ELUE Final Conference
E-Learning and University Education
Italian Results of the Project
Tommaso Leo
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SUMMARY
• Arguments examined by ELUE
• The organization of the survey
• Main commonalities and differences among the countries
• Results
• What about the future
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
AIMS OF THE ELUE PROJECT
-To
survey the Nation-wide e-learning initiatives promoted by
the participating Countries at a government level
-To
survey e-learning activities undertaken and/or planned in
the participating Countries
-To
launch an observatory on e-learning in University
Education at a trans-national level
with a view to the Higher Education (HE) system in each
Country thinking about the system(s) across European Union
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
AN INITIATIVE IN THE LINE OF THE
BOLOGNA PROCESS
It aims at providing grounds and tools for promoting the
integration of national systems
-
It appears in some way unprecedented in the rich
activities promoted by the commission
-
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
We surveyed 44 EU supported projects active from 2001 to
2007 aimed at the analysis and evaluation of the e-learning
use in the HE
-
17 among them implement an observatory on some
aspects concerning the topic
-
Only ELUE seems to consider the argument from the point
of view of the HE system
-
Networks, best practices, standards shared repositories,
different approaches to Quality, human-organization factors
facilitating or hindering e-learning seem to be the most
frequented arguments
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
ARGUMENTS OF THE ELUE PROJECT
-
HE System organization Country by Country
-
Institutional support and Public funding of University
e-learning
-Maturity
and development level of University e-learning
-Level of reflection on the University e-learning
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SUMMARY
• Arguments examined by ELUE
• The organization of the survey
• Main commonalities and differences among the countries
• Results
• What about the future
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Timing of the survey
-
Two Phases
-
Preliminary study
-
Nation Wide enquiries
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
OBSERVATORY MISSION
Observatory
Is aimed to
Is aimed to
know
facilitate
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
WHAT IS THE OBSERVED
PHOENOMENON
E-learning has number of instances
We focussed on ICT enchanced learning, web-based
at present
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
METHODS
-
Total universe enquiry
-
Quantitative aspects
-
Qualitative aspects have been treated up to now less than
useful and appropriate
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SUMMARY
• Arguments examined by ELUE
• The organization of the survey
• Main commonalities and differences among the countries
• Results
• What about the future
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
COMMONALITIES AND DIFFERENCES
AMONG THE ELUE PARTNERS1/2
•
Regulatory system according to EURYDICE
Differences
- Regulation of HE systems
- Number of universities
- Number of students/university
Commonalities
- Three levels of HE studies
•
National policies towards e-learning according to ELUE survey
- Strong in Finland
- Significant in France
- Weak, if any, in Italy
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
COMMONALITIES AND DIFFERENCES
AMONG THE ELUE PARTNERS 2/2
•
Status of the affairs in University e-learning
- Cultural resistences of the teachers
- Wide and/or multifaceted initiatives with ICT
•
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SUMMARY
• Arguments examined by ELUE
• The organization of the survey
• Main commonalities and differences among the countries
• Results ( in Italy)
• What about the future
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
OBSERVATORY MISSION
Observatory
Is aimed to
Is aimed to
know
facilitate
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SYNTHETIC RESULTS
To know:
•Resistences
of the teachers
•Fragmentation
•
•
•
of the initiatives
But the trend is from sector initiatives to University initiatives
Organization is seriously considered
The interest towards Quality, Good Practices, experience
sharing is increasing
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
STATUS OF THE AFFAIRS
•
Awareness of the strategic importance of e-learning
•
Policies adopted by Italian Universities
•Existence
of specific organization Units
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
TABLE 1. The participation of the university system in the survey
Universities
%
Universities which
filled in the
questionnaire
59
76,6
Universities which did
not filled in the
questionnaire
18
23,4
77
100,0
Total
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 21. The start of on line didactic services through the years
(Number of surveyed courses)
40
35
30
25
40
20
31
15
21
10
5
5
9
10
9
7
0
nel
1998
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
nel
1999
nel
2000
nel
2001
nel
2002
Tommaso Leo -
nel
2003
nel
2004
nel
2005
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 20. Fields of Study of the courses surveyed
Humanities
Social sciences
23%
Law
25%
Natural sciences
15%
18%
11%
6% 2%
Mathematics,
computer
Medical sciences
Engineering
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 1. The adoption of an e-learning policy in Italian Universities
(Percentages of respondent universities)
No
36%
Yes
64%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 2. The spread of e-learning policies among the Italian
university system
(accumulated number of universities per year)
45
40
35
30
24
40
32
25
20
15
10
37
12
14
17
4
5
0
Before
2000
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
2000
2001
2002
Tommaso Leo -
2003
2004
2005
After
2005
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 3. Adoption of an e-learning policy in universities by
