JISC

The JISC e-Learning Programme identified a need for the objective evaluation of a range of its communication and dissemination activities in the learning and teaching practice cross-cutting theme, which had taken place during 2004-2009, in order to:

‘Effective Practice with e-Portfolios informed our decision to introduce an institutional e-portfolio.’ HE e-Learning manager

• Assess whether the approaches used have led to take-up and use of e-Learning Programme resources across the sector and impacted on individual or institutional e-learning practices.
• Inform the future development of effective communications and dissemination activities. 

 Stamp Consulting were commissioned to undertake this evaluation and the findings and recommendations of the study are outlined, in brief, in the Executive Summary. Detailed findings are reported in full, within the Final Report.

The evaluation study has been conducted in three parts:

‘The JISC e-Learning Programme has made my role easier.  If I didn’t have that link I don’t know where I’d get the information from.’ Faculty e-Learning Coordinator for the Language Centre, Anne Irving, University of Surrey

1. A review of the available quantitative data relevant to a range of JISC e-Learning programme publications, communications and events; for example, the number of publications distributed and downloaded plus workshop and conference attendee details.
2. An evaluation of key activities in order to identify where and how these have had an impact upon personal and institutional practice.  This has been conducted via an online survey together with 19 telephone interviews with participants representing a range of key audiences (including e-learning staff, institutional managers, lecturers, staff developers and representatives from partner organisations including the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), TechDis, JISC Regional Support Centres (RSCs), the Higher Education Academy (HE Academy) and JISC InfoNet).
3. Five case studies have been produced which demonstrate in greater detail the direct impact that JISC e-Learning programme activities have had among a sample of institutions. The activities described in these case studies were not as a result of JISC project funding.

‘Our institution reviewed its Technology-enhanced Learning (TEL) strategy in the light of the JISC e-Learning programme publications. Each has informed areas of our development. The Learning spaces one helped us develop our own collaborative learning space.’ HE institutional manager

Institutional case studies

The case studies developed as part of this evaluation and outlined, below, demonstrate the value and impact that the resources available from the JISC e-Learning programme have made on individual practice and on technology-enhanced initiatives within institutions and across the HE and FE sectors.  It should be noted that four of the five case study institutions were not in receipt of JISC e-Learning Programme funding for the initiatives described:

• University of Glamorgan
• University of Surrey
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Oxford Brookes University
• Thanet College

The JISC e-Learning Programme would like to thank all those who participated in this study.