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Education 2.0 - more than just e-learning
Smart buildings and tech-savvy teachers boost learning

By Steve Ranger

Published: Thursday 13 July 2006

Universities and colleges are looking at how technology can improve their teaching and bring their content to wider audiences.

And it's not just about sitting students in front of PCs to type up their essays either.

It's a broader issue exploring how technology can change the way teaching is done, how learning can be extended beyond the college gates and whether new buildings can have technology embedded in them to create a better learning environment.

Speaking at a Cisco-sponsored round table, Rowland Foote, principal of Bournemouth College, said: "Our oldest building was built in 1865. We do need a 21st century infrastructure rather than the 19th century weight around our necks. It should be routine that we are making these investments because China is."

One example of a tech-enabled learning centre is at Glasgow Caledonian University, which has recently opened the 1,800-seat Saltire Centre, featuring RFID-tagged books, VoIP phones and wireless throughout. It also includes a 600-seat learning café, 500 computers and 150 laptops to borrow.

Les Watson, the university's pro vice chancellor of learning and information services, said: "We've spent a long time thinking about learning and e-learning but it's the same thing. It's about technology-enhanced learning rather than e-learning."

Lewisham College has developed an 'E-kitchen' which allows students - including the students at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant - to watch broadcasts of lessons and masterclasses. But the use of such technologies doesn't need to remain within the walls of the college.

Bournemouth's Foote predicts that within a couple of years internet users could - for a fee - be downloading snippets of what his catering students learn in the classroom.

He said: "We are just learning to capture that and build it up and develop it. If you have a masterclass of 10 dishes why not buy it at home? With broadband you will be able to get a fantastic view of what the chefs are doing, and if you want to know how to do the lesson you just pay your money."