geographic area
(Percentage of respondent universities)
90,0
80,0
70,0
60,0
50,0
40,0
30,0
84,6 %
72,7 %
63,6 %
50,0 %
52,9 %
20,0
10,0
0,0
Italia
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Nord-ovest
Nord-est
Tommaso Leo -
Centro
Sud e Isole
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 4. The participation of universities in consortia for ICT or elearning
(Percentage of respondent universities)
No
33%
Yes
67%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 28. The future foreseen for the on-line part of the courses
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
Future
dependent on
avalilability of
internal funds
11%
Future
dependent on
avalilability of
external funds
10%
No answer
19%
Maintenance
15%
Expansion
45%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 5. University centres for ICT/e-learning
(Percentage of respondent universities)
No
16%
Yes
84%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 6. The different functions of the ICT/e-learning centres
(Percentage of respondent universities, by function)
84
university ICT management
80
Technical support to teachers
71
Research in teaching methods
51
on-line material production
49
Monitoring activities
44
Research in e-learning standards
42
Teachers training on ICT
33
Pedagogical support
0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
10
20
30
Tommaso Leo -
40
50
60
70
80
90
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 7. Number of university centres for ICT/e-learning in
universities
(Percentage of respondent universities, by number of centres)
More than two
32%
One
44%
Two
24%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 8. The implementation of on line administrative management
of the courses
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Planned
10%
Yes
46%
In progress
22%
No
22%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 10. The possibility to share on line contents with other
organizations
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Yes
8%
Planned
18%
No
51%
In progress
23%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 9. The presence of a repository for the on line contents
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Planned
10%
In progress
27%
Yes
50%
No
13%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 22. The on line services adopted by the courses
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
91,7
on line information
82,1
download
on line help
73,7
on line registration
72,4
60,9
on line exercises
55,1
on line motivational support
48,7
on line monitoring process
30,1
on line simulations
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
20,0
40,0
Tommaso Leo -
60,0
80,0
100,0
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 23. Other on line services adopted by the courses
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
83,6
On line communications
58,6
Digital libraries
On line enrolment
On line administrative services
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
50,7
35,7
20,0
Tommaso Leo -
40,0
60,0
80,0
100,0
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 24. The ICT tools adopted by the courses
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
87,1
On line materials
62,9
On ine platform
60,7
On line exercises
47,1
Video streaming
On line forum
43,6
Chat
42,1
34,3
Learning objects
32,1
Virtual classrooms
29,3
CD - rom
27,9
Videocassettes
Virtual blackboard
22,1
Virtual laboratories
20,7
Wireless technolgy
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
11,4
20,0
40,0
Tommaso Leo -
60,0
80,0
100,0
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
STATUS OF THE AFFAIRS
•Obstacles
Human factors:
Students involvment
Teachers cultural resistences
Competences
Recognition
Training
Environmental factors
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 14. The obstacles to the use of e-learning
(Percentage of respondent universities, by obstacle)
66,7
Lack of cultural acceptance
47,2
Lack of investments
33,3
Lack of skills
30,6
Lack of infrastrucutre
Lack of political support
No obstacles
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
22,2
2,8
10,0
20,0
Tommaso Leo -
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
70,0
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 16. The cultural acceptance of students and lecturers towards
e-learning
(Percentage of respondent universities)
100,0
90,0
90,2
78,9
80,0
70,0
60,0
Teachers
50,0
Students
40,0
30,0
20,0
21,1
9,8
10,0
0,0
Low or very low
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
High or very high
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 2. The involvement of students in distance education
% of students that use
distance education
Number of Universities
% of Universities
None
12
30%
Less than 5%
10
25%
Between 5% and 10%
10
25%
Over 10%
8
20%
TOTAL
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
40
Tommaso Leo -
100%
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 3. The involvement of students in ICT enhanced education
% of students who
use presence
education supported
by ICT
Number of
universities
% of universities
Less than 10%
7
17.5%
Over 10% but less than a
half
21
52.5%
At least a half but less
than 80%
6
15%
Over 80%
6
15%
TOTAL
40
100%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 4. The opportunities and services offered to students in the ICT
(Percentage of respondent universities)
No
answe
r
Yes
No
Purchase
technologies
15.3
13.6
Have an e-mail
address
11.9
Receive technical
support
Have training as
regards ICT
Universities that act
so that students can:
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Being
imple
mented
Envisaged
in the
future
54.2
8.5
8.5
100.0
64.4
8.5
11.9
3.4
100.0
13.6
66.1
16.9
1.7
1.7
100.0
13.6
69.5
1.7
8.5
6.8
100.0
Tommaso Leo -
Total
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 5. The involvement of lecturers in distance education
% of lecturers
who are
involved in
distance
education
Number of
