Context

This project aims to incorporate 3 concurrent major foci;
 * FOCUS;**
 * 1) ** C ** OLLABORATE – One proven way within the PolyU context of initiating change is to utilise internationally renowned experts / consultants to //collaborate// with PolyU staff. Within this project these experts will collaborate within departments, with the Faculty eLearning Advocates (refer below) and with the wider PolyU community through various professional development activities as well as through dissemination events (such as a Symposium). This approach will thus ensure the impact, weight and essential engagement with staff associated with the project. Also using an approach such as Learning Design which synthesises many existing and historical PolyU initiatives to enhance student learning will also provide opportunities to collaborate in the development of resources suitable to the PolyU context.
 * 2) ** C ** OMMUNITY – central here to the project is the intent to engage with //many// people and a growing //community// of staff who are interested in enhancing their existing Blended Learning or eLearning practices. The establishment of Faculty eLearning Advocates will be used as key initiators of change contextual to PolyU. They will have the opportunity to receive professional development and mentoring as well as resources designed to support them in timely and pedagogically effective ways for implementing Blended Learning / eLearning. Suggested is a change to existing practice __initiated by staff__ rather than developed for them.
 * 3) ** C ** ONTEXT – Many large scale initiatives are not sustained in the long term because when theory meets practice they do not acknowledge the context and mechanisms for support required. What is needed is the grounding of abstract theory of integrating / enhancing eLearning within specific pragmatic support for staff. Developed will be two specific resources to assist staff in timely and pedagogically effective ways for implementing Blended Learning. These resources will incorporate input from the Faculty eLearning Advocates and eLearning Experts.