1. Heads in the
cloud, feet on the
ground –
a pragmatic approach
to enhancing learning
through cloud-based
services
Louise Thorpe
Program Manager
Blackboard Consulting, EMEA

2. About Me
Program Manager – Blackboard Consulting
Universities, colleges and professional
education
Strategy, implementation and change
management
UK. Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium,
Scandinavia, Italy
2005-2010 Head of Academic Innovation
Sheffield Hallam University
2003-2005 Head of Learning Strategy and Enhancement
University of Sheffield
1999-2003 e-learning@shu Project Manager
Sheffield Hallam University
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3. how the growing availability
of cloud-based services is
impacting on the way
technology is used in
learning

4. cloud-based services that can be
deployed by institutions to enhance the
student experience
cloud-based technologies that, in the
hands of teachers and learners, impact
the conventional learning paradigm
managing the connections between
the tower and the cloud
OVERVIEW

5. Institutional moves
to the cloud
5

6. From in-house to out-there...
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7. what IT always needs
a way to increase capacity or add capabilities
• on the fly
• without investing in new infrastructure,
• without training new personnel,
• or licensing new software.
now also emerging – moving out...
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8. Your cloud or mine
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9. Blackboard Managed Hosting –
example:
• Scalability and availability
• Shifting the risk
• Reducing burden on resources
• Expertise and scale of support
• Resilience and security
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10. Individual moves
to the cloud
1
0

11. On cloud 9..and 10 and 11
On cloud 2009...
and 2010 and 2011
Every technology we
use was created
before 2006
Rise of Web2.0
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12. Characteristics of cloud-based
learning tools:
• I need to do...
• I will find tools that do...
• I decide what
• I decide where...
• I can teach myself how...
• I am the designer...
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13. Impact on learning?
Scenario:
Group project: Public art in the City of Sheffield –
policy, practice and perception
2001 – written report sometimes with images
2004 – image rich presentation with voice over
2007 – video with technical support and editing training
2010 – mashup of video, audio, still images on YouTube
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14. Other scenarios
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15. Impacts
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16. Life in, with, alongside
the cloud
1
6

17. What is your experience of
combining tower and cloud?
17
1
7

18. Cloud control
Important Issues to consider and investigate:
Service-related
 Service Resilience
 Confidentiality and Privacy
 Copyright and Content Distribution
 Data Security and Back-ups
 Performance and Reliability
 Help and Support
Legislative
Data Protection
Intellectual Copyright
Accessibility Legislation
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19. Cloud control - Web2.0 Survival
Guide
http://web2survivalguide.wordpress.com
Briefing students
Control over personal information.
Backups
Deleting information
Using external services in assessment
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20. Cloud-hopping
Manchester Metropolitan
University
De Montfort
University
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21. Managed Learning Environment
Administration
University of Dundee HR
Timetabling
P3
NEC
Exam
student
SITS SITS timetabling
Assessment and Evaluation
cards
Document
manager SITS
eVision Quality
ID
assurance
Management
Module framework
LDAP approva
Programm
Communication
Applicants Module l
guides e review
Bb Previous
Organisation exam
Student / staff papers
s QMP
cloud email LO Summative
SharePoin repositor
Live@ED t y Safe
U Skype Assign
QMP
Bb Formative
Facebook Adobe My Dundee Gradeboo
Terminal4 Connect k
(Blackboard) Maple TA
School and MS
Video Progress
central Web Bb LO LO
streaming test
pages Mobil Wiki Journa
iTunes e l
U PDP & Exam
Lecture portfolios online
Twitter capture Self & Peer
LO
Assessmen
Blogs
t EvaSy
WordPress Library s
blogs eBook
Windows search
7 SOE s
Survey
Service
DasMan Digitisation Journals
Guide to the MLE Diagram
•Systems from the same supplier are presented in
Moodle PURE Box of QMP
Surveys Response
the same colour repositor Broadcast Ware
•Integrated systems are joined y s
•Solid margins indicate the existing systems Thesis Poll
•Dotted margins indicate new systems store Everywher
•Some systems are core, and some peripheral e
•The MLE is supported by extensive systems and
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underpins a wide range of L&T activities within the
Schools
Learning and Teaching

22. What we see...

23. Learning Technology ecosystem
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24. Effective Use of Educational
Technology
Align, shape, and deliver your educational technology ecosystem
Alignment Capacity Delivery
Institutional Strategy Staffing Faculty & Learner Support
• Mission • Leadership & Management • Learning Support
• Vision & Goals • Professional Development • Programmatic Support
• Executive Leadership • Competencies & Skills Portfolio • Learner & Educator Outreach
• Organizational Strategy • Performance Management • Training & Development Programs
• Learner & Educator Experience • Recruiting & Retention
Alignment & Planning Continuous Improvement Educational Technology Support
• Program Design & Alignment • Change Management • Outreach Programs
• Capacity Planning • Portfolio & Program Management • Issue Escalation & Resolution
• Compliance • Metrics & Analysis • Process Integration
• Policies & Governance • Quality Improvement • Quality Assurance
• Service Alignment • Resource Utilization • Service Management
• Financial & Budgetary Planning • Review & Evaluation
Educational Technology Strategy Educational Technology Architecture Operations & Maintenance
• Educational Systems & Technology • Technology Quilt • Educational Systems Support
• Contingency & Sustainability Planning • Learning Infrastructure & Services • Technology Lifecycle
• Data Lifecycle Design • Data Infrastructure & Services • Technology Migration & Renewal
• Long-Term Technology Planning • Content Infrastructure & Services • Performance Monitoring & Testing
• Platform & Infrastructure Strategy • Mobile Infrastructure & Services
• Messaging Infrastructure & Services
• Availability, Recovery & Redundancy
• Security
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25. Thoughts?