Innovations in distance and e-learning: options and bottlenecks Dr András Szűcs Secretary General, European Distance and E-Learning Network Director, Center for Learning Innovation, Budapest University of Technology

EDEN in nutshell The largest such professional association in Europe UK based, launched th Anniversary in 2011 Active, developing community - Membership in 2010: –195 institutions – universities, national associations, research bodies, companies –1150 individuals –400+ institutions represented from 56 countries Involvement in strategic, innovative EU initiatives 180 institutions as project partners in the past 10 years EDEN conferences: major academic and professional events in Europe; European Journal of Open, Distance and E-learning

Factors influencing E-Learning Learning – in the age of massification, digitalisation, and marketization Accelerated technical-economic development, globalisation: –performance pressure at universities, –strong competition for their „social space” Enormous changes in user habits and expectations Higher performance, meanwhile easier access and affordability of new ICT - it becomes natural commodity Migration of ‘knowledge construction’: away from traditional educational institutions

E-Learning – persisting problems Slow advancement in professional consolidation, because of: –Rapid technological progress, –Increased economic pressures, –Inconsistent government policy measures Staff and students: –Resistance of teachers, culture of innovation and service- awareness needed –Digital competence problem: gap between students’ and teachers’ approach –Students usually seek for efficiency gain, rather than exploring the pedagogic opportunities „E-learning adaptation has often rather reinforced than disrupted conventional educational practices” Conole, 2012

Bibliographic analysis of distance and e-learning research Levels of research: –Macro level: distance education systems and theories, –Meso level: management, organization, and technology, –Micro level: teaching and learning in distance education Research methods –Qualitative research is predominant Authors’ nationality –More than 80% of all articles coming from authors of only five countries: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and China. Olaf Zawacki-Richter et al.: Review of Distance Education Research The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning (IRRODL), 2009

Where is the more and new research needed in e-learning? Macro level: Systemic and social roles of education in society. Role of culture, intercultural communication Comparative research on learning systems Meso level: L eadership in distance education and e-learning Management of change and innovation –Effectiveness of interventions, diversity management Economics of e-learning Methodology support of learners Change of users’ habits Faculty support, teachers’ professional development Quality assurance

Advise on relevant themes to researchers, PhD students Democratization of learning Social inclusion and transformation Role of state and scale of educational interventions Change management and organizational development Financial models for Higher Education Sustainability, scaling & transferability of projects/initiatives Research effectiveness of learning Digital identity, legacy & heritage Go beyond learner’s cognition into motivation, emotions, attitudes, values, social & societal contexts Multilevel perspectives: learning groups & communities, learning societies and their interactions

Down-to-earth questions Simple questions need to be continuously re-investigated: –What works? –What fails? –How can we do our best for the students? How to facilitate student engagement?

9 What matters according to the successful actors? The research of the MEGATRENDS EU Leonardo da Vinci project European large scale e-learning success stories Are thare really large European e-learning providers? Success factors – How do they do it ?

MEGATRENDS Success factors What is needed to the successful e-learning development...? Summarized rank –Built on standard technology –Support from the senior management –Emphasis on quality –High ICT competence –On-line strategies in support of education –Governemental strategic background Rank at universities –Built on standard technology –Organic development –Support from the senior management –On-line strategies in support of education –Emphasis on quality –Governemental strategic background

Thank you!