Aligning a futures oriented higher education context with an institutional learning and teaching agenda

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a practical view of expected benefits and challenges when incorporating Web 2.0 technologies in a futures oriented higher education context. After first exploring which factors influence a shift in thinking about learning and teaching in a futures context this paper will then addresses the important role of an integrated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and the pedagogical applications of Web 2.0 technologies. It subsequently uses a series of case studies from the University of Southern Queensland, a large distance education provider in Australia, to support these propositions. Overall, this paper suggests that the goals and ideals of Web 2.0 and a futures approach to pedagogy can be achieved, or at least stimulated and/or mediated, through an institutions’ virtual environment/s, as long as these environments are aligned with such ideals.