Spheres of Influence: Ventures and Visions in Educational Development*

3-6 July, 2002
The University of Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

Enhancing teaching and learning through an institutional approach to online teaching - the OLT experience

Halima Goss, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

The growing use of communications and information technologies in education has been an excellent opportunity for QUT to enhance existing teaching and learning practices.

The purpose of the Online Teaching (OLT) strategy is to take advantage of this opportunity, and ensure a high-quality, integrated and coordinated approach to on-line teaching methods is employed throughout the faculties, without losing the knowledge inherent in systems already developed by individual faculties.

An internal audit review conducted by the Planning and Resources section of the university recommended the development of an institutional approach to online teaching at QUT. In response to these recommendations the development of an institutional Business Plan approach was commenced and has operated for a one year period at QUT.

Several key characteristics of the approach are:

1. Identification and establishment of appropriate representation from the university stakeholders in a Joint Management strategy,
2. Planning and Resourcing which is concomitant with needs, and
3. Monitoring and reporting for accountability across a range of dimensions eg financial, technological and pedagogical.

The challenges in implementing this model have spanned the cultural, financial and technological spheres of the institutional makeup and represent important opportunities for shaping the future of online teaching initiatives at QUT. Identifying and managing these with transparency has required a multidimensional approach and called upon a unique collaborative effort across academic and support group boundaries in an unprecedented way.

Key words: Online Teaching; Flexible delivery; Technology

Objectives, outcomes and activities:

• Outline a collaborative model of governance of online teaching development in support of academic programme delivery.
• Discuss the challenges with the implementation of an institutional approach to governance of online teaching.
• Discuss the advantages of a shared model of governance for online teaching.

Ms Halima Goss has over 20 years experience in the Australian education sector spanning secondary, TAFE and tertiary education institutions. She has taught across a range of disciplines in the Science and IT fields and has extensive experience in design, development and delivery of programs using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). She is currently the university online teaching coordinator and chairs the Online Teaching (OLT) Steering committee of QUT.

Contact: Halima Goss, email: h.goss@qut.edu.au