Market Projections

I posted this Wiki as an additional source for market projections, because it has proven to be a valuable resource to my colleagues and I with respect to trends in e-Learning and technology. It brings an “on the ground perspective” through the open sharing of resources and perspectives that are included on the wiki. The membership tends to be higher level decision makers in campus technology as well as teaching and learning (and their teams) from universities across Ontario. In addition to the wiki, the membership meets in person twice a year to discuss current topics in technology and learning and, essentially “compare notes”. While it is clearly anchored in the Ontario Higher Ed context, the focal points of its ongoing projects may be of wider interest. Similarly, the Wiki’s general resources, along with the resources posted to each of the yearly institutes and meetings pages, provide insights that might appeal to the wider educational community.

The Educause: 7 Things… series serves as an excellent primer, year-over-year, for anyone interested in emerging trends in educational technology and its related pedagogy. These concise briefs assist not only in provoking thought and strategic planning for the acquisition of new systems and/or hardware for a given institution, but also with the efficient leveraging of existing systems and equipment. To this extent, the series appeals to educational consumers and decision makers at a range of levels. The membership and focus of Educause is Higher Education, but the 7 Things series provides such clear and actionable tips that it is definitely of use to a broader community of educators. In my own work as an Instructional Designer, I make frequent use of this resource. Typically, a 7 Things brief on a topic or technology starts me on the right track towards any deeper, more extensive research that might be required. It plays a part in my ongoing review of literature and recommended practice, which informs the decisions that I make when supporting the design and delivery of online and hybrid courses. In the past, I have shared select briefs from this series when working with faculty/instructors. The “ELI Content Anchors” (http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-2015-eli-content-anchors) brief, based on a yearly survey, supports institutions and individual departments in gauging where they stand on tech issues relative to their colleagues elsewhere in the Higher Ed community. Given that it takes the pulse of the teaching and learning community, it is certainly something that any ed tech entrepreneur should monitor, and take into account. Given its digestible and down to earth qualities, I expect to go on using this resource in my current posting, and imagine that I would continue to find it of use, even if I were to change organizational level and/or sector.