From eLearning team to community of practice: Why, how and what’s the benefits?

Abstract

There is no shortage of innovation in eLearning. Committed educators globally are developing individual courses to meet the needs of students and particular subject matter. However, the more challenging task is to sustain, maintain and spread these innovative ways of teaching across whole programs, entire schools, and the large institutions that characterise higher learning. This presentation shares the strategies and experiences of an Australian multi-campus School of Nursing and Midwifery that has implemented a blended learning approach across its entire undergraduate nursing program. Bringing together an eLearning coordinator, academics, expert clinicians, an educational designer, AV specialists, programmers, and graphic and multimedia designers has enabled us to not only produce quality, integrated learning resources across the curriculum, but to sustain and enhance our eLearning initiatives by developing a community of practice.