Open Polytechnic continues to make an important contribution to eLearning research and development within the wider tertiary education sector, along with building its own capability in eServices and support for learners.

Three funded projects led by Open Polytechnic are helping to provide the foundations for a cost-effective national eLearning network.

The New Zealand Open Source Virtual Learning Environment project (NZOSVLE) supported by $1.5 million eCDF funding was completed in June 2006. It involved a consortium of 20 TEOs to establish “a virtual learning infrastructure that minimises the financial, organisational, and technological barriers to delivering eLearning across New Zealand’s knowledge economy.” The project involved evaluating and developing software by participating in global communities using the open source development model.

As a result of the project, New Zealand has developed an influential leadership position within international education technology development circles. Two leading international open universities – Athabasca in Canada and the United Kingdom Open University - are now using the Moodle LMS. San Francisco State University and UCLA are also migrating to the system.

As a further outcome, the project developed an “open access environment” called Eduforge .This provides a virtual space for users around the world to share ideas, research outcomes, open content and open source software for education. Initially conceived as a collaboration platform for the NZOSVLE partners, Eduforge now hosts over 150 education projects and has helped position New Zealand as an innovative leader in the eLearning field.

The eLearning Networked Education Pilot is supported by $600,000 in eCDF funding. The project is developing a network-based strategy for sharing eLearning courses across multiple ITPs and other TEOs. It aims to enable students enrolled at their local ITP to supplement their programme of study with access to eLearning courses from other institutions. These would be available via an online-networked environment.

In a third initiative, Open Polytechnic is leading the Collaborative Resource Development Model project supported by $390,000 from the Innovation Development Fund.

Here, the aim is to collaboratively develop shared courseware that will be freely available to all tertiary education institutions in New Zealand. Just as importantly, it will create a permanent structure for sector partners to work together in learning resource development.

Along with leading three major projects, Open Polytechnic is also contributing at the sector level by providing technical design input and expertise on open source development methodologies for two other eCDF collaborative projects.

Open Polytechnic is approaching eLearning for its own learners in a number of ways. Most courses use print-based resources with learner support services, with 60 diploma and degree courses also offered in an online form. An Online Campus provides all learners with additional support services through the Polytechnic’s website.