Herding cats and measuring elephants

Implementing and evaluating an institutional blended and mobile learning strategy

Abstract

The University of Western Sydney is more than half way through a three year strategic program to build its blended and mobile learning capacity. This paper presents a framework that has emerged from implementing and evaluating the blended learning strategy thus far; linking institution-led, academic-led, student-led and community-led components. It illustrates how all of these components form part of an integrated system, in which change needs to be managed as a whole. The experience to date has shown the need to notice and deal with the concerns of academic teaching staff, and to be clear about which measurements of progress are meaningful and relevant. The specific context of this university has determined how the various blended learning initiatives have been prioritized. Although other university contexts will differ, the overall framework could be applied in any institution to help align institutional initiatives to adopt blended and mobile learning, and to develop appropriate evaluation.