FOCUS on technology-supported learning

The Dearing Report of 1997 has raised the profile of the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in learning and teaching. This in turn has led to a demand for staff development on the successful incorporation of ICT in education (Smith and Oliver, 2000). In HE, there have been a number of targeted funding initiatives such as the Computers in Teaching Initiative (CTI) and the current third phase of the Teaching and Learning Technology Programme. This latter programme focuses on embedding learning technologies rather than developing software products.