Strategic eLearning Projects

Sydney eLearning works in collaboration with representatives of faculties on strategic eLearning projects.

Educational design managers and educational designers from Sydney eLearning support our colleagues through decision-making processes which lead to the establishment and development of the strategic eLearning projects.

What support is available?

Sydney eLearning provides project management and educational design support for learning resources. Support may take the form of educational design, technical design, technical development and project management. Sydney eLearning only provides support in the form of time and expertise of staff. If a proposed project requires other resources that an applicant is unable to provide (e.g. content development), the funds for these must be sourced elsewhere.

How do I apply for project support?

Stage 1 Expression of Interest

Interested staff should submit an Expression of Interest that briefly describes their idea for an eLearning project. Consultation with your faculty/education portfolio eLearning representative is highly recommended. Expressions of Interest will be assessed in divisional groupings. On the basis of this assessment, staff may be invited to expand their Expression of Interest into an Application for Sydney eLearning Project Hours.

Stage 2 Application for Sydney eLearning Project Hours

The Application for Sydney eLearning Project Hours must demonstrate that the project will deliver specific learning and teaching outcomes relevant to University and faculty strategic plans, and that operational matters related to sustainability have been considered. Consultation with your faculty/education portfolio eLearning representative and Sydney eLearning Educational Design Manager is highly recommended.
All EOIs and full applications will be discussed by a committee of representatives from the faculties in divisional groupings. Criteria include feasibility, alignment with University and Faculty strategic plans, enrichment of the student experience, and pedagogical relevance within the discipline.

Stage 3 Detailed project planning & development

Staff whose applications for eLearning support are successful will be invited to undertake detailed project planning as soon as possible. The detailed project planning process is designed to ensure all resource needs are fully identified, stakeholders have agreed to the project and its implications and the risks identified with a mitigation strategy. During this stage, projects may be modified to meet emerging pedagogical objectives or resource constraints. Staff may consider their projects confirmed when all required signatures are in place on the Letter of Agreement.

Stage 4 Project Sign Off and Reporting to SEG (Education) Committee

Once a project is complete, the staff member who applied for the project is required to sign off on its completion and report on its outcomes to the Director of eLearning. The Director of eLearning prepares a summary report for the SEG (Education) Committee.

Responsibility of project sponsor

Strategic eLearning development projects must have the support of all key stakeholders (e.g. Dean/Head of School/Head of Portfolio). Commitment of resources, notably staff time, is part of that support. The project sponsor, in signing the Letter of Agreement, supports the staff member’s commitment of time to the project. If the academic in charge of the project leaves the university prior to project completion, the project sponsor will be given the option of whether or not to continue the project.

Final Stage of EOI process

The EOI process concludes with letters from the Director of eLearning to applicants in the process. The hours are confirmed to the projects only after the Academic-in-charge has signed the letter of agreement.

Partners

Sydney eLearning works closely with seconded staff from the faculties to ensure that strategic resources are most usefully deployed across the clusters. Below are the eLearning academic directors who coordinate the expression of interest processes in the prioritisation of strategic eLearning projects for faculties.

For information about the way these projects are supported, contact: