Staff development for flexible learning

Flexible learning has been embraced by higher education for a number of reasons. However, universities' adoption of flexible approaches, particularly those incorporating information technologies has not been unproblematic. While flexible learning promises many advantages for the institution and students, it has received a mixed and often negative reaction from academics. Even in institutions with a tradition of distance education provision the introduction of flexible approaches to learning that incorporate new technologies have not been unproblematic. This paper describes a university-wide programme of academic staff development which sought to familiarize staff with technologies and the appropriate use of technologies in teaching and to support them as they adjusted to changing roles and practices in the shift to flexible teaching and learning. The programme combined multiple approaches to address the needs of new and experienced staff, and to provide training and support in technical dimensions of teaching along with technologies and pedagogical considerations.