Exploring Barriers to Innovation in Education

1. Exploring Barriers to
Innovation in
Education
B R I AN M U L L I G AN
H E A D O F O N L I N E L E A R N I N G I N N O VAT I O N
I N S T I T U T E O F T E C H N O L O G Y S L I G O ,
I R E L A N D
May 21st, 2021
bit.ly/brianmulligan

2. Oceans Apart?
• EdTech
• Higher Ed
• Ireland
• English
Language
• All levels
• Costa Rica

3. Quality
Access
Cost

4. Innovation
– a litany of failures!
M O S T O F E D I S O N ’ S L I G H T B U L B S D I D N O T
W O R K !

5. Innovations I have tried
1985
Self paced
learning
Success
1987
Programmed
Learning – Pilot
(Commodore 64)
Fail
1990
Programmed
Learning –
Authoring
systems,
Simulation
Fail
1994
Computerised
Objective Tests
Success
1995
Web access to
learning
Success
1997–2000
Helping
colleagues to
use EdTech
Fail
2001
Learning
Management
Systems (e.g.,
Moodle)
Success
2002
Asynchronous
discussion
distance learning
Fail
2004
Low-cost “live”
online distance
learning model
Success
2006
Remote Lab
Access
Success
2013
Building a
Massive Open
Online Course
(MOOC)
Success
2016
Low-cost MOOC
methodology
??
2018
Work-Based
Degrees
???
2021
Project based
degrees, Self-
study,
Microcredentials,
Peer
Assessment, Etc
????

6. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

7. Some Innovations I admire
Free online
educational
resources (OER?)
Khan Academy
Youtube
The LMS
MOOCS and MOOC
accreditation and
recognition (Georgia
Tech MSc in
computing)
Flipped Learning –
mixed mode learning
– self directed
Peer Assessment
Spaced Practice –
Auto generated
assessments
Online exams (incl
Objective tests)
AI (Adaptive learning
– DuoLingo?)
Lowering the cost -
University of the
People
Southern New
Hampshire University
(10k per year)
Arizona State
University (accept
everyone, adaptive
learning systems)
Project-based degree
– Charles Sturt
University, Australia
Work-based degrees
UK Higher
Apprenticeships
European MOOC
Consortium
Micro-credentials &
Digital Credentials

8. Barriers I have found! • Quality Assurance
• Funding
• Poor technology implementation
• High expectations
• Politics
• Protectionism (e.g. apprenticeship system)
• National Regulations and Funding
• Expectations
Employers, Parents, students
• Professional Associations
• Access to technology
• Ideology
• Communicating new ideas
• Fear of failure (personal /
organisational)
• Persuading colleagues
Time, Hubris, Skills, Tenure
• Representative groups
Academic Committees, Trade Unions
• Management
Risk aversion, workload
• Professional Training
techies, ed research, IDs, QA, AV/Media,
distance educators

9. Breakout discussion:
Introductions (5 minutes)
What do you believe are the barriers? (10)
Any ideas for addressing barriers? (10)
Add your thoughts to the Padlet -
bit.ly/mulligancr01
IMPORTANT – Rate other contributions!
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed
under CC BY-SA-NC

10. Exploring Barriers to
Innovation in
Education
B R I AN M U L L I G AN
H E A D O F O N L I N E L E A R N I N G I N N O VAT I O N
I N S T I T U T E O F T E C H N O L O G Y S L I G O ,
I R E L A N D
May 21st, 2021
bit.ly/brianmulligan
Any Questions?