E-learning strategy 2006-2010
Approved by the Council of the University of Tartu on 23 December 2005 (Resolution No. 85)
E-learning is defined as interactive learning where the learning process generally rakes place in the web, In Estonia, e-learning is usually combined with traditional forms of learning.
The E-learning Strategy of the University of Tartu is based on the strategic priorities of the Development Plan, IT strategy of the University and the library development plan. The E-learning Strategy of the University supports increased flexibility of studies, involvement of new target groups, internationalisation of the university and ensuring the quality of learning. The Strategy contributes to the planning of the development of e-learning and international cooperation and will be used to assess the achievements. The Strategy will be implemented in cooperation with the Estonian e-University.
Vision of e-learning
By the year 2010, the University of Tartu will have become an internationally recognised developer of e-learning in Estonia. E-learning has become natural part of the learning process, supporting the quality of studies and internationalisation of the University.
General objective of e-learning
The aim of the University of Tartu in developing e-learning is to create at the University a modern, flexible and internationally open educational process supportive of efficient and independent learning.
Strategic tasks
In order to achieve the established objective, the University of Tartu sets itself the following tasks in developing e learning:
I Support high-quality studies centred on the student and involvement of new target groups.
1. Develop efficient and high-quality combined models of e-learning and traditional learning and implement these models in the studies in cooperation with foreign universities.
2. Create e-learning support for all curricula of the Open University and 30 % of the curricula of full-time studies.
3. Develop at least 4 web-based Master's degree curricula in English.
4. Support internationalisation of studies through e-learning - involvement of lecturers from abroad and joint courses with foreign universities.
5. Develop a system for ensuring and auditing the quality of e-learning courses, incl. quality criteria for e-learning, continuous internal evaluation of the courses, quality signs, etc.
6. Create multimedia learning objects for independent learning and ensure their realisation with modern ICT solutions.
7. Promote mobility of students between Estonian universities (mutual recognition of courses, creation of an electronic coordination system).
8. Develop and update web-based in-service training courses for various target groups and ensure active marketing of these courses.
II Increase the e-learning competence of the teaching staff, students and assistance personnel and develop cooperation models for e-learning.
9.Introduce to the teaching staff the usage opportunities of e-learning in the study process at the University.
10.Develop the ICT skills of the teaching staff and the students on the basis of education technology research to enable their participation in e-learning, as well as their teaching and learning skills through training, guidelines and counselling.
11. Promote acquisition and use of modern teaching skills and innovation in the study process, incl. through the selection of the teaching staff and performance assessment.
12. Offer to the teaching staff methodological and technological support in conducting e-learning by increasing the number of qualified education technologists in the chairs and improving the availability of centralised multimedia services. Develop regional e-learning centres in the colleges of the University of Tartu.
13. Develop and implement a cooperation model for the teaching staff, education technologists, tutors and programme managers in the development and conduct of e-learning.
14. Develop the field of education technology through Doctoral programs and research in education technology on the basis of the Chair for Education Technology.
15. Ensure wide usability of the research information purchased for the University through training on information search and search support by the library.
16. Ensure the support of the library for finding and acquiring the information sources related to e-courses and technical support in making these sources available to all users.
III Ensure high level of infrastructure and support services for e-learning.
17. Ensure each member of the teaching staff with a personal workplace that includes a computer and Internet connection and increase the number of workplaces with an Internet connection in the library and study buildings.
18. Install wireless Internet connections in each study building and dormitory of the University.
19. Ensure development of the library as the central physical and e-learning environment with integrated traditional and e learning both for individuals and group work. Link the databases of branch libraries of all University divisions with the central library database.
20. Ensure the use of functional e-learning environment/environments that offer optimal tools and support international standards (IMS, SCORM).
21. Develop in cooperation with other universities a virtual learning portal of the Estonian e-University, which would collect all course databases, tutor databases and e-portfolios of all universities.
22. Develop in cooperation with the Estonian e-University a collection of electronic learning objects and principles for its usage (incl. copyright issues).
23. Ensure required exchange of data between different information systems (SIS, course database, e-learning environment, database of learning objects, tutor database) and develop global authentication system (University computer network, e learning environment).
24. Ensure the possibility for storing large video and audio files in a special media server.