eLearning Review

The University's vision of learning for the 21st century includes blended learning with well integrated use of information and communication technologies into pedagogy. The University has been developing its capability to make effective educational use of ICT in a number of ways since 2000, with an expanded model launched in late 2003, now known as 'USyd eLearning'.

Using WebCT as the LMS (learning management system), over 2000 websites have been developed since WebCT was installed in late 2000.

USyd eLearning is centrally driven and characterised by:

• a focus on quality assurance processes, and
• a partnership approach which has devolved decision-making about strategic projects to the faculties and schools

USyd eLearning is organisationally located in the Office of the PVC (Learning and Teaching). In October 2005 the PVC (L&T) established a team to review USyd eLearning. The team was made up of Prof Peter Goodyear, Dr Mary Jane Mahony and Prof Peter Reimann. They were given the following Terms of Reference:

• To identify the key aspects of USyd eLearning and their objectives
• To evaluate the outcomes of USyd eLearning in relation to the objectives
• To provide recommendations on the most appropriate place to provide leadership for elearning across the University
• To evaluate the appropriateness of funding a centralised eLearning Initiative
• To provide recommendations for future sustainability and scalability, and especially for better integration of ICT into learning and teaching
• To make recommendations about policy development in the area of elearning

The Review Report was provided to the eLearning Governance Group on Thurs 18th May 2006. The Report was well received; it being seen to be both a strategic and practical document.