This document outlines five contexts for linking innovation in teaching and learning with educational research in higher education. It discusses 1) innovation and research in Australia generally, 2) their link in Australian higher education, 3) at the University of Sydney specifically, and 4) at the Centre for Research on Learning and Innovation (CRLI) at the University of Sydney. The CRLI takes a design-based research approach that sees research knowledge creation as an intrinsic part of practical innovation in teaching and learning.

1. The University of Sydney Page 1
Linking Innovation in
Teaching and
Learning with
Educational Research
(in Higher Education)
Presented by
Lina Markauskaite
Faculty of Education and Social Work
Centre for Research on Learning and
Innovation
@ University of Oslo, 27 September 2016

2. The University of Sydney Page 2
Outline: Four contexts . . . + 1
1. Innovation → X ← Research @ Australia
2. T&L Innovation ← ? → Research @ Australian HE
3. T&L innovation ← X→ Research @ the University of
Sydney
4. T&L Innovation → X ← Research @ CRLI

3. The University of Sydney Page 3
Big picture
Source: http://innovation.gov.au/page/national-innovation-and-science-agenda-report

4. The University of Sydney Page 4
Big picture
Source: https://theconversation.com/australias-innovation-problem-explained-in-10-charts-51898

5. The University of Sydney Page 5
Broad context
Source: http://www.industry.gov.au/innovation/Pages/default.aspx

6. The University of Sydney Page 6
Broad context
– The National
Innovation
and Science
Agenda
– $1.1B AUD
– 24 initiatives
– 4 years (from
2015 Dec)
Source: http://www.industry.gov.au/innovation/Pages/default.aspx

7. The University of Sydney Page 7
“The value” of education in Australia
Exports from international
education in 2014–15
• $17.1-$19.7 billion
• ~5.2%
• 3-4 largest export
• the largest service export
• 1.3% additional
employment
The value of international education to Australia, 2016
Source: https://ministers.education.gov.au/pyne/education-exports-hit-record-176-billion

8. The University of Sydney Page 8
No 1: What is Innovation @ AU?
“Everyone can innovate ... ”
“Innovation generally refers
to changing processes or
creating more effective
processes, products and
ideas”
. . . implementing new ideas,
creating dynamic products or
improving your existing
services.
. . . does not only mean
inventing.
. . . should be an in-built part of
your business strategy, where
you create a culture of
innovation and lead the way in
innovative thinking and
creative problem solving.
Source: https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/research-and-innovation

9. The University of Sydney Page 9
Innovation in Higher Education (...closed)
Source: http://www.science.gov.au/education/Pages/programmesDirectory.aspx

10. The University of Sydney Page 11
1. Academic standards
2. Assessing equivalence of
qualifications and learning
outcomes
3. Assessment and promotion
of student learning
4. Designing learning for the
future
5. Employability skills for the
future
6. Improving institutional
pathways across higher
education
7. Improving access to and
outcomes in higher education
for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people
8. The contemporary PhD
No 2: What is Innovation @ HE?
Source: http://www.olt.gov.au/grants-and-projects/innovation-and-development

11. The University of Sydney Page 12
Source: https://sydney.edu.au/education-portfolio/ei/awards/educational_innovation_grants.htm

12. The University of Sydney Page 13
1. . . . must have a significant impact on students’
learning outcomes
2. . . . should transform the learning experience
3. . . . includes development OR adoption of novel
approaches
4. . . . may target development of Sydney graduate
qualities, or support career transition into
employment/further study
5. . . . not necessarily application, adoption or
development of new technologies
6. . . . is not intended to fund educational
No 3: What is Innovation @ USyd

13. The University of Sydney Page 14

14. The University of Sydney Page 15
No 4: What is Innovation @ CRLI?

15. The University of Sydney Page 16
A starting point: Design-Based Research
• Grounded in theory and research
• Implemented in real-world settings
• Addressing theory-building and
practice innovation
• Interactive, participatory
• Iterative, flexible
• Integrative (mixed methods)
Middleton et al, 2008
Also other emerging approaches for
producing “principled-practical
knowledge”
Bereiter, 2014
“A systematic but flexible methodology aimed to improve educational practices
… leading to contextually-sensitive design principles and theories.”
(Wang & Hannafin, 2005, p.6)
Design &
Refine
Implement
& Observe
Analyse &
Theorise

16. The University of Sydney Page 17
Bootstrapping approach: Educational
innovation & research as “innovation &
research”
A. Issue-specific innovations
Solution of an issue A
B. Capacity building innovations: theories,
principles, tools, etc.
Improvement in how A gets done
C. Innovation of innovation: innovation &
research methods, techniques, technologies, etc.
Improvement of capability to improve A and B
Based on: http://www.dougengelbart.org/vision/paradigm-map.html

17. The University of Sydney Page 18
CRLI: Research knowledge creation as an
intrinsic part of practical innovation
1. Innovation → X ← Research @ Australia
2. T&L Innovation ← ? → Research @ Australian HE
3. T&L innovation ← X→ Research @ the University of
Sydney
4. T&L Innovation → X ← Research @ CRLI

18. The University of Sydney Page 19
No 5: What is Innovation @ Learning?
Lina Markauskaite
Centre for Research on Learning and
Innovation (CRLI)
University of Sydney
Lina.Markauskaite@sydney.edu.au
Room 581 @UiO
Book available at: http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789400743687
Website: https://epistemicfluency.com