Introduction and objectives

Using e-Learning Maturity Model (eMM) to assess and improve the organisation's capability in effective implementation of digital technology.

“	Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. It may not be difficult to store up in the mind a vast quantity of facts within a comparatively short time, but the ability to form judgements requires the severe discipline of hard work and the tempering heat of experience and maturity.	”
—Calvin Coolige

Overview

In schools, training institutions, colleges, polytechnics and universities there will be individuals who are very successful with the adoption and integration of new digital technologies and e-learning approaches to support teaching and learning. However, consider for example, the impact on the organisation if these champions were to move to another institution. Will the organisation be able to continue with improved adoption of e-learning approaches into the future?

It follows that a cable e-learning organisation is one which can sustain e-learning as the demand, processes, technologies and staff change over time.

In this section we shift our focus on change with digital technology from the personal context to the organisational context. We will study the e-Learning Maturity Model (eMM) as a framework for assessing organisational capability to sustainably develop, deploy and support e-learning. The idea underpinning eMM is that the ability of an institution to be effective in e-learning is determined by their capability to engage in high quality processes which can be replicated, extended and sustained as the adoption of new e-learning technologies and approaches increases or changes over time.

Objectives

In this section you will: Study the key concepts of the eMM to see how they are used to assess the e-learning capability of an organisation. Review the e-learning processes (Version 2) of the eMM and conduct an intuitive assessment of e-learning processes of a course and organisation of your choice to select a category for potential assessment later in the course. Gain sufficient knowledge of the eMM to exercise an informed choice of a review framework for a more detailed assessment of an organisation later in the course.

Web Resources

Suggested resources eMM website for Version 2 of the model eMM process descriptions (Version 2.3) or alternatively the workbook format for working on your own assessments. Marshall, S. J. (2008). What are the key factors that lead to effective adoption and support of e-learning by institutions? In Proceedings of HERDSA 2008 (Rotorua, New Zealand, HERDSA).