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.
The 5th ACODE Learning Technologies
Leadership Institute is scheduled for August, 2015
Blog post by Gordon Suddaby, Institute Director.
