The document discusses several key drivers for technology enhanced learning in higher education, including student expectations for reliable technology use, the importance of developing digital literacy skills for employability, the need for flexible delivery to accommodate diverse student needs, and opportunities for reuse, scalability, and international collaboration through digital resources and online learning.

1. "The Drivers
for Technology Enhanced Learning
in Higher Education"

2. Student expectations
• Learning should be supported by reliable, consistent
use of technology (Sheffield Student Union report).
• Popularity of social media:
digital media are at the core of many students’ lives.
• Use of LMS’s and VLE’s in schools
• Informal learning with YouTube, iTunes U, BBC,
Wikipedia, Coursera etc.
• NUS Charter on Technology in HE
emphasises technology in
learning and teaching
• Expectations likely to grow with £9k fees.

3. Employability
• “Digital media literacy continues its rise in
importance as a key skill in every
discipline and profession”.(Horizon HE
report 2012)
• “Institutions should understand and
highlight the link between technology-
enhanced learning and employability”.
(NUS)
• “The Sheffield Graduate is information
literate” (UoS Learning and Teaching
Strategy)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayhem/3600002571/sizes/m

4. Digital Literacies/Digital Citizens
• Increasing multi-modality of digitally-mediated
interactions, both online and f2f.
• Ubiquity of knowledge: “information obesity”
• Speed of change in the economy, workplace
• Risks and opportunities
to students vis-à-vis
digital footprint,
digital expression,
digital security,
digital identity
http://www.coetail.asia/carriezimmer/files/2012/03/digital-footprint1.jpg

5. Accessibility
• The need for flexible delivery:
Demographic shift may mean more p-t,
employed students or with care responsibilities
• Extending online delivery for international
students especially with ‘professional’ masters.
• Greater potential for flexibility
in curricula and delivery.
• TEL advantages for students
with disabilities
http://mobileben.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/elearning_to_mlearning1.png

6. Reusability
• Digital artifacts can be reused ad infinitum.
• Reuse promotes investment in quality resources
e.g. scenario based learning in medicine
• Scalability
• Many excellent resources
are freely available
• Transparency means
potential to
identify/model/copy
good practice

7. Internationalisation
• Increasing number of students studying outside
the UK for visa and economic reasons.
• Aspiration for the Sheffield Graduate to have
“cultural agility” and international experience.
• Opportunities for learning,
teaching and research
collaboration through
international partnerships
will be critical to UK HE.
(British Council report 2012).
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