TEL Blog - Technology Enhanced Learning

“Virtual worlds are about to plunge into a “trough of disillusionment”, lecture podcasts are fast becoming obsolete, but cloud computing will soon be on the “slope of enlightenment”. These are the findings of an analysis of the “hype cycle” of technology in education, published by Gartner, an IT advisory firm.”

…

“Cloud email for higher education - free email services offered to institutions by the likes of Google, Microsoft and Yahoo - is also firmly ensconced in the sector. In 2008, the technology was heading towards the peak of inflated expectations, but this year passed through the trough of disillusionment and is now on the slope of enlightenment. Dr Lowendahl said the technology had seen a “tremendous uptake, especially in higher education”. Although cloud email for the sector was launched only in October 2005, the report, published last week, estimates it has a penetration rate of up to 20 per cent. I think it is the quickest uptake I have seen of outsourcing in higher education,” Dr Lowendahl said.”

From Report in Times Higher Education: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=407839&c=1

Press releases etc:

Gartner’s 2009 Hype Cycle of Emerging Technologies http://bit.ly/ooVxT : potentially transformational technologies http://ff.im/6Tgjt

Brian Kelly from UKLON

Use of Web 2.0 technologies & approaches:

• RSS feeds for structured information
• Geo-location data
• Exploitation of 3rd party services
• Openness of resources
• Risk assessment / management approaches

http://www.slideshare.net/lisbk/the-higher-education-in-a-web-20-world-report-implications-for-it-service-departments-1558270

“This document offers guidance to staff within the University on some of the issues
which need to be considered before using such services for University purposes. The
document is intended to be helpful for all staff, including researchers, teaching staff
and support staff. Note, however, that it focuses on issues specific to using external
Web 2.0 services – issues which are common to Web 2.0 services regardless of
whether they are internally or externally hosted are not specifically addressed.”

 https://www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/download/attachments/8716376/GuidelinesForUsingExternalWeb2.0Services-20080801.pdf

Enhancing learning and teaching through the use of technology: A revised approach to HEFCE’s strategy for e-learning was published in March 2009.

This revised approach to the strategy recognises that institutional contexts and strategies are key in realising the potential role of technology to enhance learning and teaching. Institutions may use the strategy document to identify areas where they wish to focus attention to achieve

• efficiency (existing processes carried out in a more cost-effective, time-effective, sustainable or scalable manner)
• enhancement (improving existing processes and the outcomes)
• transformation (radical, positive change in existing processes or introducing new processes)

The edgeless university? JISC report on the need for HE to use Web 2.0 in teaching ;for a blog about this http://bit.ly/4xBZuf

www.jisc.ac.uk/edge09 for the report:

“British Universities have world-class reputations and they are vital to our social and economic future. But they are in a tight spot. The huge public investment that sustained much of the sector is in jeopardy and the current way of working is not sustainable. Some are predicting the end of the university as we have known it. The Edgeless University argues that this can be a moment of rebirth for universities. Technology is changing universities as they become just one source among many for ideas, knowledge and innovation. But online tools and open access also offer the means for their survival. Their expertise and value is needed more than ever to validate and support learning and research. Through their institutional capital, universities can use technology to offer more flexible provision and open more equal routes to higher education and learning. We need the learning and research that higher education provides. But this will take strategic leadership from within, new connections with a growing world of informal learning and a commitment to openness and collaboration. By exploiting this role, universities can harness technology as a solution and an indispensable tool for shaping their vital role in the future.”

via RT @timbuckteeth

e-learning operational plan is out - 

http://www.bath.ac.uk/lmf/download/34215

via Andy Ramsden

HEFCE have just launched their strategy for technology-enhanced learning
(see e-mail below for further details).  The strategy document is available
from http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2009/09_12/

Posted by John Cook from CETIS-list