Division of Information Services
Queensland University of Technology
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.
_ 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?