1. LA TROBE
Business Economics & Law
AN OPEN & FLEXIBLE BEL BY 2017
leighblackall.com

2. INTRODUCING LEIGH
http://leighblackall.com
Educational developer since 2001
Hunter and Western Sydney TAFE
Otago Polytechnic
University of Canberra
Charles Darwin University
Media production
Networked learning
Open and flexible education
Open academic practices

3. LOOKING AT
BEL LA TROBE
BEL is one third of La Trobe University
9,000 students
230 full time staff
Traditional, large lectures, small tutorials
Seeking to expand
Uses Moodle2
A few blended courses
No flexible delivery options available
1586, Dutchwoman from Frauen Trachtenbuch by Jost Amman (image source: Wikimedia Commons)

4. QUESTION
[SHORT VERSION]
WHAT IS THE USE OF
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
FACULTY, AND WHAT
STEPS WOULD WE TAKE?

5. ASPIRATION
Valle Frances
xtinacooke on flickr
Increase blended delivery
20% of students in flexible study by 2017
How to achieve these aims?..

6. 20% STUDENTS IN FLEXIBLE STUDY
>1800 people
16 undergraduate & 8 postgraduate units
4 x 1st year units = 800 ppl
5 x 2nd year units = 500 ppl
7 x 3rd/4th year units = 350 ppl
8 x postgrad units = 160 ppl
3 years to do it

7. OPEN EDUCATION + Flexible Assessment to achieve
20%
Remove all barriers to online learning
FOCUS CURRICULUM ON ASSIGNMENTS AND CONTENT TO SUPPORT COMPLETION OF ASSIGNMENTS
Fee-for-service is for tutorials, lecturer contact, assessment and certification

8. Black and White image
WHERE TO START?
of Catalina 37’s at the
start-finish line of the
Congressiona Cup Match
Races in Long Beach, CA.
Identify 4 of 16 units to trial
http://wdphoto.com/ (preferably 3rd or 4th year &/or postgrad)
Hold conference events on open ed & flexible assessment
2013: Establish core skills needed by staff in trial
Develop courses to suit open education and flexible assessment model

9. 2014:
WHERE TO START?
Adapt and scale model across 8 of the 16 units,
including at least one 1st year unit
Invest in staff support
Engage in national and international forums

10. Where to start?
2015/16:
• Adapt & scale across all 16 units
• Invest in staffing
• Win developmental grants to sustain effort

11. EXAMPLES OF OPEN & FLEXIBLE ED
BPS2011 (The Business and Politics of Sport) http://bps.ucniss.net
3RD YEAR UNDERGRAD WITH 100 STUDENTS P/SEM 2010 POOR FEEDBACK - 2011 EXCELLENT FEEDBACK
Los Toros
Michael Crouser 2009
YALE
MIT
HARVARD
Many others,
but few in
Australia

12. Contact Leigh
leighblackall.com
leighblackall@gmail.com
0404561009