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I think our charge should be to ask:
What are the barriers to success at each tier, and what should be done
at the Institute level --- as regards organization, policy, and
enabling technologies --- to overcome these barriers?
FIRST TIER: Infrastructure. Typical issues at this level are: bandwidth;
platforms; software (e.g., necessary html enhancements, new viewers
[haptic,...], enabling tools,...); connectivity and compatibility
(e.g., between platforms, between types of institutions,...);...
SECOND TIER: Content. Typical issues here are: conversion of existing
material; acquisition, copyright, security, and compensation; ownership,
version, and privilege frameworks; quality control; course--development
release time for faculty; partner relationships with publishers;...
THIRD TIER. Education Mechanisms/Paradigms. Typical issues here might
be: new methods of content delivery; navigation concepts; techniques to
promote student engagement; new paradigms for interaction (e.g.,
annotations, anonymous discussion groups, text--embedded OLTA and FAQ,
electronic design ateliers, collaborative textbooks...); assessment
strategies;...
FOURTH TIER. Market/Product/Mission. Typical issues here are: definition
of our clients; continuing education; remote education opportunities;
joint ventures with other universities; new degrees; product
differentiation;...
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The above are (obviously) only intended as points of departure, and the
lists are very abbreviated. Adhered to too religiously, this structure
would probably prove more confining than englightening, but as a point
of reference it may be useful...
Tony