eLearning
Readiness and Regional Innovation?

Jane Massy

Background

Reviewer for EU R&D projects since 3rd framework. Major work divides between DG Res TSER/IHP training research project evaluator and policy analyst + DG InfoSOc review large numbers of KA 2/3/8 and other projectsEuropean Course Director Master in Technology Management (GMU) just finished residency comparing innovation systems

Background

Analyst of trends in eLearning across EU publishing reports since 1999Consultant to range of public and private organisations on eLearning strategiesFormative evaluator on range of Ed/Tr and ESF projects for many yearsBoard director of five training/eLearning companies US, Asia, UK

Presentation

Define eLearning

Review what we know

Factors influencing adoption of eLearning

A necessary state of readiness?

Describe and apply a model

Innovative organisations model of absorptive capacity

Absorptive capacity model and eLearning

Pose a question

Innovation in regions- apply the model?

eLearning

Technologies supporting learning

In the workplace, In education and training institutionsAt homeOn the move

Growth but slow take up

Suppliers/providers business case difficult!

Patterns of use and adoption changing partly due to changing expectations

The effective adoption of learning technologies?

Adopting eLearning means changing aspects of learning systemsSocial, technological and economic factors impact on systems behaviourSystems are complex comprising habits, practices, cultures, processes, technologies etc. and most of all involve people!People need to be motivated to change systems and their own relationships with those systemsIts complex, messy and challenging

Adoption of eLearning

Large UK Treasury/DfES funded project run by City and GuildsRole as consultant researcherDeveloped a factors of influence gridCurrently being piloted and reviewed by range of public and private workplaces and education/training organisationsHelps to describe the complexity in simple and relational terms

Teachers and trainers may be both facilitators and designers

Expectations of learners and sponsoring organisation must be matched

Learners may be designers and sources of learning content

FACILITATORS (int/ext)Communication skillsTechnical skillsPedagogical knowledgeInvolvement in design and testingFacilitation expertise and resources pro-active, reactive, monitoring processesTime availabilityTime managementMotivation reward, self development, recognitionResourcesDESIGNERSPedagogical expertiseExpert technical knowledgeTeam skillsProject management skillsResourcesKnowledge of learnersKnowledge of subject domain Knowledge & access to learning resources SPONSORPlanningClarity of purposeClarity of outcomesResourcesTechnical infrastructure/resources and supportEnvironment for adoption of innovationSupportive of collaboration Reward/recognition systems for change adoptionInformation systems Evaluation resources and approach Conformance to regulationLEARNERSTechnical equipmentTelecomms access and resourcesMotivationICT skillsInformation literacy skillsReading literacy and numeracy skillsTime availabilityTime managementConfidence and confidentiality Performance or mastery orientation City & Guilds

Sponsor

Clarity of purposeExplicit transparent communication and commitment to purpose and outcomes Clarity of outcomesExplicitly communicated to all stakeholders with implications for each Planning and administrationGood project planning, management, scheduling, resource and role allocation etc

Sponsor

ResourcesSufficient for all phases adoption, implementation, integration and used efficiently (considerations about economies of scale, use of existing resources e.g. subject experts and network effects)Technical infrastructure/resources and supportTechnical expertise and resources provided and clear communication and team building to ensure provided when and as necessaryA clear policy on technical requirements to ensure interoperability and reduce multiple applications (e.g. LMS, VLEs)

Sponsor

Information systems Data available to whoever needs it and when they need it, but taking account of appropriate privacy and security Environment for adoption of innovationCulture and processes which supports innovationEnvironment to support collaborationA culture and processes to support team working and collaboration in multi-disciplinary project

Sponsor

Reward/recognition systems for change adoptionCommunication (internal marketing) of how this additional/changed work will be recognised and the benefits to each stakeholderEvaluation resources and approach, quality frameworks and standards. Clear plan for evaluation linked to purpose and outcomes, including range of approaches and instruments. Reference to existing or new quality frameworks and standards. Conformance to regulation e.g. educational institutions conformance requirements for academic awards; conformance to privacy and data protection regulation

Innovation in organisations

Concept of absorptive capacity capacity to adopt and diffuse ideas, knowledge and technologies within the organisation ability to recognise the value of new, external knowledge, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends*Application across all organisations Joint paper with G Martin and T Clarke - apply to Learning technology adoption in organisations?

* Cohen & Levinthal 1990 . Further developed by Zahra and George 2002

ELearning and absorptive capacity

What ideas sought after, from whom how well positioned to gather info of high innovative value? Suppliers v experienced adopters and others? Longer term processes for seeking innovative ideas?Knowing where and who are innovators and experimenters? Making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas and opportunities in unexpected sources?

ELearning and absorptive capacity

Transform and exploit ideas and knowledge to serve own objectivesMeaningful transformation not me too Creating new and innovative processes that transform the value chainTechnology transfer = transfer / exploitation of a process that exploits new technology NOT transfer of technology

ELearning and absorptive capacity

Exploit and diffuse new knowledge across organisation rapid, efficient, positive change Understanding and managing formal and informal integrating mechanismsRisk tolerance, open communication, reward for new ideas, sponsoring of innovationSound familiar?

Teachers and trainers may be both facilitators and designers

Expectations of learners and sponsoring organisation must be matched

Learners may be designers and sources of learning content

FACILITATORS (int/ext)Communication skillsTechnical skillsPedagogical knowledgeInvolvement in design and testingFacilitation expertise and resources pro-active, reactive, monitoring processesTime availabilityTime managementMotivation reward, self development, recognitionResourcesDESIGNERSPedagogical expertiseExpert technical knowledgeTeam skillsProject management skillsResourcesKnowledge of learnersKnowledge of subject domain Knowledge & access to learning resources SPONSORPlanningClarity of purposeClarity of outcomesResourcesTechnical infrastructure/resources and supportEnvironment for adoption of innovationSupportive of collaboration Reward/recognition systems for change adoptionInformation systems Evaluation resources and approach Conformance to regulationLEARNERSTechnical equipmentTelecomms access and resourcesMotivationICT skillsInformation literacy skillsReading literacy and numeracy skillsTime availabilityTime managementConfidence and confidentiality Performance or mastery orientation

ELearning and absorptive capacity of a region?

Are the regionally based organisations in a state of readiness for eLearning ?Do they have they the capacity to recognise the value of new, external knowledge, assimilate it, and apply it to business ends?Are they good at identifying high innovative value knowledge?Do they know how to transform and exploit this knowledge to serve own AND regional objectives?Are they open to change rapid and efficient diffusion?

ELearning and absorptive capacity of a region?

Are they collaborating together cluster and economies of scale benefits?An environment and organisations that demonstrates risk tolerance, open communication, reward for new ideas, sponsoring of innovationFormal and informal mechanisms to support innovation fast and wide reaching infrastructure, support and investment instruments for new ideas, seek most innovative thinkers and share/exploit their ideas

ELearning and absorptive capacity of a region?

Transformational and collaborativeRapidly and efficiently diffuse ideas and knowledgeInvest in impact and evaluation studies

Next stage?

Continue to develop concept and monitor wide range of relevant research and initiatives

Believe value potentially in testing concept

Can we work to implement and test these ideas?

Can we draw from range of other research and initiatives across Europe (and other parts of the world) and add value in actual implementation, action learning and analysis?

And maybe?

Thank you!

Questions?

Jane@jmassy.freeserve.co.uk