Tuesday 24 September 2013

ACODE Learning Technologies Leadership Institute: 2013



Directed by Associate Professor Gordon Suddaby

August 18th - 22nd, Twin Towns Resort, Coolangatta 
 
Sponsors:

  • The Office of Learning and Teaching
  • Desire 2 Learn
  • AARNet


The ACODE Learning Technologies Leadership Institute 2013, was run at twin Towns resort in Coolangatta between August 18th and 22nd and was the 4th iteration of the Institute which was initiated in 2007. The Institute focused on the personal and professional development of faculty-based academic and professional tertiary education staff in, or aspiring to be in, leadership roles. The Institute programme involved intensive, four day, live-in, leadership training intended for staff in higher education with responsibilities for managing or supporting the use of learning technologies.  The programme covered the exploration, evaluation and implementation of new and innovative approaches to the use of technology in learning and teaching in tertiary education.  It included intensive interaction and group work designed to assist participants to exercise leadership in their current and future roles.  The Institute was delivered and supported by an invited faculty who are themselves leading academics in the field of technology enhanced learning and teaching.

The Institute programme was built around a ‘Making the Case Scenario’, which is both relevant and realistic.  The participants worked in team and their work was informed by a series of presentations by the faculty members.  These presentations are integral to the Institute programme.  The Faculty also had a wider overall role that is critical to the Institute’s success.  They were the guides and mentors to the groups, each faculty member fulfilling the role of a critical friend for a group, reflecting and challenging their group’s ideas and plans, helping their group become a cohesive and collaborative unit, providing support through the group formation process, and supporting the development of the Case.  The topics covered by the faculty included a full range of factors impacting on Learning Technologies Leadership.  The faculty members and the title of their presentations are listed below:

  • Perspective on future directions in IT management, Peter Nikoletatos (CIO at the Australian National University)
  • Leading and managing change, Professor Shirley Alexander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Teaching, Learning and Equity), University of Technology, Sydney 
  • Capacity building, Professor Belinda Tynan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching at The Open University of UK 
  • Building Quality eEnvironments, Professor Geoff Scott Professor (Emeritus Professor, University of Western Sydney)
  • Engaging students, Professor Denise Kirkpatrick, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) University of Adelaide 
  • Establishing strategic priorities, Professor Tom Prebble, Emeritus Professor, Massey University 
  • Digital futures and the ‘new normal, Professor Mike Keppell Executive Director, Australian Digital Futures Institute (ADFI)
  • Quality Management, Evaluating and implementing innovations’ Associate Professor Michael Sankey, Director, Learning Environments and Media at the University of Southern Queensland) and Maree Gosper, Associate Professor, Manager Academic Development, Macquarie University

All the presentations were extremely relevant, focused and of high quality.  In addition, James Sankar and Ian Smissen representing the sponsors AARNet and Desire2Learn both delivered presentations reflective of leadership in their specific areas. The Institute was opened by Suzi Hewlett, Manager: The Office of Learning and Teaching

The presentations are available through the following url posted by a USP participant with the permission of the presenters (currently the Institute wiki is password protected).

The ‘Making the Case Scenario’, as earlier noted, was relevant and realistic.  The seriousness and the hard work put in by each group was reflected in the quality of the actual group presentations and the supporting executive summaries. 

It was clear from the group’s feedback session on the last morning that the Institute had been successful.  This is reinforced by comments from the groups including;
  • Got an enormous amount out of the days;
  • Heaps to take back to the Institution;
  • Very rewarding experience which simulated real life experience;
  • Entire experience has been wonderful;
  • Great process;
  • Enjoyed all the speakers;
  • Great rewarding experience;
  • Very real world experience, great programme;
  • Will take many skills back on how to solve problems and present cases.

Further information about the Institute may be found on the ACODE website http://www.acode.edu.au and for information specifically about the Institute see: http://www.acode.edu.au/LTLI.php

The 5th ACODE Learning Technologies Leadership Institute is scheduled for August, 2015

Blog post by Gordon Suddaby, Institute Director.

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