Academic staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning in the UK HEIs

This paper reports on a study on staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that took place in November 2011.Data for this study were gathered via an online survey emailed to the Heads of e-Learning Forum (HeLF) which is a network comprised of one senior member of staff per UK institution leading the enhancement of learning and teaching through the use of technology.Prior to the survey, desk-based research on some universities' publicly available websites gathered similar information about staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning.The online survey received 27 responses, approaching a quarter of all UK HEIs subscribed to the Heads of e-Learning forum list (118 is the total number).Both pre-1992 (16 in number) and post-1992 Universities (11 in number) were represented in the survey and findings indicate the way this sample UK HEIs are approaching staff development in the area of TEL.The survey's main research question was 'what provision do UK HEIs make for academic staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning'.Twelve questions, both closed and openended, were devised in order to gather enough information about how staff development needs in the area of technology enhanced learning are addressed by different UK institutions.Following the justification of the adopted research methodology, the findings from the online survey are analyzed and discussed and conclusions are drawn.