About the Institute
The Institute of Learning Innovation:
- Builds capacity for research and development into information, communication and learning technologies.
- Identifies excellent and appropriate ways forward to underpin e-learning strategy and policy for the 21st century, and provide a way of taking research into teaching through modes of learning.
- Provides a focused way of networking and collaborating nationally and internationally in the field, providing a focus and an interesting place to attract external visitors and collaborators.
- Deflects the ‘technology-’ or ‘VLE-’driven narrative in the universities in the area of e-learning and instead addresses e-learning as a business and pedagogical development opportunity associated with positive change.
- Promotes the possibilities of research into teaching across all departments and subjects.
- Engages academic staff in research projects to introduce learning technologies and new pedagogies into their own teaching.
- Provides a well-informed forum for discussion of e-learning strategy and choices.
- Provides a forum and a focus for publications in the e-learning, distance-learning and pedagogical fields.
- Provides a forum and good support for preparing income-generating bids and resources.
- And provides an arena for demonstration and discussion of new internal and external developments.
The Institute provides:
- Recognition of efforts already underway and opportunities for innovators to feel recognised and find a ‘voice’ and identity.
- Synergies between individuals and small groups for the purpose of sharing good practice, collaboration and support.
- For the potential for research and associated publications through a research strategy in the field.
- Opportunities for identification, experimentation and exploration of ideas leading to further innovation and longer-term projects.
- And provides a suitable environment to attract research students interested in this domain.
Bidding for research funds is enhanced because:
- Many funding bodies value interdisciplinary and collaborative projects.
- There is a strong need at this point in time to go beyond 'what works' and into well-conceptual models.
- There is a lot of competition for e-learning and learning technologies funding.
- The Institute brings skills together and therefore increases success.
The broad areas addressed by the Institute include:
- Development and testing of concepts, models and theories.
- Rigorous research methodologies, appropriate for exploiting 'e' for research.
- Identification, promotion and support of good practice in an accessible knowledge base for learning and teaching online.
- Strategy and policy development.
- The role, training, development and competencies of online teachers (e-moderators).
- Scenarios for the future of teaching and learning with new technologies.
- Models of change associated with introduction of new pedagogies and technologies, especially low input, high value processes, designing for participation, and intervening for learning.
- Sustainability and multipliers beyond projects.
