Global Challenges in elearning Southampton University 14 December 2005

1. Global Challenges in elearningSouthampton University14 December 2005 Caroline Moore Director IT Services Teaching and Examinations

2. About this presentation • British Council experience of elearning for English Language Teaching (ELT) - 20 minutes presentation, 10 minutes discussion. • Consider three particular challenges: • Different contexts in each country • Learner attitudes to (e) learning • Teacher attitudes to (e) learning NB there are many other challenges… not least finding the right [affordable] technical “solutions” and making them work. And content.

3. About the British Council • Founded in 1934 • Works in 110 countries • Purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK’s creative ideas and achievements. • Core grant-in-aid £178m. • Income £193m in 2005/06. • Turnover £482m.

4. British Council Teaching Centres • “Direct teaching” of English since late 1930s • Expansion in 1980s and 1990s • In 2004/5 we taught English to 306,000 students in 53 countries. 2000 teachers taught 1.1 million class hours. • Learners are adults (65% - mainly aged 18-35), young learners (25% - 3-17) and “professional development” (10% - mainly business, teacher training)

5. Elearning experience • Developed CDROM content in-house from 1995 to 2005: “Network English” series, YL and IELTS discs • Since 1997 we have tried to include elearning in our offer to paying students (limited success, approximately 1000 students taught) • Successful launch of free websites for learners and teachers of English 2000 to 2004. • Research and piloting of elearning systems 2003 to present.

6.  Free websites for learners and teachers of English CD-ROMs: general language practice, YL and IELTS Authoring tools and creation of ‘high-design, medium-pedagogy’ material Research and piloting of e-learning systems  Development & implementation of blended English courses Complex / ambitious media development Learning platform Elearning experience

9. Challenge 1: different context in each countryor “it won’t work here” • Different learners and learning needs in each country affects distribution of ability ranges, age groups, learning needs, expectations. • Different term times, course duration, number of classes per week. • Most students come to (well equipped) BC Teaching Centre premises, but some taught off site. • Differing experiences/access to technology and expectations – gap between Tokyo and Cairo. • Big range in “affordability” (Tokyo approximately x4 Cairo).

10. Challenge 2: Learners: Market research: typical respondent overall

11. Reasons for studying English Reasons for studying English (average) • The most popular reason for learning English is for improved job opportunities. • Improving career prospects is the driving force for many, with social reasons somewhat down the scale. • . n=1350

12. learner preferences • Diagnostic test • Teacher contact (counselling) • Revision material • Additional material • Progress record • "Moving faster" (same face to face but progressing faster) • Homework system (storage and uploading)

13. Challenge 3: Teachers

14. The future: integrate elearning with current face to face learning Teacher remains central

15. Website addresses • www.britishcouncil.org • www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish • www.in2english.com.cn • www.go4english.com • www.britishcouncilonline.org • Contact: caroline.moore@britishcouncil.org

16. Quadrant 2 Quadrant 4 New Mission / market / objectives Existing Quadrant 1 Quadrant 3 Existing New Pedagogy / technology Leicester E-Learning & Pedagogical Innovation Strategic Framework - Gilly Salmon, Online Educa Berlin 2005