RSC London managers’ event NIACE Eta De Cicco, ICT and Learning Team

External drivers over last decade Technological changes Government initiatives Legislation Administrative Government priorities Responding to change Catering for individual needs Effective use of IT/ICT Reducing admin Improving work/life balance Freeing tutors to deliver learning Developing the role of volunteers and support staff Curriculum/ learning Social changes Budget constraints Europe

1 Year ACL e-learning Initiative Review e- strategies Roll out e- consultancy Some infrastructure Further research No specific content More development projects Staff Development E-Guides, Management Support, WBL and Offenders

What are the restraining forces? Not enough equipment to make use of e-learning interventions Internal crisis or other priorities Slow corporate processes Policy issues Funding e.g. Inspection or restructure e.g. Purchasing policy or IT support restrictions e.g. not paying sessional staff to attend training e.g. Cuts/redundancies

Balance between … Core budget Long term planning External funding Short term funding For all initiatives, not just e-learning

Findings: funding e-learning Link initiatives to organisational objectives Collaboration, aggregation Top-down, Bottom-up VISION Strong leadership

Clear vision/understanding Case for change Plan of activities Agreed way forward Active involvement Groundswell of support Senior management consensus Personal staff commitment Visible stakeholder support Enthusiasm Appreciation of need Clear role(s) Engagement Willingness to act Rational Political Emotional These are the difficult bits VISION – Facilitate the emotional and political barriers

VISION – Flexibly support the emotional rollercoaster Confidence +ve -ve We have some news It’s difficult It is not the best news Not sure how to solve It looks like this…. There is a solution We have some options We have a plan to success We have an answer We have a solution … and sustain! Mobilise DiscoverDeepenDevelopDeliver Emotional State

Pedagogy Integrate within mainstream delivery and QA processes Promote blended learning, not wholly ICT Technology to promote more effective learning The point is learning, not teaching sustainability

Economics Sustainable solutions must be supportable from core institutional funding Economies of scale require large learner cohorts or aggregation Identify the intended return on investment E-learning is not cheap sustainability

Short term priorities: use inspection and self assessment Helps work to your strengths Apply technological solution only when it adds value Helps address weaknesses