JISC

Author of the JISC-commissioned report The Edgeless University Peter Bradwell opened the second day of JISC’s online conference with a warning note for higher education.

Bradwell cautioned that universities are facing “a perfect storm” of rising demand and strained resources, but he saw a potential solution in innovative technologies.

Technology should still be seen as an asset rather than a threat, he asserted, arguing that the future lies in open, collaborative ways of working enhanced by technology rather than in the walled gardens of the past.

Edgelessness was illustrated by Alan Staley who presented Shareville – a 3-D replica of a town created to support multidisciplinary learning at Birmingham City University – and said: “We need to ask when should students play, when should they do it for real, and when should we try to replicate reality.”

Virtual worlds were then brought to life by teachers at Glasgow Caledonian University who showed their use of Second Life, as Kathy Trinder called for a change in approach: “Perhaps we should consider how we can avoid repeating what we already do in the physical world, and, instead of building 500-seat virtual lecture theatres, embrace pedagogies beyond our traditional models.” Follow the conference on Twitter: jiscel09

Nigel Paine, former head of people development at the BBC, who is set to conclude the conference this afternoon, commented that the event gave people “wonderful informed and passionate debates plus great keynotes all recorded for playback in your own time.”

Sessions at Innovating e-Learning 2009 remain open for reading and research by delegates until 1 January 2010.

Conference presentations and resources, including keynotes, will be made available within the next few weeks on the JISC website for general viewing.