JISC

Start date: 1 July 2000

End date: 30 November 2001

Funding programme: Building MLEs in Higher Education

Project website: http://www.shu.ac.uk/ctm/

This project is part of the roundtables project cluster in this particular programme. Projects in this cluster are evaluating whether the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) Teaching and Learning Technology (TLT) Roundtable methodologies for improving the use of technology in teaching will transfer effectively to a UK environment.

This project has completed and has produced :

• Final report (pdf) which details the project activities and findings.

Context

In the USA, the Teaching Learning and Technology Group, an affiliate of the AAHE (American Association for Higher Education), has established Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtables (TLTRs) in more than 400 colleges and universities. The TLTR approach is to achieve the best in teaching and learning through the more effective use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) while controlling costs and fostering communication, co-operation and collaboration among representatives.

Aims

This project is investigating whether the TLT Roundtable methodology developed by the AAHE in the USA will transfer effectively to a UK environment. It is based on a trial of the methodology at three very different types of institution: Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield and the Sheffield College.

Objectives

The project's specific objectives are:

• To evaluate whether the TLTR methodology transfers to a UK environment
• To establish whether there is a need for such a methodology in the UK
• To discover what factors affect the successful implementation of the methodology
• To create UK-focused guidelines for the introduction of TLTRs
• To produce three case study reports to illustrate the application of these guidelines

Project Design

The research and evaluation work being undertaken by the project team is mainly qualitative, but it will be supported in appropriate areas by quantitative data. As the study involves both FE and HE institutions, the material produced will be accessible and appropriate across the FE and HE community.

Implications/ Deliverables/ Stakeholders

This project will deliver:

• Briefing papers at three stages
• UK TLTR Guidelines
• A project report
• A project evaluation report
• Three case studies
• A literature report

It is expected that the project results will impact upon the management of educational change related to the introduction of and support for ICTs in learning and teaching in UK FE and HE.