This document provides information about the ACODE 2018 Inter-Institutional Benchmarking Summit. It discusses how benchmarking using the ACODE TEL Benchmarks allows institutions to self-assess their capacity in technology enhanced learning (TEL), share results with other institutions, and incorporate findings into quality assurance processes. The summit will help those new to benchmarking understand how to use the benchmarks and provide tips for conducting an internal audit. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and learn from peers based on their benchmarking results. The event agenda outlines the peer review process for the eight ACODE TEL Benchmarks over two days.

1. ACODE 2018 Inter-Institutional
Benchmarking Summit
25-27 June 2016
Griffith University
#ACODEbm18
Professor Michael Sankey
m.sankey@griffith.edu.au
@michael_sankey

2. Introduction
• To understand where we need to go with technology
enhanced learning (TEL) we need to understand where
we currently stand.
• An approach that has helped many institutions do this is
the regular use of benchmarking.
• e.g. using the Australasian Council on Online, Distance
and E-Learning (ACODE) TEL Benchmarks.
• This tool allows us to:
– Self-assess our capacity in TEL
– Share this with other like-minded people/institutions
– Incorporate this into their ongoing QA/QI processes

3. • Few university policy cycles include the
value-adding stages of monitoring,
evaluation and benchmarking. This
suggests that many Australian universities
will face challenges meeting the Australian
tertiary sector regulators’ requirements
regarding evidence of implementation of
policy, and improvement of policy over
time. (Freeman, 2014, P. 84)

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6. • Help those new to benchmarking understand
what is required to use the ACODE
Benchmarks.
• Provide some tips on running a rigorous
internal audit, with a longer-term view to
participating in an inter-institutional activity.
• Answer any questions you may have.
This session will:

7. 1. Institution-wide policy and governance for technology enhanced
learning;
2. Planning for institution-wide quality improvement of technology
enhanced learning;
3. Information technology systems, services and support for technology
enhanced learning;
4. The application of technology enhanced learning services;
5. Staff professional development for the effective use of technology
enhanced learning;
6. Staff support for the use of technology enhanced learning;
7. Student training for the effective use of technology enhanced learning;
8. Student support for the use of technology enhanced learning.
The 8 Benchmarks for TEL

8. Extension
• We have also developed a methodology to provide
you with:
1. a platform to self-access their standing against
some/all of the 8 benchmarks, and to stimulate
meaningful conversations, at a local level, around
how you are using technology to support your L&T.
2. an opportunity to share & learn from each other,
based on their individual institutions responses
(via an inter-institutional event every two years).

9. 24 Institutions in 2014
It’s about the
conversation
among your
peers

10. Now a biennial event

11. University of Canberra 29-30 June 2016
27 Institutions
from 5 countries

13. How effective?

14. ACODE-UK
TEL Benchmarking
Summit
June 2017

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17. How often and how long?
• If starting from scratch doing all eight benchmarks is
difficult.
• We have taken an approach that means we have a 4
year quality cycle.
• 2-4 each 2 y’rs and 5-8 the following 2 y’rs
• Each benchmark takes us about 2-3 weeks to fully
work through.

19. Managing the logistics
• We first had to do a self-assessment
• Pull people together from different sections
• Agree on where we stood
• Provide a rationale and evidence as to why
• Let’s have a bit of a closer look

20. Who should be involved?
• If you were thinking about who should be involved
from your institution, who would they be?
• Typically we have representatives from:
– Person to facilitate the activity (me)
– Person to support or project manage
– Learning systems and support
– Faculties (Academic division)
– Academic development (eLearning developers)
– ICT - Support
– Library

21. BM 1. Institution - wide policy and governance for
technology enhanced learning
• Performance indicator
1. Institution strategic and operational plans support and promote the use of technology enhanced learning.
2. Specific plans relating to the use of technology enhanced learning are aligned with the institution’s strategic
directions and operational plans.
3. Planning for the ongoing use of technology enhanced learning is aligned with the institution’s budget
process.
4. Institution policies, procedures and guidelines provide a framework for how technology enhanced learning
should be used at both a course and program level.
5. Policies, procedures and guidelines on the use of technology enhanced learning are well communicated and
integrated into processes and systems.
6. The institution has established mechanisms for the governance of technology enhanced learning that
include representation from key stakeholders.
7. Authority and responsibility for the operational management of the technologies used to enhance learning
and teaching are clearly articulated.
8. The institution uses a clearly articulated policy framework and governance structure then deciding on the
adoption of new technologies.
A closer look

24. Group consolidation

25. Submit this to the event

26. Then the conversation

27. How the summit works
• For each benchmark
– Each institution will have 10 minutes to share their self-
assessment based on their consolidation.
– This timing will largely depend on the number of institutions
doing each benchmark.
– To maximise your time you should concentrate on the
highlights, rather than the lowlights of your self-assessment.
– You may also spend a short time reflecting on what changes
you are considering, based on your self-assessment.
– We will have a time for questions at the end of each
benchmark (after your 10mins in the sun), rather than at the
end of each performance indicator.
• Need to be really tight with our time

28. Day 1 (Tuesday)
• 8:00 – 8:20 Arrival tea and coffee
• 8:20 – 8:30 Official welcome and photographs
• 8:30 – 10:15 Peer review - Benchmark 1
• 10:15 – 10:30 Morning Tea
• 10: 30 – 12:30 Peer review - Benchmark 4
• 12:30 – 1:15 Lunch
• 1:15 – 2:45 Peer review - Benchmark 2
• 2:45 – 3:00 Afternoon Tea
• 3:00 – 4:15 Peer review - Benchmark 7
• 4:15 – 5:30 Peer review - Benchmark 8
• 6:30 – 8:30 Dinner
#ACODEbm18

29. Day 2 (Wednesday)
• 8:00 – 8:20 Arrival tea and coffee
• 8:20 – 8:30 Short review of day 1
• 8:30 – 10:30 Peer review - Benchmark 5
• 10:30 – 10:45 Morning Tea
• 10:45 – 12:45 Peer review - Benchmark 6
• 12:45 – 1:30 Lunch
• 1:30 – 2:45 Peer review - Benchmark 3
• 2:45 – 3:00 Afternoon Tea
• 3:00 – 4:00 Discussions/reflections on the Summit
What comes next
Evaluation and concluding remarks –
ACODE President
#ACODEbm18

30. • ACODE will provided a formal report on the
activity, containing a description of the activity, a
list of who undertook what and provided
anonymised data.
• But you should go back and have the
conversation internally, after the event

31. Conclusion
• Many of the issues we face can be remediated
by simply taking the time to self-assess against a set
of quality performance indicators.
• We then extend this by sharing our current practice
with those in similar circumstances.
• To build stronger ties and provide our institutions
with the wherewithal to meet the challenges of
building a strong digital future.
• The ACODE Benchmarks provide a catalyst to help
make this happen
• You are not alone

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For further details please contact:
ACODE Secretariat – Karen Halley
secretariat@acode.edu.au
Or simply log-in and register yourself