21st century Competencies and Communities in Higher Education

Higher education staff face a paradigm shift in the transformation of learning and teaching fit for purpose in the 21st century. The eMatrix a pilot multi-purpose web platform for learning and teaching through informal open education and accredited professional development pathways Pen Lister, Senior Blended Learning Facilitator Charl Fregona, University Blended Learning Coordinator Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, London Metropolitan University.

Abstract
Through early research carried out as part of an MA dissertation (An exploration of key factors influencing (promoting or hindering) current & future use of technologies in Learning and Teaching), it became clear that current support and training mechanisms for uptake of technology enhanced learning and teaching amongst academic staff were not working. Key hindering factors shown by the study were lack of adequate training support as well as lack of pedagogical support for faculty to develop courses suitable for 21st century learners. Whilst there may be a variety of solutions to these problems, the London Met E-learning Matrix (the eMatrix) is a possible solution to some of these issues. It has become a focal point for developing further mechanisms to help train and support academics at London Metropolitan University in their personal skills development as well as their knowledge of possibilities and pedagogical approaches to technology enhanced learning. The eMatrix is a complex category driven online content management system that offers multiple authors the opportunity to create related articles in the field of e-learning which can then be cross categorised into appropriate themes and topics. It is a practical piece of work that attempts to build an online community of practice and learning, both for the authors themselves as well as others who would use the material in their learning, teaching and elsewhere. Centred around one institution (London Metropolitan University), it seeks to provide content for pathways of accredited learning for the continuing professional development of its own and other academic staff, as well as offer more informal connected learning content for a variety of areas of technology enhanced learning and teaching. It is a pioneering web application, seeking to blend articles from e-learning technologists, academics, admin and library staff, and even students if practicable. The process of creating articles has been made especially user friendly and straightforward, with as little technical knowhow required as possible, yet allowing for multimedia webpage content to be authored and navigated with ease. The aim is to provide a technology that meets its users on equal terms in order to encourage use by all, not only a few technical specialists. A strong emphasis has been placed on the social functions of the articles, to encourage as much sharing into social and professional online networks as possible, therefore promoting further discussion in the wider community. The next phase of the Ematrix is to become fully mobile responsive, so that using the site on a small Smartphone or mid sized Tablet can be as engaging as on a full size Laptop or Desktop computer. Coupled to this, extending author accounts to a wider selection of practitioners who are involved in the whole student lifecycle would enable sets of content to be developed and shared by the whole learning community, and where academics could develop approaches together with their

Pen Lister | London Metropolitan University | page

colleagues in support roles such as librarians or student support teams and in so doing seamlessly connect and share articles together on the site, into social networks and farther afield. The eMatrix also encounters some problems, for example privacy of author data, copyright management, robust system admin provision and technical skills required to ensure maintainability. These problems are common to all applications of this nature and serve to demonstrate many of the hurdles that must be overcome by any who wish to harness the power of technology in more bespoke ways for learning and teaching, as well as for the benefit of the wider student lifecycle as a whole. The London Met E-learning Matrix (the eMatrix): http://celtelearning.org

Pen Lister | London Metropolitan University | page