NBN BEST Network Partners Projects Guide 12th February 2013 Version 1 Diane Vukelic NBN BEST Network Project Manager Contents Document Purpose... 2 About the BEST Network Project... 2 Partner Projects... 3 About the EOI Process... 4 Criteria and Requirements... 4 BEST Network Support and Resources... 6 Request for EOIs... 6 Project Management of Partner Projects... 6 Timeline... 6 Information required for EOI... 6
2 Document Purpose This document provides BEST Network partners with the information required to prepare and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for BEST Network Partner Projects. The details associated with the EOI process, evaluation of EOIs and management of the resulting Partner Projects are also included in this document. NBN BEST Network partners are invited to submit EOIs, outlining any project they would like to develop with NBN BEST Network resources. This applies only to NBN BEST Network Partners; University of Queensland, University of Melbourne, James Cook University and University of New South Wales. This document has been developed by the BEST Network Project team, with input from the BEST Network Content Committee and key stakeholders. The document will be updated by the BEST Network project team to reflect feedback and changes to timing, policy and procedures. About the BEST Network Project The Biomedical, Education, Skills and Training (BEST) Network is an NBN-funded community of leading universities, biomedical industry bodies and educational technology provider, Smart Sparrow. The BEST Network has $3.3M in NBN funds to develop a shared suite of web-based simulation tools and medical education resources, including a repository of medical images, using Smart Sparrow technology. A portion of the NBN BEST Network funds have been allocated to the development of NBN BEST Network Partner Projects. Partner Projects will provide BEST Network partners with the opportunity to develop their own state-of-the-art online education resources. The NBN BEST Network project has 3 main areas of activity, as illustrated below: 1. the BEST Network trials 2. Australian Medical Image Bank (AMIB) and 3. BEST Network Partner Projects
3 The BEST Network project is committed to meeting a set of key deliverables. These deliverables are associated with the BEST Network trials and the AMIB. The trials and their content are defined in the BEST Network Implementation Plan and must be delivered as per these definitions. We are also obliged to fulfil governance and reporting requirements as part of these activities. Partner Projects Beyond the scope of the trials and AMIB, there are resources available for a range of BEST Network activities. These activities will take the form of Partner Projects, developed at the BEST Network s partner universities. Partner Projects will focus on the development of new Adaptive Tutorials and repurposing of existing Adaptive Tutorials on the Adaptive elearning Platform. These projects represent an opportunity for academics and other relevant staff members to develop state-of-the-art elearning resources for use with their students and students in biomedical education across Australia. The BEST Network partners are encouraged to nominate potential Partner Projects. Projects that require resources from either the BEST Network, or Smart Sparrow, must be reviewed
4 and endorsed by the BEST Network Management Committee. Academics or relevant staff members seeking the BEST Network Management Committee s endorsement should submit an EOI to the BEST Network. All resources developed as part of BEST Network Partner Projects will be contributed to the NBN BEST Network pool of resources. These include: The development of new content on the Smart Sparrow Adaptive elearning Platform. Content devised and created using the Australian Medical Image Bank. Leveraging and extending content developed in the BEST Network trials. Leveraging and extending pre-existing content on the Adaptive elearning Platform. About the EOI Process The use of an EOI process is considered to be a suitable option to allocate NBN BEST Network resources. EOIs provide the BEST Network Management Committee with a mechanism for ensuring the projects of the most value and relevance to the NBN BEST Network receive resources. EOIs for Partner Projects will be assessed against a set of criteria, outlined below, which reflect the goals and objectives of the NBN BEST Network Project. EOIs are invited from BEST Network partners only. It is expected that there will be more than one round of EOIs for Partner Projects, with the first beginning in March 2013. EOIs will be submitted to the BEST Network Content Committee for review. The BEST Network Content Committee will consult as needed with the BEST Network Technical Committee, subject matter experts and any other relevant parties. The BEST Network Content Committee will then recommend EOIs to the BEST Network Management Committee, who will select Partner Projects for approval to receive BEST Network resources. Criteria and Requirements The Partner Projects evaluation criteria and general requirements were determined by the BEST Network Content Committee, the project team and key stakeholders. The evaluation criteria were developed to align with the BEST Network principles of content; promote learning by doing, be intelligent and adaptive and empower the teacher (see below).
