This document outlines Michael Brown's presentation on the rhetoric-reality gap in digital learning and discusses three initiatives at Dublin City University to help close that gap: DCU Fuse, DCU Connected, and DCU Learning Futures. It provides details on each initiative and references statistics on the growth of online learning and skills markets to emphasize the importance of innovation in this area. The presentation concludes by encouraging universities to understand their strategic drivers and foster an ecology of innovation to infuse digital approaches rather than just bolting them on.

3. @mbrownz

4. @mbrownz

5. “The light comes through
the gaps”
@mbrownz

6. The Rhetoric Reality Gap

7. State of Art vs. State of Actual Gap

8. Near vs. Far Gap

9. 3-4 October 2019

10. 2018

12. 12http://futureuniversities.com
2018

13. http://futureuniversities.com
2019

14. 1. DCU Fuse
2. DCU Connected
3. DCU Learning Futures
Outline…

15. Gartner
Hype
Cycle

16. “All generalizations are dangerous,
even this one”
(Alexandre Dumas)

17. “Resilience requires
adaptation and evolution to new
environmental conditions, but retains core identity”
(Weller & Anderson, 2013, p.55).

18. 1. DCU Fuse

22. http://dcufuse.ie

26. www.discourse.org

32. 2. DCU Connected

33. Off-Campus
in Class
Off-Campus
Out of Class
On-Campus
in Class
Formal
Informal
On-Campus
In Class
Physical VirtualLeakage

36. • Curious minds
• Inspirational leaders
• Enterprising entrepreneurs
• Resilient problem solvers
• Collaborative thinkers
• A sense of wonder
• Courageous dreamers
• Intelligent challenges
• Innovative mindsets
• Creative future makers

43. 3. DCU Learning Futures

45. In 2015 the global value of online learning reached almost €100
billion and is predicted to be around €300 billion in the next
5-years (McCue, 2019).
The global market for MOOCs alone, which was valued at €3.5
billion in 2018, is predicted to reach around €20 billion by
2023 (MOOC Market, 2019).
The future size of the largely “untapped” borderless skills market,
which can be serviced by online and blended approaches, will
be in excess of one billion students (Australian
International Education 2025 Roadmap, 2016).

51. @NIDL_DCU

61. • Mini modules
• Study mobility
• Credit pathways
• Joint degree programs
• International scholarships
• Cost
• Access
• Quality
• Flexibility
• Innovation

67. Around the table…

68. Final points…

69. • Understand your drivers
• Foster an innovation ecology
• Part of wider strategic investment
Final points…

70. Bolting or Infusing?

71. “Digital learning
should be in the service of
big ideas,
not as a big idea
in itself”
(adapted from Barnett, 2011)

72. Go raibh maith
agaibh!
Thank you

73. “A prudent question is one-half of wisdom”
Francis Bacon
Thank you