Making Education more accessible The University of South Australia and Microsoft Professor Bruce King Director Flexible Learning Centre University of South Australia

Agenda Introduction Introduction Trends Trends Educational Evolution Educational Evolution Case Study - University of South Australia Case Study - University of South Australia

Changes in Learners

The “Millennials” Born in or after 1982 Born in or after 1982 Gravitate toward group activity Gravitate toward group activity Identify with parents’ values; feel close to parents Identify with parents’ values; feel close to parents Spend more time on homework and housework; less time watching TV Spend more time on homework and housework; less time watching TV 8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be smart” 8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be smart” Fascination for new technologies Fascination for new technologies Racially and ethnically diverse Racially and ethnically diverse ―Howe & Strauss, 2000

Advances in Technology

Technological Progress 1994 – 2004 – quantum leap in mainstream (and youth) technology adoption 1994 – 2004 – quantum leap in mainstream (and youth) technology adoption So, what will change in next 10 years? So, what will change in next 10 years?  The internet  More computing power, storage and bandwidth  Mobility  Integration  Communicate and educate – anytime/anyplace or Education Everywhere – eliminate boundaries

Transitions in Education

Traditional Learning New Learning Teacher Centered Student Centered Single Media Multimedia Isolated Work Collaborative Work Information Delivery Information Exchange Factual, Knowledge-Based Learning Critical Thinking and Informed Decision Making “Push”“Pull” Source: ISTE National Education Technology Standards for Teachers (USA).

Education evolution Adapted From: Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, Connected Learning Advanced Needs  Integrated student services  On-demand learning opportunities  Supports mobile lifestyle  Data-driven  Personalized Competitive Differentiation Support traditional educational approaches Basic Needs  Classroom based instruction  Lecture based pedagogy  Correspondence courses Most Institutions Today Enable pedagogical best practices Intermediate Needs  Blended/hybrid/web enhanced courses  Active experimentation  Group and team learning  Affordable reality  Distance learning Innovative educators and departments

University of South Australia

Online learning at UniSA Resolved to transform learning by Resolved to transform learning by 2003 Students – choice, flexibility, responsibility, support Students – choice, flexibility, responsibility, support Staff – technical support, infrastructure, professional development Staff – technical support, infrastructure, professional development A leading player online domestically/overseas A leading player online domestically/overseas

Challenge needed management New organisational structures New organisational structures Consultative relationships with key stakeholders Consultative relationships with key stakeholders Planning, QA and improvement cycle Planning, QA and improvement cycle Systematic development of admin/technical infrastructure Systematic development of admin/technical infrastructure Enterprise culture and business processes Enterprise culture and business processes Appropriate professional development Appropriate professional development Staff rewards Staff rewards

In-house development Built own online learning platform – UniSAnet Built own online learning platform – UniSAnet Leveraged existing commitments, eg Exchange Leveraged existing commitments, eg Exchange Used ASP technology & moving to.Net Used ASP technology & moving to.Net Commitments – interoperability, scalability, functionality, simplicity Commitments – interoperability, scalability, functionality, simplicity Low-cost, modular, reliable, flexible, responsive Low-cost, modular, reliable, flexible, responsive

Strategic approach Built on success – staff and course home pages Built on success – staff and course home pages System mandated as base for all operations System mandated as base for all operations Quality assurance front-ended Quality assurance front-ended Special demands – quid pro quo development Special demands – quid pro quo development Functionality & success overtook leading innovators Functionality & success overtook leading innovators KnowledgeSouth –commercialisation, standardisation KnowledgeSouth –commercialisation, standardisation

Managed approach Initial three year project - $500K Initial three year project - $500K Mainstreamed R&D within T&L unit Mainstreamed R&D within T&L unit Increasing demands need project management Increasing demands need project management Individual projects on service agreement with schools Individual projects on service agreement with schools Skills development focuses on both staff & students Skills development focuses on both staff & students Critical technical support – Online Advisers Critical technical support – Online Advisers

UniSAnet additional features (1) TellUS – online survey instrument TellUS – online survey instrument AssignIT – online assignment submission AssignIT – online assignment submission Transcript2 – portfolio, CV, career applications Transcript2 – portfolio, CV, career applications CEI – course evaluation instrument CEI – course evaluation instrument SET – student evaluation of teaching SET – student evaluation of teaching Experiencebank – online careers service Experiencebank – online careers service

UniSAnet additional features (2) LookUp – student portal LookUp – student portal Learning Connection – online student support Learning Connection – online student support Web pages – all staff, programs and courses Web pages – all staff, programs and courses Get Connected CDROM Get Connected CDROM Service Agreement Manager Service Agreement Manager

Success to date DEST – UniSA benchmark for technology in learning DEST – UniSA benchmark for technology in learning Learning Connection – AUTC prize winner 2002 Learning Connection – AUTC prize winner courses with substantial online resources courses with substantial online resources First University online career service First University online career service UniSAnet – averages 22 million hits per month UniSAnet – averages 22 million hits per month UniSA – most visited education site April 2004 UniSA – most visited education site April 2004

Demonstration sites UniSAnet- 3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/Course+Inf ormation+and+Study+Guide+2003/&def ault=Welcome.htm UniSAnet- 3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/Course+Inf ormation+and+Study+Guide+2003/&def ault=Welcome.htm UniSAnet- 3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/Course+Inf ormation+and+Study+Guide+2003/&def ault=Welcome.htmhttp:// UniSAnet- 3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/Course+Inf ormation+and+Study+Guide+2003/&def ault=Welcome.htm eagreement/index.asp eagreement/index.asp eagreement/index.asp eagreement/index.asp k/ k/ k/ k/