5 To be endorsed by the BEST Network Management Committee, project proposals should satisfy the following criteria. Essential criteria: 1. The project is relevant to the BEST Network s objective of producing high quality elearning resources for biomedical education in high schools, TAFEs, universities and for professional development. 2. The project contributes to the balance and breadth of subject areas, formats and complexity of content available in the BEST Network, by taking advantage of the Adaptive elearning Platform as an alternative delivery of teaching resources or by contributing to the AMIB. 3. The project is carefully considered, particularly with regard to the use of BEST Network and Smart Sparrow resources. For example, the project should be feasible within the timeframe and key people should be available to commit to meet this timeframe. 4. The project can demonstrate its relevance against one or more course curriculums undertaken by the targeted user group with potential for wide-spread adoption. Priority Projects: 1. Projects developing virtual simulations, for example virtual labs or virtual patients. 2. Projects that contribute to the development of the AMIB. 3. While the project can target any of the six 6 user groups, including university students, year 12 high school students and rural students Australia wide, projects developing resources for University education will be given priority
6 Though Partner Projects are primarily targeted at academics developing online biomedical education resources, a range of Partner Projects will be considered including: 1. Concentrated training/workshops for teaching groups. 2. Conferences surrounding the use of the BEST Network resources in biomedical education. 3. Research or reviews of the use of the BEST Network resources in biomedical education. BEST Network Support and Resources Partner Projects approved by the NBN BEST Network Management Committee will receive a range of BEST Network support and resources. This will include scheduling of activities with Smart Sparrow and general management of the project timeline. Participants will also receive training as required. The BEST Network Management Committee will determine the resources each approved project will receive. The BEST Network welcomes any enquiries prior to submitting an EOI about possible Partner Projects, especially with regard to the technical feasibility or relevancy of a project. Request for EOIs The BEST Network will call for EOIs from the 5 th March 2013. Once EOIs are submitted to the BEST Network, they will be evaluated by the BEST Network Content Committee and select projects to recommend to the BEST Network Management Committee. Projects approved as BEST Network Partner Projects will be notified 1 month after submission. Project Management of Partner Projects It is essential for the success of a project to have a clearly identified timeline with milestones and allocated tasks. Successful risk management planning requires identifying risks, then planning appropriate and effective action to avoid or control these risks during the project. Successful projects will have a plan of action developed to manage project risks. Timeline February 15th 2013 (Friday) March 1st 2013 (Friday) March 8th 2013 (Friday): March 11th 2013 (Monday): March 26 th 2013 (Tuesday): April 2 nd 2013 (Tuesday): April 10 2013 (Wednesday): April 15 th 2013 (Monday): Distribute discussion document on Partner Projects. Finalise discussion document on Partner Projects and distribute to Management Committee for approval. Deadline for feedback from Management Committee. Request for EOI for Partner Projects opens. Submission of EOIs for Partner Projects close. Review of EOI submissions by Content Committee. Review of EOI submissions to Management Committee. Advise applicants of results of EOI submission.
7 Information required for EOI EOIs should contain the following information (see EOI form attached): Partner Project Name: Project Description: Provide a basic description of the project and project deliverables. Project Deliverables: Identify key project deliverables User Group: Identify the project s target user group/s. This can be for students in university, TAFE, high school or for professional development. Subject area: Identify the project subject area. If the project covers more than one subject area, identify all possible areas. Estimated timeline: Outline a brief project timeline, identifying estimated dates for key project deliverables. Finish Date: Please clearly indicate the desired finish date for your project and specify if project resources are required for a particular teaching date, start of semester, etc. Project Sponsor: Identify the project sponsor and provide relevant contact details. Key Participants: Nominate key project participants and outline their qualifications/contribution to the project. Project Outcomes: Identify the key outcomes of using the Adaptive elearning Platform as an alternative delivery of teaching resources and the educational outcomes the project will achieve. Future Use: Please indicate how this content can be modified to be suitable for less or more advanced students or for other user groups. Risk Management: Successful projects will identify project risks and have developed appropriate risk management strategies.