand the blending of face-to-face and online teaching so that teachers and students are operating flexibly in connected classrooms, doubling the number of blended subjects by 2010

An active, collaborative & flexible learning experience for students

Optimise the use of teaching spaces and technical facilities to provide a physical environment that is engaging, collaborative & flexible

2. increase the number of learning experiences that are active & collaborative partly by appropriate use of technology as well as by attention to learning design & educational research

An active, collaborative & flexible learning experience for students

High quality teaching Promote innovation in teaching &

learning which is based on sound educational research

3. improve support of multi location teaching, in part by appropriate use of eTeaching technologies, in order to double the number of MLT subjects by 2010

An active, collaborative & flexible learning experience for students

Optimise the mix of delivery methods to enhance the learning experience of students across all teaching locations

Learning & TeachingeLearning

UOW L&T Objective UOW eLearning Strategic Objective

Graduates equipped for productive roles in society & the workplace

Graduates experienced in working in eLearning environments relevant to lifelong learning in their future workplace and community

An active, collaborative & flexible learning experience for students

Active, collaborative & flexible eLearning & eTeaching experiences, especially within multi location subjects

Quality programs relevant to the evolving needs of students & the community

Clear quality standards for eLearning at UOW

eLearning used to support regional, national, international & local community engagement

An international focus in learning & teaching

eLearning used to support UOW’s international focus in learning & teaching

High quality teaching Well-established high quality eTeaching projects

A culture of research & innovation in eTeaching practice

eLearning & eTeaching Learning & Teaching

Graduates who can use eLearning appropriately to contribute to society & the workplace

Graduates equipped to contribute to society & the workplace

Active, collaborative & flexible eLearning experiences, including within subjects offered at multiple locations

An active, collaborative & flexible learning experience for students

Quality eLearning experiences appropriately integrated into UOW programs

Quality programs relevant to the evolving needs of students & the community

eLearning used to support UOW’s international focus in learning & teaching

An international focus in learning & teaching

High quality eTeaching supported by a culture of research & innovation in eTeaching practice

High quality teaching

eLearning used to support UOW’s international focus in learning & teaching

An international focus in learning & teaching

Use eLearning with targeted international partners to complement participation in Study Abroad programs

Promote international learning experiences for students including through Study Abroad & electronic communication

Use eLearning to increase collaboration between students across all Wollongong campuses & locations, onshore & offshore

Develop academic collaboration between domestic & international students

Support staff in identifying & developing resources for on-line delivery that assist the acquisition of foreign language skills & cultural awareness

Promote opportunities, within degree courses and through on-line delivery, for the acquisition of foreign language skills & cultural awareness

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Phase 4 2008-2009 Evaluation and review

Open source?Web 2.0?

Communication strategiesStaff development