Refocusing institutional TEL provision on the learner

Drivers for change in UK higher education

Abstract

UK higher education institutions have invested significantly in technology-enhanced learning (TEL) services over the last 15 years. The UCISA TEL surveys have shown how this investment has focused on establishing core infrastructure and services to students to satisfy consumer expectations, supporting greater efficiencies in the management and control of learning processes. However, new developments in UK government policy may encourage UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to refocus their attention on the impact of TEL on student learning, with a greater emphasis on evidence-based practice in the use of TEL tools. This paper discusses the prospects for change in the use of TEL tools and services to support this new agenda.