implementing e-learning

Overview

A version of the core material is available for download as a printable version in pdf format. (The Adobe Acrobat Reader to allow viewing of pdf files is available for download here).

Introduction

'The joint SFEFC/SHEFC e-learning report recommended that the Councils should support, in partnership with the sectors, the development of good practice advice, such as a 'toolkit' to support institutional managers in making decisions about future plans for investment in e-learning...' (Circular letters FE/08/04 and HE/09/04; Annex A, paragraph 1, bullet 3).

This toolkit has been created as part of our applied infoKit series, which take general best practice frameworks and shows how they might be applied to a specific area. The purpose of this overview is to signpost resources that can provide assistance in assessing the costs, benefits and risks of implementing and developing e-learning provision. This is not about re-inventing the wheel - it is based upon tried and tested approaches which circle around a sound Project Management approach underpinning a set of tools and techniques that will steer you through the systems lifecycle path of analysis, planning, implementation and review. In reality the model is rarely this rigid, and you will find yourself in an iterative cycle of development - this flexibility is often fundamental to the success of any implementation. The model does however provide a contextual framework off which to signpost resources; the resources themselves contain appropriate cross-references within them as you drill down to cover the iterative nature of the subject.

As this package is devised to specifically address the e-learning agenda there are also references to resources which directly address key issues of pedagogy.

This Kit is designed to be an evolving set of tools and feedback on the materials presented here, and suggestions on inclusion of additional resources are warmly welcomed. You can contact us by email at jiscinfonet@northumbria.ac.uk.