The document discusses bridging the gap between e-learning policy and practice. It reviews the history of e-learning and identifies tensions between new technologies, pedagogies, and institutional structures. Emerging themes around personalization, social learning, and open educational resources are discussed. Case studies are presented mapping how drivers like funding, research, and user adoption impact the relationship between policy, practice, and learner experience. Questions are raised about how policy can better support new forms of teaching and learning and address digital divides in a changing technological landscape.

1. Bridging the gap between policy & practice: a reflective review & looking forward to the future Gráinne Conole, Open University, UK VI Congresso Nazionale della SIe-L: E-learning, creatività ed innovazione Salerno University, 17/09/09 More info, slides and references: http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/2295

4. Scrutinising the e-learning timeline Conole, (2007) in Andrews & Haythornwaite Context Globalisation, networked society, changing societal norms, ICT advances UK : Dearing review of ICT TLTP projects, CTI, HE Academy, JISC US : Fragmented policy, driven by individuals and commercial imperative Education/Industry partnerships, spin offs, Open Educational Movement Impact Local culture vs global hegemony, changing roles & structures, commercial vs. government supported, dissemination and impact evaluation Policy Practice Drivers Widening participation, personalization, lifelong learning, quality assurance, developing the work force, commercial imperative

5. A glimpse into the future

6. Inspire by Pea &Wallis, 2008 We can now interact at a distance, accessing complex & useful resources in ways unimaginable in early eras What’s the next stage of the co-evolution? Phases of development Tool-user co-evolution 1 2 3 b a c + Internet Mobile devices TV Radio Smart tools Phone

8. Tensions & implications Loosely coupled tools Integrated IT systems Personalised tools Institutional tools Student controlled Institutional controlled The VLE/LMS is dead debate http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloud/view/2162

9. A framework for making policy work Policy Teacher practice Research & development The learner’s experience

11. Cloudworks: Harnessing web 2.0

12. Key concepts Clouds: Learning & teaching ideas Design or case studies Tools or resources Questions or problems Cloudscapes: Conferences Workshops Course team Student cohort Research theme Project

13. User profile

14. Activity stream

17. Olnet: redefining openness

18. A definition The open provision of educational resources, enabled by information and communication technologies, for consultation, use and adaptation by a community of users for non-commercial purposes (UNESCO 2002)

19. A broader definition of OER Learning resources Courseware, content modules, learning objects, learner support & assessment tools, online learning communities Resources to support teachers Tools for teachers and support materials to enable them to create, adapt and use OER; training materials for teachers Resources to assure the quality of education and educational practices (UNESCO 2004)

20. Bridging the gap Personalised Situative Social Experiential Reflective Adaptive Contextual Networked Immersive Collective “ Open Design” Characteristics of good pedagogy Affordances of new technologies

22. Mapping the case studies Policy Research & development Teacher practice The learner’s experience Institutional & national funding Embedding in strategy Aligning to technology trends Changing user behaviour Drivers and challenges Actual use in practice What’s in it for me? Evidence of impact

24. Bridging the gap between policy & practice: a reflective review & looking forward to the future Gráinne Conole, Open University, UK VI Congresso Nazionale della SIe-L: E-learning, creatività ed innovazione Salerno University, 17/09/09 More info, slides and references: http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/2295