Latest developments in e-learning

1. Latest developments in e-learning Rhonda Riachi Director Association for Learning Technology Registered Charity number 1063519 www.alt.ac.uk Online Information 2004

2. Association for Learning Technology ALT aims to • promote good practice in the use of learning technology in education and industry • represent the members in areas of policy • facilitate collaboration between practitioners, researchers, and policy makers Online Information 2004

3. What we do: Organise conferences, workshops, visits and exchanges Examples: • 12th International Conference: ALT-C 20056-8 September 2005 in Manchester • Annual Policy Forum2003: the formal launch by Charles Clarke of the DfES e-learning Strategy consultation; 2004: involved institutional and corporate members in developing our Learning Technology Research Policy • Spring conference and research seminar Dublin, 31 March and 1 April 2005 Online Information 2004

4. What we do: Publications for practitioners and researchers Examples: • ALT-J – one of the leading journals with an international focus for the study and application of learning technology • ALT-N – keeping your institution up to date on ALT’s activities and how it is influencing key policy decisions • ALT-Digest – a fortnightly news digest summarising key developments in the field • Books: “Making Connections” – report on the exchange trip to Netherlands, published in 2004 Online Information 2004

5. What we do: Our members influence the outcome of key consultation documents Examples: • HEFCE 2003-2008 Strategy • DfES e-learning Strategy Consultation • the 21st Century Skills White Paper • RAE 2008 panel configuration and recruitment Online Information 2004

6. What we do: Our members influence key decisions through representation Examples: • JISC’s Committee for Learning and Teaching • Moore Group, which meets the DfES on behalf of “commercially-focused” e-learning associations • Steering group for the European Academic Software Awards Online Information 2004

7. Membership summary • 500 individuals • 103 Higher Education Institutions • 72 Further Education Institutions • 40 Corporate members – new corporate members in 2003 and 2004 include DfES, Epic Group plc, HEFCE, HP, Higher Education Academy, LSC, LSDA, NHSU, Question Mark Computing, Plato Learning, RM plc, Scottish Enterprise, Sentient Learning, Toshiba Online Information 2004

8. Future developments Accreditation of Learning Technologists • With a £30k grant from the JISC we appointed consultants to assist us in developing a “simple, economical, voluntary, peer-based, UK-wide structure to accredit individuals as Learning Technologists, in collaboration with HE, FE, and industry bodies”. • This work is now complete and we intend to launch the accreditation scheme in Spring 2005. Online Information 2004

9. Getting involved • Join as an individual (£47 per annum) or • Join through your institution or organisation www.alt.ac.uk Online Information 2004

10. E-learning: key trends • E-portfolios • Online assessment • Digital repositories • Reusable learning objects • Ubiquitous computing • Blended learning • Professionalisation of learning technologists Online Information 2004

11. E-learning: key trends Useful web sites on the general UK scene • http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=elearning_framework • http://www.becta.org.uk • http://ferl.becta.org.uk/ • http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/ • http://www.dfes.gov.uk/elearningstrategy/ Online Information 2004

12. E-learning: key trends E-portfolios “tools for personal development planning in the context of lifelong learning” (ALT/SURF definition); mostly web-based • http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/ALT-SURFseminar_April_2004.pdf Other useful sites • http://www.europortfolio.org/ • http://electronicportfolios.org/ • http://www.careerswales.com/ Online Information 2004

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14. E-learning: key trends Online assessment/CAA “allows the assessment of learning outcomes to be more flexible and can be used as a motivator” (FERL) http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=189 Other useful sites • http://www.toia.ac.uk • http://www.caaconference.com/ • http://www.scaan.ac.uk/ Online Information 2004

15. E-learning: key trends Digital repositories “a content store of digital objects with metadata” (ALT/SURF definition) http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/ALT-SURFseminar_April_2004.pdf Other useful sites • http://www.jorum.ac.uk • http://www.hlsi.org.uk • http://www.cetis.ac.uk Online Information 2004

16. The Higher Level Skills for Industry Project Online Information 2004

17. E-learning: key trends Reusable learning objects “a digital piece of learning material that addresses a clearly identifiable topic or learning outcome and has the potential to be reused in different contexts.” (H806 "Learning in the Connected Economy" The Open University course team, Robin Mason, Martin Weller, Chris Pegler, IET, Open University, Oct. 2003) • http://library.open.ac.uk/services/ver_obje.html • http://www.rdn.ac.uk • http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html • http://www.learningcircuits.org/design.html “A field guide to learning objects” (ASTD/Smartforce) Online Information 2004

18. E-learning: key trends Ubiquitous computing “In education ubiquitous computing defines a situation where all students and all academic staff have access to a networked computer at any time to undertake their work.”(Ted Smith, Ted Smith Consulting) http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2004/timetable/abstract.php?abstract_id=32 Another useful site: • http://www.dsg.cs.tcd.ie/index.php?category_id=228 Supporting informal learning • http://www.communityprogrammes.org.uk/metadata/informal • http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/ltri/index.htm Online Information 2004

19. E-learning: key trends Blended learning “a learning solution that incorporates a mix of online and face-to-face elements”(e-Learning Centre: Guide to e-Learning) • http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/guide2elearning/ Example of a blended learning course • http://www.cant-col.ac.uk/courses/blended/ Online Information 2004

20. E-learning: key trends Professionalisation of learning technologists • Certified Member of ALT (CMALT) scheme to be launched in spring 2005 http://www.alt.ac.uk/docs/NLN_handout_20041128.pdf • The PETAL project http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=deletpetal Online Information 2004

21. E-learning: conflicting pressures Bespoke vs off-the-shelf Open source vs licensed Obsolescence vs reusability Costs vs time Off campus vs on campus Students with handhelds vs teachers with old desktop PCs Government targets vs institutional policy Online Information 2004

22. Any questions? Contact ALT www.alt.ac.uk alt@brookes.ac.uk Thank you for listening! Online Information 2004