Externally Hosted Web Services Project: Rationale
Some teachers within the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), and in other areas of the ANU, are already innovating their educational practice by using such 'Web 2.0' services (e.g., wikis, blogs, online social networks) as part of their course delivery. In the spirit of CASS's Strategic Planning and KPIs in Education document (dated 3 December 2008), which states that "CASS is committed to innovative modes of education", such innovation needs to be encouraged. It should also be noted that the ANU encourages innovative approaches to education and expects Colleges to commit to the implementation of innovative practices at the course and program level (Cram and Stanton 2007).
It is inevitable that teachers and students will want to use externally hosted web services in their courses, and given the speed at which online technologies are being taken up by both various staff and student populations, it is incumbent on the University to get across as many of the issues (as outlined in our areas of coverage) as possible. As previously noted, some teachers are already using external sites in their courses and it is imperative that we find ways to keep the ANU safe online. We have a responsibility to reduce the risk associated with using such online services, at the same time that we have a responsibility, as indicated by Cram and Stanton (2007: 5), above, to provide the best in innovative education for our students and staff.