Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development

individual departmental institutional Implementing the strategy

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Just another brick in the wall? Deans not involved HoDs not involved No Targets Lack of recognition and reward Lack of strategic vision No money semesterisation Portfolio review Initiative overload? Federated structure Local cultures Dispersed support services Local needs Semi- autonomous schools

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Understanding the context Weaknesses Strategic direction & vision Recognition and reward Deans not involved Ambiguous targets Strengths Brookes Virtual & WebCT Energetic innovators Pockets of good practice Existing eL strategy Opportunities HR Strategy SD planning & PDR process Funding Threats Review of course portfolio Semesterization

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Implementing the strategy Harness the energy of our innovators to drive change forward Make senior managers aware of the groundswell of energy and good practice already occurring Involve all stakeholders in the continuing process of (re)defining an appropriate strategic direction for e-learning at Brookes.

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Managing educational change Caldwell, B. & Spinks, J. (1988) The Self-Managing School, London, Falmer Press. Goal setting Policy making Evaluation Planning Implementing Budgeting

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Implementing Brookes E-learning strategy Learning Technologists & E-learning Champions School strategies School supported projects Research & evaluation Course design intensive Partnerships in Practice Business Team Challenge Modes of engagement Exemplar database SD/HR funding Annual monitoring & updating Targeted staff development PGDip Embedding Learning Technology module

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Understanding your context Take time to do a SWOT analysis of your own e-learning context Note some of the bricks in your University’s wall(s) some of the levers available to you for breaking open those walls

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development E-learning Champions Write an e-learning strategy for their school Identify local areas of action Manage the learning technologist [in almost all cases] and use that person’s time and skill to shape school actions Consider staff development needs for the school using a cascade model

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Advantages raises the profile local power base owned, local and relevant eL strategies recognized longstanding activity and rewarded success a named group for dissemination and up- skilling the skills, interests and time allocated vary there is no central resource objection to the name lack of a support group Disadvantages

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Learning Technologists Job description and person spec JISC/ALT funded project on accrediting learning technologists Tiny amount of HR strategy funds Learning technologists forum Audit of current e-learning operation Exemplar showcase

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development School strategies Template to aid strategic thinking and develop action plan Covering memo explaining why Linked to staff development planning process Linked to LT&A strategy Promoted discussion and debate Short turnaround time

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Mode 1: baseline admin and support Mode 2: Blended learning Mode 3: Fully online/flexible

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development School supported projects Business school - diagnostic testing of large, first year cohorts to improve module selection & team challenge School of Health & Social Care - to enhance two very large multi-professional courses with online activities Technology - to introduce large scale CAA for formative feedback and diagnosis Theology - to convert paper-based DL MA to online

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Targeted staff development The course (re)design intensive On-demand in response to specific needs Course teams involving learning technologists, teaching fellows and administrators

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Planning tools Blue skies checklist Risk analysis template Critical friend prompts Storyboarding

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Storyboarding

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Monitoring and evaluation Annual cycle of revisiting school strategies linked to school staff development plans Annual interviews with e-learning champions Support in designing, conducting and analysing course evaluations, e.g. Focus groups with Business Team Challenge students Interviews with PiP staff and analysis of student feedback JISC learner experience scoping study

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Summary of benefits Schools thinking more clearly about how to use e-learning Stimulating the growth in the use of the Brookes Virtual Learning Environment (WebCT) from fewer than 250 learners in 2002, to nearly 15,000 today E-learning activists now working on key ‘school supported’ initiatives Enabled us to reach and involve parts of the uni who have been difficult to engage before Made explicit effective staff development

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development What have we learnt? Find opportunities to work with academics earlier Work in wider (no – wider!) course teams Use setting of absolute targets wisely Allow for lumpy development e.g. through schools setting their own agendas Take the support of individuals and their career development seriously Use developers time in targeted staff development. Find some from inside or outside the institution

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Revised E-learning strategy (2005-8) Supporting e–learning through curriculum design and development Developing, enabling and valuing e– Learning practitioners Improving and expanding environments for e–learning Researching and evaluating e–learning aims to apply Learning Technology to the provision of flexible, active, collaborative and professionally authentic learning 5 key projects Widening participation and creating effective e– learning partnerships

Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Dr. Rhona Sharpe Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development Oxford Brookes University