Technology’s role in leveraging curriculum reform

Abstract

This paper reports on a funded project that promotes systemic development of taught degree programs offered in a higher education faculty using an online learning network as a lever for curriculum change. The Interactive Learning Network (ILN), which supports collaborative learning, is a community-building environment designed to scaffold virtual education communities of practice where teachers and students work together as teams and engage in reflective, collegial interaction and patterns of working. ILN facilitates cognitive and social scaffolding, enabling participants to become progressively more involved in the community and to sustain their commitment and interests. This environment is designed to support pedagogies that emphasize the emergence and growth of autonomous collaborative learning, rather than teacher-directed delivery of learning materials. This project promotes and enhances collaborative and community building with the use of ILN in teaching programs through: the identification of individual teaching programs and teacher needs and the role of ILN to meet needs where appropriate; the provision of staff development and support; and the identification and change to the ILN environment, administration and management to meet ongoing teaching program needs.

This paper explores the philosophy behind the study, the work undertaken and analysed, and outlines recommendations for improvements into ICT applications supported by online learner networks that act as a lever for curriculum change.