Here are some things people quote as reasons NOT to get engaged with TEL. How real do YOU think they are? This may form part of further research…
Issue | Real? | Do what about it |
There’s no way that (my subject) can be taught online | N | |
Online assessment won’t work – we need discussion each time | N | |
I need to see it in their faces | N | Improve the confidence of the teacher |
I haven’t got time | Y | People need time to prepare. So give them preparation leave. Also consider ‘wizards’ which allow content to be prepared easily. |
I need to know my students | N | This can in fact be better online, with a different but richer set of contacts |
Students may SAY they want blended learning, but it’s not really of value | N | |
The software tools I can access aren’t good enough to develop quality content | ? | This could either be a training issue (perhaps the tools are fine) or it could be real |
The benefits are not clear to me | N | |
I’ve just got used to the old version of the software, and now you’ve damn well changed it all! | Y | Lots of communication, carefully planned releases, high-touch, walk-around training. |
I am a research professor. I’m not interested in online learning. | ? | Perhaps leave this person in their lab? Or, in the future, an online persona may be part of a senior academic’s prestige or reputation. So encourage them to build one. The Prof can be the persona of the course, without having to do the heavy lifting! |
I am interested, but my tech skills are low | Y | Use student digital mentors/student technology assistants or some other sort of digital literacy programme. Remember that turning a luddite into an enthusiast can be a real bonus. Also use champions – exemplars of excellent practice (National Teaching Fellows?) |
I don’t really know who is doing what | Y | Spread the word about successful case studies. Encourage academics to engage directly with software suppliers. |
I want to use product X but the IT department say to use product Y | Y | This is tricky. Academics will do what they want – this needs careful liaison and discussions. |