Online learning
As more institutions seek to root online learning into their teaching strategies, JISC is guiding managers and practitioners on how to manage this cultural change and get the most out of the technology they need to use.
This year JISC went behind the scenes to examine how technology can help make curriculum design itself even more efficient and flexible to answer the questions ‘What needs to be learned?’, ‘What resources will this require?’, and 'How will this be assessed?'. Best practice models, a new electronic assessment tool, online writing tutorials and an internet TV station are all outputs of the transforming curriculum delivery through technology programme.
But it’s not just about the curriculum. On a day-to-day level, students’ expectations have changed, alongside those of the employers they will soon work for. JISC began funding 15 projects to look at how technology can help institutions respond to these changing needs and deliver a more engaging and flexible learning experience. 
Access to technology and support varies from institution to institution, so the Effective practice in a digital age publication and accompanying resources, guide practitioners through the area according to these criteria to reach the widest possible number of people.
Meanwhile, JISC itself funded a raft of online resources to enhance the student and researcher experience including taking part in the Independent Inquiry into the Changing Learner Experience which reported its findings in May. Listen to the podcast (Duration 8:10).
Until this year, very little was known about how learners engage with electronic books – e-books – the potential impact of e-books on the publishing industry. Now, after a full year’s analysis of thousands of students at over 120 higher education institutions, we know a lot more. The JISC National e-books Observatory project (PDF) carried out by JISC Collections was a study of international importance that showed that e-books do not have a significant impact on print sales, and paved the way for greater debate among librarians and publishers. It also showed how learners engage with e-books across a selection of disciplines.
Podcast: e-Books provide ‘safety valve’ for librarians (Duration 13:03)
Access to cultural and historical gems would not be possible without JISC’s financial investment and expertise in putting content online through the time consuming process of digitisation. From assets of national importance like the British 19th century newspapers and archival sound recordings, to more specialised resources for Irish studies and the East London Theatre archive, and historic treasures like polar explorers’ photographs, JISC’s commitment to opening up archives hit the headlines throughout the year with over 6.5 million items being put online.
Thanks to an additional £1.8m commitment from JISC announced this year, more online content will be made available for teaching, learning and research is set to continue through 2010.