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Australian university students are changing. Compared with previous generations, commitments such as work or carer obligations compete for the time of students. In addition, an increasing number of people are returning to university after years in the workforce to refresh their skills, to get a competitive edge or to change career. Both of these changes have implications for how students are able to engage with their education. To this end, ANU has embraced Flexible Learning.

Earlier this year, the Vice Chancellor established the Flexible Learning Project to provide educational design expertise and to support innovative pedagogical techniques. Deborah Veness, leader of the Project, said that one of the roles of the group is to work with staff to articulate learning outcomes and to assist them to develop teaching strategies that best achieve these outcomes while providing students with more options. “We examine different delivery mechanisms and provide suggestions on how to improve flexibility.”

In some flexible learning situations, there are opportunities for technology to support the pedagogy. Educational issues help define the scope of the use of technology and to do this effectively there needs to be strong connections between those undertaking teaching, and those responsible for information infrastructure.

Dr Markus Buchhorn, Director of ICT Environments, coordinates a number of groups on campus who are developing technologies that could support teaching and learning and works closely with the Flexible Learning Project to ensure that these technologies integrate well with current and newly-developing education practices. “If there is something that adds value and flexibility, we will look into how we can develop and support it.” In his view, technology is one tool that can provide more flexible and innovative learning opportunities. If technology is poorly used, it can constrain, rather than make more flexible, students learning experiences, but when used appropriately, students can get more out of their education because they are engaging in the way that best suits them.