Slides for plenary talk on "E-learning: The Strategy Continuum" given by Alejandro Armellini at the IWMW 2003 event held at the University of Kent on 11-13 June 2003. See http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2003/talks/

1. E-learning:
the strategy continuum
Dr Alejandro Armellini
Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
University of Kent
12 June 2003

2. E-learning: quality, markets, revenue?
Working definition for e-learning:
Learning facilitated and supported through the use of
information and communication technologies.
E-learning could enable institutions to:
• Enhance existing services
• Avoid costs of expanding physical infrastructure
• Transcend geographical and time boundaries
• Reach new student markets

3. E-learning dimensions (1)
• Technological
– Usually salient in e-learning initiatives
– Led by technologists or technology-inclined
teachers
– Technology-driven decision:
“Technology is available  it will be incorporated”

4. • Economic
– Often overlooked or underestimated
– It is usual to start with low-risk pilots led by a
few innovators
Need for larger numbers of teachers and
courses involved + significant investment.
E-learning dimensions (2)

5. • Pedagogical
– Significant dependence of pedagogical
strategies on technology and technical
skills
– Teaching strategies, among other
decisions, often exceed teachers’ expertise
E-learning dimensions (3)

6. Technological
Economic Pedagogical
E-learning dimensions (summary)

7. A needs analysis
• What the institution offers
• Which services it aims to improve or what new
services it aims to launch
• Can e-learning be used to achieve the above in a
technologically, financially and pedagogically
effective way?
In other words:
What questions is e-learning the answer to?

8. The strategy continuum (1)

9. The strategy continuum (2)

10. At Kent today…
• 81 active courses
• 74 teachers
• 3040 students

11. The strategy continuum (3)

12. A two-dimensional approach (1)

13. A two-dimensional approach (2)

14. A two-dimensional approach (3)

15. A three-dimensional approach

16. A possible strategy?

17. Final thoughts: appropriate
technologies as agents of change (1)
• E-learning is not limited to 'new forms of
distance education'.
• It enables a spectrum of models that
combine f2f & online learning.
• Each tool, old and new, should be used
for what it does best for teachers and
learners.

18. Final thoughts: appropriate
technologies as agents of change (2)
• The Internet is here to stay and will develop
further: research-based teacher education
programmes are needed to understand, adapt
and incorporate new technologies as and
where appropriate.
• Appropriate e-learning models as agents of
change and innovation in educational systems.
• Clear rules needed by all: where is this
institution going on the e-learning front?

19. Thank you
Dr Alejandro Armellini
Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching
University of Kent
C.A.Armellini@kent.ac.uk