Institutional Perspective

1
Institutional Perspective

• University of Chester

2
Taking stock

• A Tale of Two Strategies (20052008)
• It was the Best of times, it was the Worst of
  times,
• It was the age of Wisdom, it was the age of
  Foolishness,
• It was the season of Light, it was the season of
  Darkness,
• It was the spring of Hope, it was the winter of
  Despair,
• We had Everything before us, we had Nothing
  before us,
• We were all going to Heaven, we were all going
  direct the Other Way

3
Institutional context

• The way we were (2005)
• medium-sized new university (ca. 11,500)
• home-grown, open source VLE (IBIS)
• unclear picture of practice on the ground
• lack of engagement and embeddedness
• devolved approach to e-learning
• overemphasis on technology insufficient focus on
  e-pedagogy
• Significance of context for change initiatives
• no blueprint, no blank sheet, lots of politics,
  and changing SMT portfolios and priorities

4
Rationale for participation and Pick and Mix
choice

• need for audit of policy and practice
• opportunity to test fitness for purpose and
  sustainability of IBIS
• academic developments presenting e-learning
  challenges
• anticipated benefits?
• organisational learning and refinement of
  strategy
• improved costing and resourcing methodology
• exploration of embeddedness and engagement
• some evidence!

5
From Benchmarking to Pathfinderscope and
focus

• Benchmarking review of IBIS VLE
• in control of VLE technology well placed to
  support pedagogy
• content and pedagogy more important than
  technology per se
• Pathfinder infrastructure to support engagement
• LTU
• ELCs (E-learning Coordinators)
• TELTA Blended Learning Module
• E-Portfolio project (staff, students, partner
  colleges)
• Podcasting assessment feedback project

6
Pathfinder Network ProjectPodcasting for
Pedagogic Purposes (PPP)

• educational podcasting SIG to explore
  self-sustainability
• national dissemination events with student input
• stimulate practitioners directory and database
  (170)
• emergent community of practice, networks and
  partnerships (digital media)
• active, dynamic Wiki (http//podcastingforpp.pbwik
  i.com/)
• case studies, scenarios, research repository
• PPP presence at ALT-C

7
Main Chester Outcomes (2005/2008)

• clearer targets in faculty business planning
• emerging infrastructure to support e-learning
• network of School ELCs
• central learning technologist capability (LTU)
• staff development capability
• evidence to inform strategy and development
• specific pedagogic advances
• sector-wide contributions (PPP Project
  Benchmarking Consultancy)

8
Current situation and anticipated developments

• Current challenges
• sustainability of infrastructure and gains made
• making the case (SMT/University Executive)
• from short-term to establishment contracts
• costs of e-learning, efficiencies, income
  generation
• working around politics and ideology of
  enhancement
• Into the future
• use lessons learned
• address barriers to engagement
• further dissemination and capacity building
• align staff and student expectations and
  capability