Pathfinder

by Derek Morrison, 28 September 2006

The Pathfinder Programme is part of a three year initiative funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Its part of the same initiative which funds the benchmarking of e-learning exercise which completed its pilot phase in August 2006. Most of the institutions that took part in the benchmarking pilot exercise are now taking part in the Pathfinder Programme. So what’s the purpose of the Pathfinder programme?

Before we get to a more detailed description its worth considering what a plain English description of Pathfinder is, e.g.

One that discovers a new course or way, especially through or into unexplored regions.

Or …

Someone who can find paths through unexplored territory (syn: Scout, Guide)

So there in essence we have it; those taking part in the Pathfinder Programme are intended to light the way so that the rest of us have a more comfortable and even safer journey when we begin to navigate the same routes. Now on to some of words about Pathfinder that’s already in the public domain.

The Invitation to Tender for the Pilot Phase of the Pathfinder Programme states the following:

The focus of the Pathfinder Programme is on the design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of transformation processes and activities which are intended to lead, ultimately, to the full and effective embedding of e-learning into the learning and teaching processes of the entire institution, i.e. the aim is long term change and not just short-term innovation.

We are only at the starting gate of the Pathfinder Programme with our startup meeting scheduled for next week in York (3 and 4 September). As happened with the sibling Academy benchmarking weblog this site will grow in importance because it will become the main vehicle for information dissemination and reflection, so do look back frequently