Start date: 1 June 2007
End date: 30 April 2008
Committees: JISC Learning and Teaching committee
Overview
In 2001, UCISA commissioned a survey into the issues relating to VLEs that were seen to be having a significant impact on Computing/Information Services. In conjunction with the JISC, further surveys were conducted .in 2003 and 2005.
Following the 2005 survey and the longitudinal analysis with 2003 and 2001, HeLF saw much value in continuing with these surveys in order to identify trends in e-learning development, which they highlighted as being particularly useful to senior managers. ALT also highlighted the value of the surveys in monitoring changes in sector thinking in relation to e-learning technologies, providing useful context for internal based consultation on benchmarking. The longitudinal perspective was particularly valued.
Aims and objectives
The focus of the 2007/8 survey was on what has become know as Section 4 of the 2005 survey. As with all continuing surveys, we face the challenge of maintaining continuity with previous ones and keeping pace with new developments. The focus of most of the previous questions was maintained in order to enhance the longitudinal analysis.
However, since 2005, many developments have matured, e.g. social networking, portability, personalisation, ePortfolios, e-assessment. The survey included these activities in respect of support implications.
It was anticipated that there would be a need for more free text questions, which though more difficult to analyse, would yield much richer data and offer more complex insights into the way that the technology is being deployed within institutions to support learning and teaching activities.
Project methodology
By having a much narrower scope to this survey, as opposed to those for 2003 and 2005, it was easier to identify the target audience and also fewer people need to be engaged at a given institution in order to complete the survey (easier to target sections at staff who are responsible for institutional responsibilities).
In the first instance, we must identify the primary post holder who will at minimum take responsible ownership for the survey locally. We are keen to receive guidance regarding whether we need to send a letter to each institution, most logically the Pro-VC for Learning and Teaching.
Anticipated outputs and outcomes
The primary output will be a report with an executive summary for senior managers covering the key trends and conclusions, and this will be made freely accessible from the UCISA and JISC websites and publicised via JISCmail lists.
Dissemination activities will include a presentation of findings at the UCISA TLIG-SDG 2008 conference
The primary outcomes are anticipated to be a continuation, updated, of the previous ones, namely the value of the research in terms of decision making and comparisons.
Lead Institution
- UCISA, Peter Tinson (UCISA Executive Secretary)