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=Module 3 – e-Learning in Practice=

Aim
This module provides the opportunity to research and experience e-Learning in organisational contexts. You are expected to select a focus or topic of inquiry and review case studies from both international and local organisations. You should develop a schema for understanding e-Learning and the current trends in organisations. Working in small groups, students will research current practices in e-Learning within the organisational context through the review of case studies. Students will be provided with a range of recommended topics or issues, while group discussion will develop the key points to be researched. Each student within the group will select a case study and outline the relevance to the context being reviewed by the small group. The group work will be presented in an in-class group presentation. Groups must also submit the results of their review in a digital format to be decided by the group. Options include but are not limited to: a wiki, a website, a Wordpress site, a video. ||
 * This Module contributes to:
 * Assignment 3: Case study review group task**
 * Due: In class** ** presentations in 3rd Block session, group submission due Sunday 3 June **
 * Weighting: one-third**

Activities included in this Module
3.1 Current issues in e-Learning in organisations 3.2 e-Learning in an organisational context 3.3 Analysing Case Studies

Activity 3.1: Current issues in e-Learning in Organisations
The issues described here are just a starting point. To establish the point of focus your group will take in this task, you will need to spend some time reading credible and authoritative sources of current information on e-Learning in organizations. It may be useful for you to review the material on finding and evaluating information in UTS Online under the ‘Library’ tab.

KEY Resources for current issues in e-Learning
[|http://www.educationau.edu.au] [|http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au] [|http://www.becta.org.uk] [|http://elearningeuropa.info] [] [] []
 * Horizons report**

Activity 3.2: e-Learning Implementations in the Organisational context
Based on your research into the current status of e-Learning in the industry sector you are interested in, what decisions do you expect organisations to address before they implement an e-Learning program? Some considerations might include: q Cost q Equipment q Technology infrastructure q Learner Readiness q Trainer Readiness q Management Readiness q Support staff q Venues or Learning Centres q Buy or build courses q Maintaining Records – LMS or LCMS q Keeping material up-to-date / editing or tailoring to specific needs q Copyright of content q Scalability q Trainer contact - or not q Collaborative environment - synchronous or asynchronous q What courses / content will be offered online q Measuring Return on Investment (ROI) q Measuring outcomes and effectiveness
 * READING:e-Learning Strategy: A framework for Success**[]

Activity 3.3 Analysing Case Studies
What questions should we be concerned with when analysing e-Learning in an organisational context? Refer to Activity 2.1 & 2.2 to develop your own focus of inquiry – either from the list or choose an area that is of particular interest to you. Having developed your focus of inquiry or area of interest, outline and add this to your weblog.

Searching for Case Studies
Answers to the following should be addressed on your weblog and evidenced in your group case study report. Use the **UTS Library databases** to find case studies in the organisational context. Find out which Australian organisations are using e-Learning – how does the Australia practice compare to other case studies you have found?
 * How do you select appropriate information sources – where do you start?
 * What key words help narrow your search?
 * How do you distinguish points of view from facts?
 * Are your resources: reliable? Credible?? Authentic??
 * Are your resources biased in any way? What do you do about this?

Possible sources of case studies
The organizations listed in Activity 2.1 – European Union, Becta, CIPD, and other UK & European organisations linked to those sites will also have case studies. Many of the **e-zines** you might have subscribed to in the previous modules will regularly publish case studies. Do a **Google** search for Case Studies + e-learning.
 * The Australian Flexible Learning Framework** [|http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au]
 * The Knowledge Tree** []
 * Your Guide to Social e-Learning ** []
 * The WikiEducator**[|http://wikieducator.org]
 * Commonwealth of Learning:****Education for Development.** Advice, Guidelines, and Effective Practice from Around the Globe.[]
 * IBM** have a huge resource of case studies – check they are related to e-Learning – they have many that aren’t []
 * Learning Circuits** — []
 * Adobe** are one of the main software providers for dynamic internet solutions. This is a HUGE site, but if you spend some time navigating there are numerous product-focused case studies (they call them Showcases) that maybe useful depending upon your focus of inquiry. []
 * Weblogs** that have an e-Learning in the organisational context as their focus. To find these try **Technorati** []