Agile+Development+and+Perpetual+Beta


 * [[image:issues.jpg width="384" height="54"]] || === Background and Links ===

Recommendations for eLearning Strategy
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 * == Background and Links == || According to the Skills for Prosperity 2011 VET roadmap "there are increasing challenges for learning products to be agile and remain fit for purpose in an environment of constant change."

Agile development, agile learning, agile organisations and agile leadership are increasingly referred to in response to ongoing changes in the workplace, technology, society and even challenges at the global level. More than being responsive however agility also calls for an **awareness of probable futures or social foresight**.


 * Ongoing (action) research and innovation** becomes a part of this more pro-active response as educational institutions endeavour to meet changing needs and expectations. In e-learning it is becoming more common to use ICT applications and services that are still in the beta (pre-release) stage of development. This is partly due to the fact that applications are staying longer in development in order to meet changing needs - so much so that this can become a design strategy where software remains in perpetual-beta.

The current @Polytechnic Strategic Plan calls for the need to capitalise on innovation to continually improve learning experiences. It also refers to the need for infrastructure to be future-aware.


 * The development of online courses and learning resources** is one area that benefits from the notion of agile development and perpetual beta. We often do not have the resources to wait until a course is fully developed before deploying it for students. Indeed actually involving students in the creation of learning resources can be both efficient and effective for course design and learning.

The following graphic illustrates an agile development cycle (Source: The Learning GeneralistCC license). Agile development may require adaptions to quality assurance processes to ensure the need for professional quality is balanced with the needs of learners and available resources.

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 * == Recommendations for eLearning Strategy == ||  ||
 * == Opportunities == ||  ||
 * == Recommendations for eLearning Strategy == ||  ||
 * == Recommendations for eLearning Strategy == ||  ||