CONCLUSION
In examining the projects and investigating the literature, it became evident that a range of conditions and factors contributed to successful project outcomes. Analyses of the 33 ALTC TEL projects identified a number of inspiring approaches and pedagogies that have informed or been developed by the projects themselves. These factors provided the basis for the development of a set of 10 outcomes representing a framework for success for implementing TEL initiatives. These outcomes highlighted the importance of focusing on learning design, authentic learning, academic development, engaging teaching, flexible assessment, widespread integration, communities of practice, academic multi-literacies and strategies for teaching online in supporting successful TEL and teaching projects.
To successfully implement TEL strategies, leaders need to ensure that a range of relevant and practical engagement techniques are in place so that such strategies become standard practice. TEL strategies and practices should be integrated and not confined to specific subjects or projects in order to support widespread and sustainable change. Academics, teachers, learners and researchers all have the ability to influence the effectiveness of TEL strategies and thus, must be actively engaged. Our findings illustrate the need for academic practitioners to be competent in the use of technology if the boundaries of best practice in learning and teaching in higher education are to be extended. This highlights the importance of academics being equipped with multi-literacy skills. Consequently, institutions need to provide authentic training and professional development opportunities for staff, and provide strong incentives for staff to attend and develop skills to support TEL.
The paper showcases the potential benefits of individual projects and seeks to encourage readers to engage with the range of Good Practice Reports published. Whilst the sector is beginning to value these resources and the need for academic sharing, it is clear that the current percolation-type approach to dissemination is hindering the realisation of this potential. Although the dissemination of learning and teaching resources has been the explicit focus of several ALTC and OLT projects, it appears to still remain a key challenge in realising the full value of learning and teaching projects across the sector. Adopting a network-based approach to dissemination, NATA engaged professional organisations in establishing a collaborative network. By building collaborative networks such as the NATA it is hoped that project outcomes may be more readily shared, rely less on changing government structures and more on communities of practice to facilitate the integration of good practice principles into learning and teaching to benefit tertiary education students – our future leaders. It is also essential that curriculum renewal is accompanied by appropriate and authentic professional development that integrates the good practice principles and empowers teachers.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Caroline Steel, Dr. Ric Canale and Dr. John Rafferty as advisory group members during the development of the Technology-Enhanced Learning and Teaching Good Practice Report. The authors would also like to acknowledge that funding for the development of the Good Practice Report on Technology-Enhanced Learning and Teaching and the establishment of the Network of Australasian Tertiary Associations (NATA) was provided by the former Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). Publication of Good Practice Reports following the closure of the ALTC has been supported by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching.