Aberystwyth Chapter Proposal

Aberystwyth Chapter Proposal
Proposed Chapter Title: Aligning practice with institutional policy and emerging national strategy in Wales

Authors and Affiliations: Kerr Gardiner, Mary Jacob, Kate Wright (all Aberystwyth University)

Outline of Chapter: The chapter will describe how Aberystwyth University used eMM benchmarking to align practice with policy and in turn embed e-learning more deeply into general teaching and learning processes. The chapter will have three sections: overview and context, details of the project, and reflections on the methodology. In the first section, the university’s purpose and expectations for undertaking the project will be examined. The project coincided with development of a Wales-wide strategy for enhancing teaching and learning through technology and built upon the institution’s existing e-learning strategy. The project detail section will include a description of how the methodology was implemented, including slicing decisions, evidence gathering, and carpet construction. Immediate outcomes will then be described, including ways to improve capability based on the model itself, benefits that arose through reflection and evidence-gathering, and plans for future projects (e.g. enhancing staff development, dissemination of good practice, etc). Plans for carrying out further benchmarking with additional slices will also be outlined. The concluding section will include reflections on the use of eMM as a tool and suggestions for other institutions considering adopting the methodology.