Chapter 1: Introduction

Introduction
You have reached the webpage for discussion of Chapter 1 of the DCU eLearning Strategy Staff Consultation Document. Below is a summary of Chapter 1 and a link to complete chapter (in pdf format). You are invited to make any comment you have on this chapter below by clicking on post a comment below.

Summary
This Chapter outlines the brief of the eLearning Strategy Team; provides a definition of eLearning adopted by the Team; describes the methods used in its investigations; and overviews the report structure.

The brief given to the eLearning Strategy team was to investigate a range of areas and to make recommendations to Executive on an eLearning strategy, based on evidence from its research. The chief areas of investigation were:

• The eLearning policy environment – national and international (e.g. HEA, EU/Bologna, OECD etc) including the funding climate
• Identification of best practice in other HE institutions with regard to sustainable organisational structures for implementing & embedding eLearning
• The external eLearning environment – competition and potential collaboration
• The potential for eLearning in modernising and improving DCU’s teaching and learning
• The existing capacity for eLearning in DCU in terms of programmes and expertise
• The internal environment in DCU – attitudes and support for eLearning; infrastructure, capacity and feasibility
• The potential for embedding eLearning in existing DCU programmes & modules so that they can be delivered to off-campus students
• Identification of new DCU programmes & modules using eLearning
• The potential of Oscail as a centre of eLearning expertise working with faculties & schools.

The following definition of eLearning is used: ‘The use of ICTs to improve the quality and flexibility of learning for all students and to extend access to higher education to those who are unable to attend on-campus for whatever reason.’

The methods used in investigating the environment for eLearning included:

• Consultations with key stakeholders in DCU and in external institutions
• Meetings and workshops with Faculty and Schools
• Baseline survey of 139 academic staff
• Extensive review and analysis of the literature on international, national and institutional eLearning strategies and policies; case studies of organisational change involved in embedding eLearning; developments in eLearning technologies and practices; and potential funding sources.

Chapter 1 (in pdf format)