E-Learning and Sustainability Report

Link to report (416 Kb, doc. By Graham Attwell)
"The brief for the study was ?working out an analysis of how to manage a virtual learning environment in different countries and by different types of organisations (universities, SMEs, primary schools, international associations) in a sustainable way?. The report focuses on five aspects of sustainability (1. Learning platforms and learning software. 2. Institutional responses to the use of e-learning. 3. E-learning materials development. 4. Pedagogic approaches. 5. Teacher and trainers skills.)

Below is an outline of the Institutional strategies Graham Attwell recommends (checklist) based on his findings for e-learning sustainability:

1. Develop and adopt strategies of implementing open source software.
2. Establish data repositories or contribute to collective repositories.
3. Look at what free resources are available (WWW is the largets e-Learning repository in the World).
4. Encourage staff to share resources.
5. Establish licence agreements (it is important that the effort and contribution of materials creators is recognised and their rights protected).
6. Think carefully about alternatives to Virtual Learning Environments.
7. Staff development and training (technical and pedagogy) is central to successful and sustainable e-learning.
8. Develop and review strategies for implementing e-learning.
9. A sustainable strategy should consider how different services can be integrated or can interoperate at a technical, pedagogic and human level.
10. The provision and use of metadata and conformance to standards (e.g. SCORM) are key strategic issues for the sustainability of e-learning.
11. Take pedagogies seriously (good technology is not enough!).
12. Integrate ICT within the whole curriculum.
13. Project funding is important in allowing opportunities for innovation and experimentation.
14. Institutions should encourage staff to actively seek funding opportunities.
15. Actively seek to develop partnerships and networks for e-learning.
16. Share practice throughout organisation.
17. Make sure sufficient support is available.
18. Evaluate e-learning practice (e.g. anually)"

(If you don't have time to read the whole report, please read Graham Attwell's "Recipes for sustainability" (conclusion). Excellent stuff! Thanks Graham! )