Setting Faculty strategic objectives for online learning

In setting strategic objectives for online teaching and learning, the Faculty will need to consider its strategic direction (encompassing the needs of a diverse range of students, staff, the wider University and the community). Strategic objectives may range from providing support for the development of online learning for campus-based students through to development and implementation of online learning programmes for students in regional or overseas locations.

Objectives may also include reference to the degree to which the Faculty will embrace online teaching and learning (i.e., will units be web-supplemented, web-dependent or fully online?).

Other Helpful Resources

Bates, A. W. (2000). Managing Technological Change: Strategies for College and university Leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Available from the Resource Collection http://www.csd.uwa.edu.au/resources/catalog/rc.asp?.

Dickinson R., & Dook, J. (2000). Issues in on-line education. identifies a range of online learning issues that may need to be considered by faculties, departments and academic staff.

Fardon, M., & Ludewig, A. (2000). iLectures: A catalyst for teachng and learning. In R. Sims,et al (eds), Learning to choose, choosing to learn Proceedings of the ASCILITE Conference (9 - 14 December, 2000). Coffs Harbour, Southern Cross University. http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/coffs00/papers/mike_fardon.pdf.

McNaught, C. (2000). Flexibility: focus, fears and fantasy. In A. Q. Herrmann and M. Kulski (Eds), Flexible Futures in University Teaching: Proceedings of the Flexible Futures in Tertiary Teaching Conference (2-4 February, 2000). Curtin University, Western Australia.

Case Studies

Burford, S., & Cooper, L. (2000). On-line development using WebCT: A faculty managed process for quality. Australian Journal of Educational Technology 16, 201-214.

Chalmers, D. (1999). A strategic University wide initiative to introduce programs of study using flexible delivery methods. Interactive Learning Environments 7, 249-268.

Some guiding questions for setting strategic objectives

• What are the educational considerations in developing online teaching and learning? Does the Faculty want to "port the classroom online" or try to teach in a radically different way? (See 'Towards a definition of online learning' - considering the aspects of online learning (figure 1) within the definition). Who will develop "pathways to best practice" for online learning in the discipline? How will the Faculty ensure that the quality of the learning environment continues to be maintained in an online context?
• A useful starting point might be to ask 'what is the minimum online presence that the Faculty wishes to achieve?' For example - unit outlines and staff biographies in all first year units etc.
• Is it possible - should it be possible - to complete study entirely online without having to visit the campus? Will there be different aspects of online learning for undergraduates, postgraduates, remote and off-shore students?
• What are the consequences for academic staff in terms of workload, developing material as part of a team, changing roles, coping with student expectations of 24 hour/7 day access to staff etc? How will the Faculty calculate workloads as some online components replace some face-to-face components of a unit? What is reasonable access for students to expect of staff and how will this be communicated to students in order to protect staff from unreasonable demands?
• What are the computer and information literacy skill levels the Faculty would like its staff and students to have?
• How will the Faculty evaluate its progress in developing online teaching and learning and its impact within the Faculty and schools? How will quality and effectiveness be reviewed?
• What are the Intellectual Property implications for Faculties with the development of online teaching and learning resources?
• What technical support (e.g., computer labs, help desks) does the Faculty want to provide?
• Does the Faculty wish to promote or encourage use of a particular MLE?