ProForMaC: a systemic conceptual framework for learning with technologies Carol Russell

eLearning use in UNSW

Universities supercomplex (Barnett) internally diverse disciplinary departments with different ways of thinking and organising (Becher) more like complex organic life than like a machine … In HE, environmental change can bring systemic adaptation, or homeostasis, or often both at the same time.

The map is not the territory

life as a self-generating system form (pattern of relationships) matter (material structure) life process (self-directed structural changes) based on Capra, F. (2002) The Hidden Connections, Flamingo, London, p61-65

… forming part of an environmental context form material process context

applied to the organization of university teaching form (patterns) of teaching strategies material constraints and individual resources how teaching is developed and maintained relationship with university context

Ideas from research on organizations as complex adaptive systems The J-curve: If you change something in a complex and interconnected system, things get worse before they get better. Complementarities: Doing more of one thing increases the returns from doing more of another. … in other words, any coordinated change will work better than an isolated intervention

ProForMaC model of university learning and teaching

contextual influences

for individual teachers

A metaphor

Plans for e-learning in UNSW (2004) L & T Appli- cations IT Tech- nology & Comms Appli- cations Infra- structure UNSW wide consistency and governance University wide technology & communications IT systems } Services Enabling Services Service Support Improved support for L&T services L&T Services Course Develop- ment Improved interactions with students } } UNSW Vision & Guidelines L&T Guidelines Innovations En- hanced student learning Conceptualise & Design Build & Implement Copyright © University of New South Wales

? workarounds, problems, compromises with admin. and IT support systems … continuing continuing negotiation over technical change management processes training and support consultations some evaluation early adopters pilot The process …in practice Copyright © University of New South Wales templates and new educational tools in use … in places continued growth in use … but evaluation still individual, patchy local admin support in place … central support being restructured

the urbanization of university learning and teaching?

1 st year physics labs example

Implications The ProForMaC framework can be used to build models at the individual, department or at the institutional level These models can inform strategies for developing learning technologies, evaluation processes and forms of learning and teaching as a coordinated whole. Changes that do not allow for mutual adjustment across all four of aspects of a learning and teaching system will provoke a homeostatic (change resistant) response. And most importantly … Find out from people working on the ground what is influencing their decisions about adopting new learning technologies. What maps are they using?