Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning
Technologies
http://www.mq.edu.au/provost/governance/macalt.html
Members
Prof Judyth Sachs (Chair), DVC (Provost)
A/Prof Maree Gosper, Learning & Teaching Centre
Mr Marc Bailey, CIO
Dr Boris Handal, Director L&T, Faculty of Business and Economics
Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian
Prof John Hedberg, Chair ICT in Education
Mr Andrew Burrell, Director COE
Ms Suzanne Kelly, Director Student Business and System Solutions
A/Prof Steve Cassidy, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Science
Prof Nick Mansfield, Dean Higher Degree Research
Mr Terrence Collins, Manager Learning Systems and Services
A/Prof Ian Solomonides, Director, Learning & Teaching Centre
Prof Julie Fitness, Chair, Academic Senate
A/Prof Sherman Young, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Arts
In Attendance
Ms Barb McLean, Executive Officer
Mr James Hamilton, Learning and Teaching Centre
Apologies
Prof Julie Fitness, Chair, Academic Senate
th
Minutes
2.00p.m.-3.30p.m. Monday 13 September 2010, Function Room, level 2, E11A
1. Minutes of the Meeting 9th August 2010 and Business Arising
1.1. Business Rules for the new LMS- Discussion Paper
TC
Mr Collins spoke to the draft paper “Business Practices for MLTP Technologies”
noting the need to define the business rules around the systems supporting the LMS.
Questions of access (including guest and user access via opt-in or opt-out
mechanisms), lifecycle and quality control need to be addressed.
1.2. LMS Review Report
Mr Collins spoke to the LMS Review Report noting that OUA will be the pilot
migration to Moodle in June 2011, whilst in August 2011 another trial will include a
further 40 units. This second migration will involve carefully selected units that do
not involve students using both Blackboard and Moodle concurrently. However,
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timelines and milestones will be established after further discussions and project
scoping between Netspot, LTC and Infomatics.
Prof Hedberg asked about the focus on migration, given that the implementation of
Moodle provides an opportunity for academic staff to re-think their pedagogy. Mr
Collins confirmed that there will be a mix of both and that early adopters may access
Moodle from the end of this year; whilst workshops and demonstrations will be
provided to allow academic staff time to re-vamp their units during 2011. The aim is
for faculty-based teams to be established to develop templates and the provision of
LTC staff to assist faculty staff to reconceptualise their units.
Mr Collins explained the proposed implementation and on-going governance models
for the LMS, noting the urgency in the establishment of the Implementation Steering
Committee (a subcommittee of MACALT).
Ms Brodie reminded the meeting that the definition of ‘content’ needs to be
broadened to include copyright and licensed materials and that the Library should be
included in the LMS Implementation Reference Group.
Adopted
Mr Bailey raised a concern about the potential for committees to extend the timelines
of implementation projects and requested time to meet with A/Prof Solomonides on
the relative responsibilities of Informatics and the LTC. The Chair reminded the
meeting that this was a cultural change project in addition to being an I.T.
implementation, and as such required staff to be ‘brought along’.
It was agreed that before the next meeting a flying minute will be circulated
recommending a governance model for the implementation of the LMS.
1.3. Update on our LMS meeting with Netspot
Adopted
TC & JH
Mr Collins reported that staff from Informatics and the LTC met with Netspot to
discuss the high level objectives of the implementation. Netspot provided
information on the implementation underway in La Trobe, which will become a
useful model for Macquarie.
1.4. Learning Systems and Services Usage Statistics
TC
Mr Collins spoke to his Learning Systems and Services YTD statistics noting that
demand is not abating. He also reported that the iLecture Upgrade is almost
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complete, with the majority of CAP rooms being completed in the mid-Semester
break.
2. Implications & recommendations arising from the IT Experience and
Expectations report
MG
A/Prof Gosper spoke to the Macquarie University student experience of technology in
universities survey undertaken in May-June 2010 (before the completion of the
OneNet Project and the introduction of iPads). This survey reinforced the essential
conservative usage of technology by students for their learning – they value the core
systems (iLecture and the LMS and keep social networking technology for their
social life). Students are time poor and looking for tools to provide efficiencies and
connectivity. Only 58% of students are satisfied with the skills of academic staff..
It was noted that the implementation of Moodle provides an opportunity to train staff
and change this conception.
It was suggested that there be communication with the student body in the format
“You said – We did” – which draws attention to the University’s response to student
feedback. The first of these communications could report on the wireless
implementation.
A/Prof Gosper reported that while 22% of respondents did not complete the
demographic information, there is an opportunity to provide data by demography,
discipline, international and domestic students and undergraduate and postgraduate
students – members should approach her about this.
Mr Bailey noted that in 2013 the first cohort of students that have been supplied with
laptops will be enrolling at university – these students may demonstrate a different
usage of I.T.
3. Top 10 learning technology priorities for 2011-2012
MG
A/Prof Gosper circulated the top 9 learning technology priorities from the LTC. The
Chair noted that these were all “catch-up” and suggested that a tenth be inserted which
focuses on emerging technologies.
It was agreed that more work needs to be done on the list, including focussing on the user
and unbundling some of the projects. Potentially there could be two lists – one for catchup and an inspirational list. The potential for a new award stream focussing on the
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excellent use of these technologies was suggested – a way of showcasing and spreading
best practice.
4. Software Development Projects
SC
A/Prof Cassidy spoke to his paper, noting the current distributed nature of software
development and the potential for duplication and wastage in resources. There is a
need for a common approach in architecture.
Mr Bailey noted the need for coordination but also the potential to stifle creativity
brought by centralisation. It was noted that the VC has commissioned a project to
identify all the projects currently underway across the University. Mr Bailey will
bring to the next meeting the work undertaken in the Identity project. Adopted
5. Any Other Business
5.1. Mr Bailey has established a group email account – macalt@mq.edu.au
5.2. The Chair noted that response to the Teaching Delivery grants was poor and so
she has allocated $100,000 to the Assoc Deans (L&T) to develop trials units
which demonstrated best practice in the use of technology for learning and
teaching.
6. Next Meeting
2.00-3.30p.m. Monday 11th October 2010, Function Room E11A
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