universities
% of
universities
None
4
11%
Less than 5%
21
60%
Between 5% and
10%
7
20%
Above 10%
3
9%
TOTAL
35
100%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 6. The involvement of lecturers in ICT enhanced education
% of lecturers who
are involved in
presence education
supported by ICT
Number of
universities
% of universities
Less than 10%
7
16.3%
Above 10% but less than
a half
24
55.8%
At least a half but less
than 80%
6
14%
Above 80%
6
14%
TOTAL
40
100%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Table 7. The opportunities and services offered to lecturers in the ICT
field
(Percentage of respondent universities)
No
Being
imple
mented
Envisa
ged
for the
future
49.2
25.4
10.2
5.1
100.0
5.1
94.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
100.0
Receive technical
support
5.1
89.8
3.4
1.7
0.0
100.0
Have training as
regards ICT
8.5
69.5
10.2
3.4
8.5
100.0
The university acts
so that lecturers
can:
No
answ
er
Yes
Purchase
technologies
10.2
Have an e-mail
address
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
Total
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 12. The use of financial incentives to motivate lecturers for
adopting e-learning
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Planned
23%
Yes
25%
In progress
6%
No
46%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 15. The potential risks attributable to the diffusion of elearning
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Technological aspects vs pedagogical
aspects
69,7
27,3
Commercial aspects vs quality aspects
Loss of the 'face to face' contribution
21,2
No specific risk
21,2
Other
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
12,1
10,0
Tommaso Leo -
20,0
30,0
40,0
50,0
60,0
70,0
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 11. E-learning as a subject of university research
(Percentage of respondent universities)
In progress
16%
Planned
4%
Yes
49%
No
31%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
STATUS OF THE AFFAIRS
•
Objectives and costs
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 13. The objectives pursued through the use of e-learning
(Percentage of respondent universities, by objective)
91,8
Flexibility improvement
83,7
Quality improvement
75,5
involvement of working students
55,1
Involvement of specific student categories
46,9
Drop out reduction
44,9
Enrolment increase
26,5
Costs reduction
Competition with other universities
0,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
22,4
10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0 70,0 80,0 90,0 100,0
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 17. The impact of e-learning on the university expenses
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Modest
reduction
18%
No noticeable
impact
15%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Remarkable
reduction
3%
Remarkable
increase
35%
Modest
increase
29%
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 18. Higher fees for the on line students.
(Percentage of respondent universities)
Yes; 17
No; 83
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 19. The funding for e-learning and web enhanced learning.
(Percentages of universities which spend the majority of the funding in
e-learning or in ICT enhanced learning)
E-learning or
blended
learning
42%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
ICT enhanced
learning
58%
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
STATUS OF THE AFFAIRS
Some qualitative aspects
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 25. The production of the contents for on line teaching
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
both in house
and providers
18%
contents
providers
2%
In house
80%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 26. The adoption of platform for on line activities
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
self
produced (in
house)
24%
purchased
on the
market
61%
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
open source
15%
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
GRAPH 27. The main weaknesses of the LMS used
(Percentage of surveyed courses)
40,0
Lack of flexibility of the tool
35,3
Technical difficulties for teachers
32,9
Technical difficulties for students
25,9
Compatibility with OS
Costs
16,5
0,0 5,0 10,0 15,0 20,0 25,0 30,0 35,0 40,0
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
OBSERVATORY MISSION
Observatory
Is aimed to
Is aimed to
know
facilitate
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SYNTHETIC RESULTS
To facilitate:
•
E-learning awareness increase
•
Organization start-up
•
Effective coordination start-up
•
Iniziatives to specifically educate professors
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
SUMMARY
• Arguments examined by ELUE
• The organization of the survey
• Main commonalities and differences among the countries
• Results
• What about the future
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?
WEAKENESSES AND STRENGTHS OF THE
PROJECT AT THE ITALIAN SITE
•
Effects of perturbations on the Italian university system
•
Incertitude on the role of universities’ coordination bodies
•
Quantitative vs Qualitative aspects of the study
Demonstrated feasibility of a country-system level
observation
•
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
•
Increasing requirements of continuing education
e-learning strategic role
•
Need of increased “SYSTEM” awareness
•
Iniziatives to specifically educate teachers are foreseen
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
IN CONCLUSION
•
from the Italian point of view
The establishment of a European network of national
Observatories should be greatly advisable
• to support international debate and
• to support international collaboration
on the basis of its demonstrated feasibility and usefulness
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche
Thank you for your attention
ELUE Conference-May 31 2006
Tommaso Leo -
D.I.I.G.A., Università Politecnica delle Marche