Future Uses of Digital Technologies in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

- A Case for Ongoing Research?

Darien Rossiter

Division of Information Services

Queensland University of Technology

Objectives/Outcomes:

This workshop provides an opportunity for participants to explore the role of research in informing educational policy and planning, within the context of a recent study at the Queensland University of Technology on The Future Uses of Digital Technologies in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. In keeping with the Conference theme, What Works and Why?, we will discuss various issues related to ongoing research and formative approaches to evaluation and assessment, in particular, we will focus on the efficacy of particular methods and strategies employed during the study. For example, we will look at a set of scenarios depicting future teaching and learning environments which were developed to gauge the views and values of the QUT community about conceptions of teaching and learning.

In the latter part of the workshop we will examine the findings and outcomes of the study, and discuss how some of the issues and implications which arose might apply more generally within the higher education sector. Basically, the study was about assessing what we (and others) were currently doing, in order to improve what we could do in the future. One of the intended benefits of the workshop is that participants have an opportunity to canvass what we have learned and to take back ideas and strategies to their own workplace.

Workshop outline

_ Introduction

_ Brief introduction to the background of the study

_ Important early questions ?

Why the need for the study?

Who are the stakeholders?

What are their expectations?

What are you trying to find out - what are your questions?

Formative / summative evaluation , Quantitative / qualitative research?

_ Methodology

How are you going to answer the questions?

Where and how do you find the information (literature, talk to people, visit other places, observe others)?

How do you know if the information (data) is accurate or relevant?

_ Develop teaching and learning scenarios for the University of the New Age

_ Presentation and discussion of scenarios

How well does the teaching / learning scenario fit the values and needs of the fictional institution?

Building a framework or scaffolding for ongoing evaluation, development of strategies for appropriate use of technology to improve learning.

_ What did we learn from the QUT Study

How might these findings apply to or help your institution?