Adrian Sannier of Pearson e-College spoke on the opportunities for collaboration brought by cloud computing. However, he noted
that resistance from faculty is an ongoing problem, overcome most successfully only by private institutions where the use
of innovative technology is written into faculty employment contracts. Diana Oblinger noted that it is large, private institutions
like the University of Phoenix which are achieving innovation at massive scale in the use of new technology, and through empowering
faculty to use it.
In comments from delegates, however it was noted that staff of open universities are generally highly motivated and excited by the mode of learning and the opportunities afforded by the new technology.
Further comments dealt with the challenges posed by technology and the availability of vast amounts of information. How do you help students to make the right choices about where they source their material, and how do you help the lecturer to use the technology with ease, for example?
Charles Fadel spoke of the role which technology can play in creating graduates with the required skills of communication and collaboration, who are career-ready, and who have learned to solve real world problems at the pace required by modern businesses. The challenge, he argued, is to move away from the lecture model to one where lectures are consumed in a student’s own time while interaction takes place in the form of collaborative projects. Diane Oblinger added that a greater concentration is required on support systems for students, including building their motivation.
Finally, the panel moved to discuss issues of quality and accreditation. Adrian Sannier noted that institutional branding is highly important to reassure students of the quality of their studies, and that they will achieve the required results. The transparency and effectiveness of assessment tools is also crucial to this argument.