Key Themes

The NLII organized its work around key themes chosen annually from the larger domain of the transformation of teaching and learning with technology. The NLII began plotting this domain space visually in a series of concept maps to gain higher-level views of the relationships between themes. Working with the NLII Planning Committee, the NLII identified emerging themes, tracked their development, and prioritized work for each year on selected themes.

Key themes changed as they matured into the mainstream and new ones were identified. The NLII model used a framework for action that organized the key themes according to the interrelationships and interdependencies among the forces affecting behavior associated with the role of technology in transforming teaching and learning. The framework represeneds the complex interplay of agents, technologies, roles, communities, and principles, reflecting the sociotechnological context of decision-making on today's campus.

In the NLII's Framework for Action model, faculty, students, administrators, staff and campus leaders are the agents of change in their respective roles as learners, educators, and instructional technologists, and they must participate appropriately in decision-making. Tools and technologies are the instruments the agents have available to enable change in their realm of influence. Course management systems, learning objects, e-portfolios, and the READY system are examples of such tools and technologies. Principles, plans and policies give faculty, students, and staff a common framework within which to organize their own learning and practice - and can be used to align these activities around institutional teaching and learning goals. Transformative assessment, learner-centered principles and specification/standards are examples of such frameworks.

As much as the Internet and computer networking can enable the transformation of teaching and learning, human networks and organizations - particularly markets and communities of practice - are where agents for change must work to bring about the transformation. For more on the NLII's Key Themes and Framework for Action model, see the NLII 2003 Annual Review [PDF* 678KB], "Overview" article, p. 1-4.

Below are the various Key Themes that have been in play over the past few years as well as the key themes that are emerging this year. The reports on the key themes and the various workshops and focus sessions that researched the topics can be found at Educause Learning Initiative home site search: Key Themes

Principles, Plans & Policies

• Learner-Centered Principles, Design & Practice
• Mapping the Learning Space
• Learning Materials and Software Specification/Standards Development Projects
• Policy Issues
• Strategic Planning & Alignment
• Systemic Progress
• Transformative Assessment

Tools and Technologies

• Electronic Portfolios
• Learning Objects
• READY System (Readiness)
• Community-oriented Software

Communities

• Virtual Communities Of Practice/Community-oriented Software (NLII Key Theme)
• Markets: Learning Materials, Software and Services

Emerging Themes

The following are themes emerging for exploration during 2004, and NLII members will have an opportunity at the Annual Meeting to help set the research agenda for these topics, and may also propose presentations in these areas:

• Bridging Teaching and Learning Research and Practice

More information is available regarding this Key Theme in the Link to the left - since both the Spring and Summer Focus sessions were built around this theme, as was the Bridging Community of Practice


• Knowledge and Learning Management Systems
• New Learning Ecosystems
• Games, Simulations & Learning
• Learning Space Design
• Mobile Learning
• New Learners/New Roles
• New Academy

2000-2002 KEY THEMES

• Faculty Engagement
• Partnering in the Learning Marketspace