Making Education more Making Education more accessibleaccessibleThe University of South Australia and The University of South Australia and

MicrosoftMicrosoft

Professor Bruce KingProfessor Bruce KingDirectorDirectorFlexible Learning CentreFlexible Learning CentreUniversity of South AustraliaUniversity of South Australia

AgendaAgenda

IntroductionIntroduction TrendsTrends Educational EvolutionEducational Evolution Case Study - University of South Case Study - University of South

AustraliaAustralia

Changes in Changes in LearnersLearners

The “Millennials”The “Millennials” Born in or after 1982Born in or after 1982 Gravitate toward group activityGravitate toward group activity Identify with parents’ values; Identify with parents’ values;

feel close to parentsfeel close to parents Spend more time on homework and Spend more time on homework and

housework; less time watching TVhousework; less time watching TV 8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be smart”8 out of 10 say “it’s cool to be smart” Fascination for new technologiesFascination for new technologies Racially and ethnically diverseRacially and ethnically diverse

――Howe & Strauss, 2000Howe & Strauss, 2000――Howe & Strauss, 2000Howe & Strauss, 2000

Advances in Advances in TechnologyTechnology

Technological ProgressTechnological Progress

1994 – 2004 – quantum leap in mainstream 1994 – 2004 – quantum leap in mainstream (and youth) technology adoption(and youth) technology adoption

So, what will change in next 10 years?So, what will change in next 10 years? The internet The internet More computing power, storage and bandwidthMore computing power, storage and bandwidth MobilityMobility Integration Integration Communicate and educate – anytime/anyplace or Communicate and educate – anytime/anyplace or

Education Everywhere – eliminate boundariesEducation Everywhere – eliminate boundaries

Transitions in Transitions in EducationEducation

Education evolutionEducation evolution

Adapted From: Maslow, A. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370-396

Connected Learning

Advanced Needs

Integrated student Integrated student services services

On-demand learning On-demand learning opportunitiesopportunities

Supports mobile Supports mobile lifestylelifestyle

Data-drivenData-driven PersonalizedPersonalized

Competitive Competitive DifferentiationDifferentiation

Support traditional educational approaches

Basic Needs

Classroom based Classroom based instructioninstruction

Lecture based Lecture based pedagogypedagogy

Correspondence Correspondence coursescourses

Most Most Institutions Institutions

Today Today

Enable pedagogical best practices

Intermediate Needs

Blended/hybrid/web Blended/hybrid/web enhanced coursesenhanced courses

Active Active experimentationexperimentation

Group and team Group and team learninglearning

Affordable realityAffordable reality Distance learningDistance learning

Innovative Innovative educators and educators and departmentsdepartments

University of University of South AustraliaSouth Australia

Online learning at UniSAOnline learning at UniSA

1993 - Resolved to transform learning 1993 - Resolved to transform learning by 2003by 2003

Students – choice, flexibility, Students – choice, flexibility, responsibility, supportresponsibility, support

Staff – technical support, infrastructure, Staff – technical support, infrastructure, professional developmentprofessional development

A leading player online A leading player online domestically/overseasdomestically/overseas

Challenge needed Challenge needed managementmanagement New organisational structuresNew organisational structures Consultative relationships with key Consultative relationships with key

stakeholdersstakeholders Planning, QA and improvement cyclePlanning, QA and improvement cycle Systematic development of Systematic development of

admin/technical infrastructureadmin/technical infrastructure Enterprise culture and business Enterprise culture and business

processesprocesses Appropriate professional developmentAppropriate professional development Staff rewardsStaff rewards

In-house developmentIn-house development

Built own online learning platform – Built own online learning platform – UniSAnetUniSAnet

Leveraged existing commitments, eg Leveraged existing commitments, eg ExchangeExchange

Used ASP technology & moving to .Net Used ASP technology & moving to .Net Commitments – interoperability, Commitments – interoperability,

scalability, functionality, simplicityscalability, functionality, simplicity Low-cost, modular, reliable, flexible, Low-cost, modular, reliable, flexible,

responsiveresponsive

Strategic approachStrategic approach

Built on success – staff and course Built on success – staff and course home pageshome pages

System mandated as base for all System mandated as base for all operationsoperations

Quality assurance front-endedQuality assurance front-ended Special demands – quid pro quo Special demands – quid pro quo

developmentdevelopment Functionality & success overtook Functionality & success overtook

leading innovatorsleading innovators KnowledgeSouth –commercialisation, KnowledgeSouth –commercialisation,

standardisationstandardisation

Managed approachManaged approach

Initial three year project - $500KInitial three year project - $500K Mainstreamed R&D within T&L unitMainstreamed R&D within T&L unit Increasing demands need project Increasing demands need project

managementmanagement Individual projects on service Individual projects on service

agreement with schoolsagreement with schools Skills development focuses on both Skills development focuses on both

staff & studentsstaff & students Critical technical support – Online Critical technical support – Online

AdvisersAdvisers

UniSAnet additional features UniSAnet additional features (1)(1) TellUS – online survey instrumentTellUS – online survey instrument AssignIT – online assignment AssignIT – online assignment

submissionsubmission Transcript2 – portfolio, CV, career Transcript2 – portfolio, CV, career

applicationsapplications CEI – course evaluation instrumentCEI – course evaluation instrument SET – student evaluation of teachingSET – student evaluation of teaching Experiencebank – online careers Experiencebank – online careers

serviceservice

UniSAnet additional features UniSAnet additional features (2)(2) LookUp – student portalLookUp – student portal Learning Connection – online student Learning Connection – online student

supportsupport Web pages – all staff, programs and Web pages – all staff, programs and

coursescourses Get Connected CDROMGet Connected CDROM Service Agreement ManagerService Agreement Manager

Success to dateSuccess to date

DEST – UniSA benchmark for DEST – UniSA benchmark for technology in learningtechnology in learning

Learning Connection – AUTC prize Learning Connection – AUTC prize winner 2002winner 2002

1200+ courses with substantial online 1200+ courses with substantial online resourcesresources

First University online career serviceFirst University online career service UniSAnet – averages 22 million hits per UniSAnet – averages 22 million hits per

monthmonth UniSA – most visited education site UniSA – most visited education site

April 2004April 2004

Demonstration sitesDemonstration sites

  http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learn/http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learn/UniSAnet-3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/CUniSAnet-3/?PATH=/Resources/13193/Course+Information+and+Study+Guide+2ourse+Information+and+Study+Guide+2003/&default=003/&default=Welcome.htmWelcome.htm  

http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/serviceagreement/index.aspserviceagreement/index.asp

http://www.unisa.edu.au/http://www.unisa.edu.au/experiencebank/experiencebank/