Otago Polytechnic/Developing a Learning and Teaching Strategy at OP/Learning environment

= Inclusive learning environments =

Strategic Objective Four:
To have inclusive physical and virtual learning environments that stimulate learner engagement

What are our aspirations?

 * Our learning environments are modern, vibrant, creative and welcoming
 * Our learning environments represent the cultural diversity of our learners, staff, schools and programmes
 * Learning resources are accessible to learners from diverse locations and through a variety of mobile devices
 * Our off-campus staff participate seamlessly in on-campus meetings and activities
 * Leading edge technologies seamlessly support learning in both virtual and physical learning environments
 * Our elearning platforms, tools and services support blended delivery, fully online and distance delivery and open educational resources
 * Our learners receive proactive, personalised and individual learning experiences and support
 * All staff recognise and enact their role in proactively supporting learners
 * Social connections are promoted through social spaces both on and off campus
 * Physical classrooms are designed for flexibility and collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning
 * Work places are recognised as learning environments by employers, learners and staff
 * Our learners and staff use online tools, applications and social networks consistently and creatively for public and professional communication
 * Technology is used to create communities of learners across international boundaries and to foster collaboration across multiple time zones, borders and cultures
 * Our virtual campus enables easy access to library resources, courses and programmes, learning support, learner communities, learner personal information and technology support
 * Our learning environments are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable (see SD strategic framework)

What will we do to achieve our aspirations?

 * Involve learners in the design and development of our learning environments
 * Include imagery and language across the physical and virtual learning environs that reflect our diverse learner communities
 * Technology 'works', is continually updated and new technologies are regularly introduced
 * The information technology infrastructure supports increasing blended, online, distance and open models of delivery
 * Videoconferencing is accessible from all staff and classroom computers
 * Ensure equitable access to learning resources and support for all learners (on campus, off campus, distance and fully online)
 * Puna Kawa and other training rooms enable easy communication with multiple off site and on-site users
 * Development a set of good practice principles for space design to guide all redevelopments and refurbishments
 * Utilise 'big data' systems to support proactive, personalised and individual learning experiences and support
 * Extend learner analytics to ensure that strategic decisions are informed by high quality data
 * Stream and record key research presentations, public lectures and seminars and international guests, and edit for re-use as online teaching resources
 * Provide continuing education opportunities for all staff to develop their own cultural competence and apply this in practice to create a safe and inclusive learning environment
 * Enable eSimulation, eAssessment and ePortfolio technologies to support authentic work-based learning
 * Develop digital literacy resources as open educational resources for staff and students
 * Develop an integrated system for learner feedback that feeds results back to learners

How will we know we have been successful?

 * Our learners express that they feel safe at Otago Polytechnic
 * All learners express that they feel connected to Otago Polytechnic
 * The diversity of our learners and staff increases, especially increases in Maori and Pacifica
 * Our off-site staff are fully engaged in on-site activities
 * Our learners access learning anytime and anywhere
 * Our learners express that they feel supported at Otago Polytechnic
 * Otago Polytechnic leads the sector in the AUSSE survey results
 * Social media integrated elearning increases
 * Physical classrooms are flexible, modern, creative, learner-centred and reflective of learner and programme diversity and culture
 * Our eCampus will work seamlessly to meet learner needs