Benefits of e-Learning Benchmarks: Australian Case Studies

Sarojni Choy
Queensland University of Technology, Australia

The last decade has seen a significant expansion in e-learning technologies for enhanced access to education and training in Australia. Until 2005, no consistent sets of data were collected to assess the level of uptake and outcomes of e-learning in the VET sector. The Australian Flexible Learning Framework developed a set of twelve indicators to benchmark the uptake, use and impact of e-learning in the VET sector. These indicators were the first known set for benchmarking e-learning in Australia. Data against these indicators were used by individual VET institutions to assess the benefits of e-learning using the benchmarks at the organisational level, within their own contexts. A national dataset against the benchmark indicators was populated during 2005 and continues to expand. This database forms a baseline that illustrates trends in the uptake and impact of e-learning and the use of e-business services.

The case studies in this paper illustrate ways in which Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers have approached e-learning benchmarking in their organisations, the benefits achieved and the lessons that they learned. The cases exemplify how VET providers have adapted the baseline indicators on the uptake, use and impact of e-learning. Data relating to the indicators informed organisational plans and e-learning outcomes for each case study. The benefits of benchmarking are reported in terms reporting, performance management, and service improvement. The paper presents a set of practical strategies derived from the cases. These strategies could be considered by other organisations interested in benchmarking e-learning services.

Keywords: e-learning indicators, e-learning uptake and outcomes, benchmarks, planning for e-learning benchmarking, case studies

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