Week 16: Valerie Irvine and Jillianne Code

The 21st Century University

This week, Valerie Irvine and Jillianne Code take the complex challenge of the 21st Century university. You can follow further discussion at their websites:
- Valerie Irvine - http://edtech.uvic.ca/virvine
- Jillianne Code - http://edtech.uvic.ca/jcode

Full week's notes and links

Live Meeting Recordings

January 11, Presentation
- Elluminate Recording
- Video recording (courtesy Jeff Lebow)
- Chat Transcript

January 13, Experimental / Play Session
- Elluminate Recording
- Video recording (courtesy Jeff Lebow)
- Chat Transcript

Overview

In this session, we will discuss issues facing brick and mortar universities in the current global context of post-secondary education. The economic situation facing most universities is one of diminishing funds through cutbacks, increasing competition both locally and globally as a result of the increasing number of post-secondary institutions (specifically colleges and online universities) and the growing prevalence of online programs. We are also dealing with a natural demographic phenomenon whereby the number of people aged 18-22 are smaller than in previous boom eras. What can brick and mortar Universities do to adapt, innovate, remain both competitive and relevant in this situation? In essence, become part of the 21st century? We will discuss the issues universities face and how they can meet the demands of students for flexibility. We also will propose a solution which is being piloted today at the University of Victoria through a new delivery method we have termed multi-access learning. Through modification of our registration system, we will be able to let the learner choose the delivery method they want for course enrollment. We will demonstrate a live multi-access session this week.

Drs. Valerie Irvine and Jillianne Code are professors of Educational Technology and Co-Directors of the Technology Integration and Evaluation (TIE) Research Lab at the University of Victoria.

Critical and Reflective Questions for Your Blog

You’re a learner... you may currently be a student enrolled in a face-to-face university... you may be a student enrolled in an online program/university... you may be a lifelong learner doing this because of its open format... What do YOU think about this idea? Have you ever been affected by having to take a course or program in a delivery method you did not want? Would it affect your choices in where you did your learning if you could access the programs or courses you wanted at brick and mortar universities that may have been inaccessible because of geography and face-to-face learning delivery mode? How do you feel about having the CHOICE in YOUR control to learn from the universities you wanted to learn from and the professors you wanted to learn from? NOT to be limited to those who agreed to meet you in your required delivery format?