DRAFT

OUR VISIONECU’s Strategic Plan 2017-2021 outlines our commitment to ensuring students experience the very best learning, enabled by contemporary learning technologies.

Consistent with learning in a digital age, over the course of a degree at ECU, students will actively and productively engage with a range of learning technologies and digital literacies that will support their readiness for future careers. Across all disciplines ECU will strive to create learning environments that make the most of the ‘next-generation’ digital tools and ubiquitous connectivity, equipping students for their increasingly technology enabled work environments.

In order to promote sustainability in investment, ECU will embed a ‘whole of institution’ framework, utilising a futures- oriented approach to the selection and adoption of learning technologies and seek to enhance the learning experience for on and off campus students. The Centre for Learning and Teaching, Library, IT Services Centre and Facilities Service Centre will partner with the eight Schools to design and implement learning environments that reflect the increasingly flexible and multiple modes of learning, informed by student need, discipline and professional requirements.

Over the next five years, in many disciplines, blended learning will become the norm, while an increasing array of largely postgraduate offerings will be offered in online only modes. Simultaneously, ECU will expand the number of students engaging in online learning, extending its reach to new international markets, through the judicious selection of partnerships with providers and relevant industries.

2017-2021

Technology-enhanced Learning Blueprint

1

Priorities

Consistent and high-quality curriculum design that leverages a range of ‘fit for purpose’ learning technologies.

Accessible and personalised experiences for both on and off campus students.

Innovative approaches to staff adoption of learning technologies.

Robust and agile infrastructure to support all learning modes.

Strategic partnerships to shape innovation and expansion in technology- enhanced learning.

ACTIONS

1.1 Develop and implement guidelines specifying minimum standards for the use of the LMS in all units, and threshold requirements for blended and online units.

1.2 Promote a whole-of-course approach to the adoption of learning technologies and technology- enhanced learning.

1.3 Deploy learning designers and support staff to support identified School initiatives.

1.4 Focus on innovative blended and online assessment design to enhance academic integrity.

1.5 Develop short courses and professional learning opportunities that leverage online learning modes.

Priority 1: Consistent and high-quality curriculum design that leverages a range of ‘fit for purpose’ learning technologies

BASIC USE OF BLACKBOARD

ONLINE ONLY

Tech

nolo

gy E

nhan

ced

Lear

ning

Con

tinuu

m

Priority 2: Accessible and personalised experiences for both on and off campus students

1 ECU Technology-enhanced Learning Blueprint 2017-2021

1

2

3

4

5

4

3

2Priority 2: Accessible and personalised experiences for both on and off campus students

Priority 3: Innovative approaches to staff adoption of learning technologies

ACTIONS

3.1 Create a ‘whole-of-institution’ Learning Technologies Advisory Group to ensure the selection of ‘fit for purpose’ and interoperable tools that are well supported by the University.

3.2 Support academics through a comprehensive professional development plan that commences with induction.

3.3 Reframe the workforce to acknowledge the complexity of the learning environment and deploy ‘at the elbow’ and ‘just in time’ support for teaching staff.

3.4 Develop distributed leadership of digital technologies and learning design in each School.

ACTIONS

2.1 In partnership with students, develop and deploy a dedicated suite of tools that support and promote students’ use of all core learning technologies.

2.2 Ensure minimum standards for accessibility of learning technologies and learning resources, inclusive of digital accessibility principles and assistive technology use cases.

2.3 Provide varied opportunities for diverse students to access learning technologies and appropriate devices.

2.4 Expand and coordinate support for off campus students through online and expanded-hours services with dedicated staff.

2.5 Systematically deploy varied data and analytic tools to maximise integrated and personalised support for a diverse student cohort.

2.6 Promote opportunities for students to lead in the adoption of technologies, including multi-media and emerging experimental technologies.

Priority 4: Robust and agile infrastructure to support all learning modes

ACTIONS

4.1 Implement an institutionally-endorsed ‘road map’ and investment plan to ensure core infrastructure for comprehensive digital learning environments.

4.2 Develop consistent standards for the fit out of general learning spaces and spanned classrooms.

4.3 Maximise engagement in open education resources.

4.4 Invest in strategic trials of next-generation learning technologies.

4.5 Create virtual and physical social learning spaces that support varied learning modes.

ECU Technology-enhanced Learning Blueprint 2017-2021 2

5 Priority 5: Strategic partnerships to shape innovation and expansion in technology-enhanced learning

DEFINITIONS

Blended learningBlended learning is the intentional integration of different modes of learning in both face-to-face and online learning environments. Blended learning approaches will vary according to the discipline, the year level, student characteristics and learning outcomes.

Online learning Online learning is undertaken in the virtual environment, including through synchronous and asynchronous means, with no required on-campus activity.

LMS Learning Management System – at ECU the LMS is currently Blackboard.

Spanned classrooms Simultaneous delivery across two or more physical classroom sites.

Whole-of-institutionAn approach to decision making and implementation that recognises the need to engage a broad range of stakeholders across Schools and Service Centres to ensure sustainability and consistency in approach.

ECU Technology-enhanced Learning Blueprint 2017-2021 3

ACTIONS

5.1 Leverage industry partnerships to explore next-generation technologies in diverse disciplines.

5.2 Explore opportunities for partnerships that accelerate the development and sustainable delivery of online only offerings.

5.3 Create a means for rigorous micro-credentialling for short courses.

5.4 Develop a research program including industry partnerships to position ECU as a leader in technology-enhanced learning.

For more information contact the Centre for Learning and Teaching - clt@ecu.edu.au