Virtual+Campus


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

Recommendations for eLearning Strategy
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 * == Background and Links == || Online learners are often isolated from other learners, other classes, campus services, campus events and campus social life. Educational research indicates that learner engagement, retention and learning outcomes improve when students feel a sense of belonging to a learning environment.

Over the last two years a number of existing and innovation projects have been loosely connected through informal conversations around the notion of a ‘virtual campus’. These conversations were formalised during 2010 into a state-wide Virtual Campus Project and in early 2011 a number of regional symposia and meetings were held to engage a larger group of stakeholders.


 * Polytechnic Virtual Campus Project**


 * Purpose:** This project will identify, trial and evaluate ways in which online learning and social environments can be meaningfully integrated to create a coherent ‘meta-space’ that engenders a sense of belonging, encourages participation, facilitates learning and contributes to community building. These online spaces will blend with the physical environment where possible to provide connections between the physical and the digital.


 * Drivers:** The following Polytechnic and national agenda are driving the conceptual development of a ‘virtual campus’:
 * Engaging and inspiring learners (FACS Learning)
 * Improving retention and learning outcomes
 * Regional engagement and community development
 * Learning Commons and Learning Communities
 * Blended, Flexible, Mobile and eLearning
 * Government 2.0 and Participative Media
 * Open Education
 * Responsive and respected Polytechnic research and innovation
 * National Broadband Network and Cloud Computing


 * Desired Outcomes and Measures**
 * Increased retention and improved learning outcomes
 * Increased regional and community engagement
 * Increased access to learning and learning services
 * Increased student voice and participation in Polytechnic community events
 * Increased state-wide collaborative research and innovation
 * Increased recognition of the Polytechnic Brand online

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 * Some examples || * http://www.rmit.edu.au/learninghub
 * http://www.bhtafe.edu.au/courses/Pages/online-delivery-learning-resources.aspx
 * Some examples || * http://www.rmit.edu.au/learninghub
 * http://www.bhtafe.edu.au/courses/Pages/online-delivery-learning-resources.aspx
 * == Opportunities == ||  ||
 * == Recommendations for eLearning Strategy == ||  ||