JISC

JISC commissioned Glenaffric Ltd to undertake a survey and analysis of the impact on institutions and other bodies involved in the Exchange for Learning programme.

The Exchange for Learning (X4L) programme commenced in 2002. A total of 31 projects have been funded from across the UK in two phases, involving more than 100 institutions and teams from colleges, universities, libraries, JISC Services, local authorities and commercial companies. The programme is exploring adaptation and repurposing of copyright-clearable content suitable for use in learning, and how learning materials can be shared in a standard way.

The four aims of the programme were to: 

• use and develop the best available tools to explore whether repurposing content can become a popular, sustainable way of producing e-learning materials for the future
• increase the numbers of people in institutions with the necessary skills to repurpose learning objects
• expose and begin to tackle the challenges associated with repurposing learning objects; and 
• begin to populate a national repository with learning materials as well as case studies and exemplars showing how these have been achieved.

The broad aim of the survey and impact analysis of the Programme is to ‘gather information on the kinds of changes that are perceived to have occurred through X4L’. The survey is also intended to: 

• obtain information about project outcomes that are continuing to have an impact in institutions beyond the funded project period, as well as during the lifetime of the project; and 
• consider any differences in approach to projects between FE and HE that may have resulted in different levels of impact.

The study was expected to consider the perceived impact of X4L on a number of different job roles and responsibilities in relation to the programme, including: 

• project managers 
• learning technologists 
• teachers 
• library/learning resources staff 
• IT technicians 
• Principals/Vice-Chancellors and senior managers of institutions involved in X4L 
• X4L Advisory Board members.

The intended scope of the study also included an investigation of the potential or perceived impact of X4L on other individuals and bodies involved in the programme such as commercial companies, public library authorities and museums.

A number of potential impact scenarios were proposed at the outset as follows: 

• more use is being made of the VLE
• a learning technologist, employed as part of the project, has now been given permanent employment
• learning technologists and teachers work more closely together
• teachers and library staff are able to direct learners to more online resources of use to them
• library staff and teachers work more closely together
• the institutional IT strategy and e-learning strategy have been amended as a result of lessons learned in the project
• the institution is now more aware of interoperability and open standards and will be able to make better purchasing decisions with regard to technology systems that avoid vendor lock-in

The study was also expected to consider the role of X4L in enhancing awareness in external organisations of the needs of FE and HE, the availability and use of resources and services, and any changes in the way services are offered. More generally, the impact analysis also takes account of the extent to which project activities have been successful in addressing the four main aims of the programme.

Report available electronically only. Read the final report below.