Research in ICT and LearningTrends and opportunities in E-learning

Ulf HedestigDepartment of InformaticsUmea UniversitySweden

Introduction

Background to development of information technology in higher education

Models for e-learning environments Perspectives on design of learning environments Virtual universities and Learning Centres

Background

Globalisation in society Media convergence Knowledge based economy

Virtual universitiesVirtual universities

E-learning in businessE-learning in business

End of 1990s

Tendencies of problems

IT in schools have not been a success

Workload on teachers High costs Consequences after the

IT-crash

The Times Higher Education 2003-02-28

The Lab that Fell to EarthOnce the center of the technology research universe, the storied MIT Media Lab is now teetering on the brink of breakup- or, even worse, irrelevanceWired May, 2003

The key to the problem- to understand the context of e-learning environments

3. Organisation3. Organisation

1. Technology1. Technology 2. 2. PedagogyPedagogy

4. Practice4. Practice

1. Technology

Design of learning environments For whom?

New communication behaviours

Technical infrastructure Different strategies

Maintenance Most expensive

Top-down approach

Bottom-up approach

Learning environment

Design of learning environments

InstructionTransmissionAcquisitionExternal realityDualismIndividually interpretedMind-centredReductionisticIndividualRationalSymbolic reasoningWell-structureddecontextualised

InterpretationInterpretationMeaning makingMeaning makingInternal realityInternal realityCultural relativismCultural relativismContextualisedContextualisedSocially negotiatedSocially negotiatedCommunity basedCommunity basedComplexComplexCollaborativeCollaborativeSocialSocialConstructiveConstructiveSituated learningSituated learningIll-structuredIll-structuredEmbedded in experienceEmbedded in experience

Student-centeredStudent-centeredTeacher-centeredTeacher-centered

2. Pedagogy

Complicated forms of education Integration of different models

Distance education/learning On-campus education Decentralised education

Technology and pedagogy

IT och pedagogyDriven by an invisible force (ICT) that calls us to the past, we seem to keep putting emphasis mainly on the delivery of information, that is, of content, almost completely disregarding interaction and activity – the context, the completely renewed social and cultural contexts that the new technologies are pleading to offer us(Antónia Dias de Figueiredo, PROMETEUS)

Computer Aided Instructions (Skinner) Intelligent Tutoring Systems (Artificial intelligence) Supported Collaborative Computer Learning

E-learning models – web-based models

1. Content + supportmodell Copy of face-to-face education Static content (course schedule, information,

assignments etc) Some complementary support for tutoring, discussion forum, email lists…

Low level of interaction No more than 20% of students time goes to interaction

E-learning models – web-based models

2. Wrap-around modell Building in different activities into course material

Simulations, group exercises, discussions, group work

Around half of the students time goes to interaction

E-learning models – web-based models

3. Integrated modelActive learning/collaborative workingCourse content is dynamic and based on

individual preferences and needs A list of resources compared to a fix content

Resources is created together with particpants during the course.

OrganisationHow to provide higher education in a virtual community?

On-campus and E-learning Young students and adult learners Full time studies and half time/evening

classes Teaching vs learning

Organisational models for e-learningThe University

Anarchy model No central decisions, bottom-up Minimal resources for central financing

of course content Low level of infrastructure Dedicated teachers Low level of awareness what others

are doing

Negotiation modelNegotiation model•Groups on middle level at the Groups on middle level at the universityuniversity

•Local investments in Local investments in infrastructureinfrastructure

•Financing from faculty levelFinancing from faculty level

•Support/teaching recourses to Support/teaching recourses to enthusiasts enthusiasts Central modelCentral model•Central priorities – large scaleCentral priorities – large scale

•Large recourses for Large recourses for infrastructures infrastructures

•Professional developers and Professional developers and teachers - Center of Excellence in teachers - Center of Excellence in Educational TechnologyEducational Technology

Central modelCenter of Excellence

NegotiationalTechnology

NegotiationalSocial Science

AnarchyPedagogy

AnarchyLaw

AnarchyHistory

Inter-organisational modelsUniversity Regions (Learning centers)

Brokerage Only provide

information on possible courses, programmes online

Using existing providers (universities)

Open Learning Agency www.ola.bc.ca, www.ola.edu.au

University for Industry www.ufiltd.co.uk,

www.scottishufi.co.uk

B

Inter-organisational modelsUniversity Regions (Learning centers)

Umbrella Network with one central

node ”individually are we very

small but together we become large”

University of Highland and Islands www.uhi.ac.uk Western Governors University www.wgu.edu/wgu/index.html

Inter-organisational modelsUniversity Regions (Learning centers)

Greenfield Totally new organisation Usually virtual universities

University of Phoenix Magellan University

www.magellan.edu ”Microsoft Online Learning Inst.”

Inter-organisational modelsUniversity Regions (Learning centers)

Partnership Agreements between

partners National and

internationally

Open University agreement with Hong Kong, Singapore etc

U

LCLearning Center

Learning Centers in SwedenLarge Areas

450 000 Km²

600 000 Km²

500 Km

1150 Km

Northern Sweden and Learning Centers

Learning Centers in every municipality

Learning Center – an important link between higher education and the region

Provide education on different levels – mainly focused on adult education

Based on local needs and local industry

Information, counseling, marketing, recruitment

• Good infrastructure

Computer labsVideoconference equipmentClassroom, group rooms, Local tutorsLibraries, course literature

Learning centers are financed by the local municipality

Local learning centers integrated with other educational systems (secondary school, vocational training, adult learning etc) or regional development centers

University provides higher education financed by state government

Extra costs for adoptions to distance education – based on partnership agreements

Learning centers in Sweden

Questions?