10
Summary of findings
This previous sections have focused on the case study findings;
in this section the findings will be examined to consider what
impact networked learning has had on practices within the institutions
and on the effectiveness of these practices for the institutions.
The following aspects will be considered:
• What has changed and what has remained
the same within the institutions as networked learning has been
introduced?
• What do the institutions see as their main
successes because of introducing networked learning into their
institutions?
• What do the institutions see as their main
challenges as they continue to develop networked learning?
• What has been the overall impact of the
introduction of networked learning on the institutions?
10.2 What institutions see as their main successes and challenges
Successes
All the participants were asked what they identified
as the main successes were for their institution in relation to
the development
and embedding of networked learning within their institution.
The main successes identified by the participating institutions
based on interview data are summarised in Figure 10-2 below
(n=number of interview respondents).
| Successes |
HE
1-10 |
FE
1-10 |
Total |
| Staff attitudes |
11 |
10 |
21 |
| Technical issues |
10 |
7 |
17 |
| Focus on teaching and learning |
8 |
8 |
16 |
| Flexible learning |
8 |
6 |
14 |
| Communication |
8 |
6 |
14 |
| Market/widening participation |
5 |
6 |
11 |
| Student support |
6 |
3 |
9 |
| Student attitude |
8 |
1 |
9 |
| Teamwork |
4 |
3 |
7 |
| Supplying services |
4 |
2 |
6 |
| Innovation |
4 |
2 |
6 |
| Staff development |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| Virtual Learning Environment |
2 |
1 |
3 |
Figure 10-2: Main successes in developing networked
learning
In summary, the interviewees identified the three
top contributions to their success in implementing networked learning
as:
1. Staff attitudes – engaging staff in the
development and implementation of networked learning, developing
a positive attitude
and encouraging a culture change.
2. Technical issues - making the technology invisible
and removing the technology hurdles.
3. A focus on teaching and learning – changes
in roles of staff and senior management engaging with the possibilities
of
e-learning and changes in business processes to manage new
ways of working.
Flexible learning and communication followed closely
behind in joint fourth place.
Challenges
Each of the participants was also asked to identify
the main challenges faced by their institution in relation to the
introduction
of networked
learning. The main challenges identified by the participating
institutions based on interview data are summaries in Figure
10-3 below (n=number
of interview respondents).
| Challenges |
HE
1-10 |
FE
1-10 |
Total |
| Staff attitudes |
17 |
25 |
42 |
| Technical problems |
25 |
16 |
41 |
| Workload |
5 |
6 |
11 |
| Funding (includes mention of cost; under funding) |
4 |
7 |
11 |
| IT skills of students and staff |
5 |
4 |
9 |
| Access (to resources eg pcs) |
4 |
4 |
8 |
| Student attitudes |
5 |
1 |
6 |
| staff support |
4 |
|
4 |
| assessment |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| student support |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| T&L (hasn't changed) |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| security and systems failure |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Management |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Student retention/attainment |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Blended vs fully online delivery |
2 |
|
2 |
| Research vs teaching |
2 |
|
2 |
| lack of evaluation |
1 |
|
1 |
| Discussion & group work |
1 |
|
1 |
| Printing costs |
1 |
|
1 |
| Sustaining outreach centres |
|
1 |
1 |
| Communications |
|
1 |
1 |
| Technical support |
1 |
|
1 |
| Uptake patchy - increases disparity between students |
1 |
|
1 |
| Fixed timetabling |
|
1 |
1 |
| None |
|
1 |
1 |
Figure 10-3: Main challenges developing of networked
learning
In summary, the top two key challenges identified
by respondents in interview in the adoption of networked learning,
by a significant
margin, are the same as those identified as successes.
1. Staff attitudes: the need to tackle resistant
staff attitudes and to change the culture within the institution
in relation to
technology supported, networked learning.
2. Technical issues - the need to ensure that technical
failures are dealt with and those robust IT systems are developed.
Linked
to this was also the requirement for funding for the hardware
infrastructure and improved network reliability in such a manner
that this produces
sustainable development.
Issues of workload and funding come in third and
fourth place respectively but with many fewer mentions.
10.2.1 Discussion
An examination of the areas identified as successes
and those that are still presenting challenges shows that there
is considerable
convergence, and there is considerably greater mention of challenges
than of successes. The top two key issues are identified as both
a success and a challenge, however the number of times they are
referred to as a challenge is considerably greater than the number
of times it is referred to as a success. This would indicate
that the key areas that still present considerable challenges are:
• Staff attitudes to the development of
networked learning and the use of technology to assist learning.
• The development of all aspects of the
technological infrastructure that includes issues linked to funding
and sustainability of such
development; including the development of effective integration
of student record systems and the VLE.
• Senior management engaging with the possibilities
of e-learning and changes in business processes to manage new
ways of working.
It is worth emphasising that considerable developments
have taken place in terms of staff development and training, the
challenge
would therefore seem to be one of encouraging greater uptake
of this training and development. As this issue of engaging those
that are not already involved in the development of networked
learning
is clearly seen as important by several of the case study participants
it is explored in greater detail in the section that follows
with a link to its impact on effectiveness of certain practices
within
the case study institutions.
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