Dr Frank Rennie

The Changing Role of Higher Education &

Sustainable Rural Development

Contents

1 Growth of online learning

2 The Drive for distributed access

3 For and Against

4 Current Trends

5 Emergent properties

6 New Learning Communities

7 Contribution to rural sustainability

Is Technology a Solution?

Computers (and virtually every other technology) can actually reduce flexibility

Appropriate technology: tutored video; audio cassettes to talk through problems, photos etc.

THE Journal, Apr. 2001

E-Learning Drivers

Demands to extend student markets

Globalisation and trade liberalisation

Government decisions and policies

Corporate Strategies (and profits)

Local Business and Community demands

Individual convenience

TrendsDistributed access to services inc educationCentralised administration (but distributed)Modularisation & CustomisationEducation on demand (type, time, place)Mode 1 to Mode 2 learning styleGreater online service demands

Dangers

Buried in bureaucracy

Loss of local autonomy

Inappropriate use of ICT

Capital led ( and gadgets !)

Homogenisation v Fragmentation

Amorphous rather than integrated

Extra work for no real gains

Opportunities

Cost rationalisation (may be distributed)Greater and shared resources.Easier and wider access to peers & tutorsDigital agenda = international knowledge economyDemocratic agenda (participation, collaboration, community stewardship etc.)

UHI Overview14 Academic Partners

Single HEI

FE + HE + Research

Area over 400K sq K

Population 500K

9.5 persons Km2

Scattered settlement

Good ICT links

UHI WAN

JANET

Local Learning Centre in the Isle of Benbecula, Western Isles, Scotland

Key Concepts for online learning (amazon.co.uk)

Teaching and Learning Online (2001) ed. J. Stephenson, Kogan Page

www.educause.edu/books/educatingthenetgen/5989

Practitioner created e-book

http://otis.scotcit.ac.uk/onlinebook/

Mode 1>>>>> Mode 21) Homogenous subjects

2) Solitary scholar

3) Open publication

4) Universal themes

5) Objectivity & disinterestedness

6) Blue skies research

7) Life-long vocation

1) Heterogeneous bases2) Multidisciplinary

teams3) Internet and IP rights4) Mission-led, &

problem-solving5) Service of practical

interests6) Contextually defined7) Professional teams

New Demands

Demand for timely, accurate and personalised learning and performance support ‘New’ learners want bite-sized chunks of

learning, not whole courses ‘New’ learners want learning tailored to their

context ‘New’ learners want just-in-tine learning Perishability of knowledge means that there

isn’t time to develop long courses

Formats of delivery

Face to face

Paper-based

Telephone tuition

e-mail support

Video conference links

Web-based resources

net meetings

Experiences with technology

Technical Problems break downs complexity costs

People Problems inexperience fear personal touch

Advantages of mixed format

Distance & Time flexibility

Not dependent on one medium

Consistency of learning resources

Subject and Student sensitive

Resource used in an appropriate context

Gives students extra skills

Gives students more power

Lessons for remote delivery

Needs to be responsive

Needs to be interactive

Needs to be reliable

Needs to be multi-platform

Needs to be consistent

Needs to be networked

Needs to be supported by training

Learning Communities

Creating a sense of community among learners is crucial for:

Trust

Collaborative working

Mutual Support and Reinforcement

Peer Learning

Student Confidence

Current Work

Credit for Transferable Skills

Mode 1 to Mode 2 learning

Problem-solving & contextual learning

New Media

Greater % part-time students

Reduction in admission requirements

Collaborative assessments

The Holistic Approach

Environment

Social

Economic

Social Equity SustainableDevelopment

Rural Sustainability

Reduced travel costs and travel time

Local economic multiplier

Retention/attraction of skilled citizens

New social networks & diversity

New intellectual & economic skills

Higher quality of life perceptions

Reduced environmental impact

Conclusions

A mixed format delivery is best

Optimum mix varies with module/course/ academic level & individual

Local Learning Centres help stability

Needs careful management (Ac + Tech)

Needs staff development (Ac + Tech)

Hi or Lo tech – needs to be professional