The final report and data from the 4th ALT annual member survey are now openly available from the ALT open repository. The data and report provide a really rich picture of the priorities and practicalities around implementing and supporting technology in education across the UK. This year it is very interesting to note the growing importance of staff development and professional recognition opportunities in terms of enablers for the use of learning technology. If you really want to know what is going on, where the immediate future is now then I would suggest that you have a look at the findings of the survey.
VLEs, e-assessment, blended learning are top priorities this year, and have been consistently. Why open education has taken a drop in priorities is something that I’m sure will be debated at #oer18 and at this year’s #altc conference in September. (NB There’s still time to submit to the conference, the deadline is 8 March).
Part of me wants to believe it’s because open educational practice and resources are now embedded and part of mainstream practice. However, another part of knows that it’s not quite that simple. Open-ness is often the first thing to get overlooked if there isn’t serious senior management commitment. I don’t think we have hit the sweet spot where the bottom up open practice that I see many people participating in has met a top down, sustained institutional, sectoral/ government level of support.
I want to highlight the richness of data that is now openly available via the survey. Please explore and use it, and encourage your colleagues do the same.