CAMEL at Greenwich Maureen Castens Director of Information & Library Services

CAMEL at Greenwich Oil on troubled waters A manager’s perspective on implementing the e-learning strategy

Overview Key strengths The challenges How we are meeting them Summary My perspective The context here Where we are in the e-learning strategy life cycle Projects Mechanisms for quality assurance and integration

My perspective Manager of a key central service

My perspective Manager of a central service Relatively new to Greenwich

My perspective Manager of a central service Relatively new to Greenwich Member of the e-learning group

Context - organisational Schools Primary focus

Context - organisational Schools LEAP Primary Focus Service the strategy

Context - organisational Schools LEAP ILS Driving Force Service the strategy Infrastructure Services Resources Support

Context - organisational Schools LEAP ILS Ed Tech Services Driving Force Service the strategy Infrastructure Services Resources Support None

E-Learning Strategy Developed 04/05 Live 05/06

E-Learning Strategy Supports University mission Has a definition of e-learning Uses Scribbin’s & Powell’s (2003) fan Principal corporate VLE platform WebCT Some strong School VLE’s Philosophy of “managed diversity” within resources E-Learning Strategy Developed 04/05 Live 05/06

Strategy Life Cycle Year 1 £513,000 allocated 05/06 (inc. £100,000 University work) Portal and convergence£160,00038% Grassroots projects (12)£28% Generic courses across University (3)£10% Staff Development & Forum£10% Management & evaluation£10% Contingency£10% New L&T Strategy developing 2005/06 £xxx,000 allocated 06/07 for e-Learning Year 2 Enhancing learning and teaching major theme for Corporate Plan 06/11

Some Projects-1 PORTAL PROJECT – the largest oilcan  Steering group – multiple stakeholders  Using JISC Infonet Skills Kits (project management & risk management)  Student portal first  SCT Luminus product  Assembling and building technical skills  Creating and linking communities

Some Projects-2 Empowering staff  Learner centred CPD for staff  Pastoral & Skills Handbook for tutors  Good practice website Empowering students  On-line basic mathematics  Virtual workbench suite  Generic courses (Research techniques, critical thinking)

Some Projects-3 Assessment  Marker wiz check sheet (for feedback)  Plagiarism  Recording achievement through e-learning New product  Supervision for health & health care professions “New technology”  Podcasting Evaluation  Student experience of e-learning

Quality Assurance Project teams supported by Malcolm & Simon Memorandum of agreement with phased release funding Requirement to present to peers Progress reports to E-Learning Group

Integration E-Learning Group Technical integration by ILS re Portal Technical staff from ILS on project groups Staff Development Forum Multi-School involvement in most projects Evaluation project Malcolm & Simon!

Key Strengths Pervasive Focussed Managed Evolution not revolution Organic change School led Pragmatic (but with some vision)

Challenges Keeping the focus Ensuring links to new Information & Estates Strategies- currently under development Multi-School projects Implications for organisational structures? Understanding the costs and impacts

SUMMARY The management perspective:  Leadership – through strategy  Facilitate – money & support  Encourage – listen, hear, respond & celebrate  Structured diversity  Making connections across the organisation at all levels

? Managed diversity? – a fool’s paradise?