Project asTTle (Auckland University)

This Project was initially undertaken as a partnership between Auckland University (School of Education) and the Government. The name refers to Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning. During the development of this, information was required to assess how it might be used in the context of an online environment. As a result, various improvements about possible configurations, issues and implementation problems needed to be thought out carefully, in the context of expanding uptake, user experience and related technical issues.

This included planning for multiple scenarios involved in running such a complex tool, across the country. A complete Analysis and Review of currently existing ideas and designs was undertaken with the School of Education, and new ways of carrying out the web-related implementation of this project were subsequently proposed, developed and then implemented.

THIS CASE STUDY OVERVIEW

background

Work undertaken for this Project was carried out on Contract following a successful period working on a number of other Projects in the IT and Web Development space for Private, Corporate and NGO clients, including the Auckland School of Business, the International Consortium for Experiential Learning, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust and others.

Work subsequently undertaken for the School of Education, Auckland University, on Project asTTle took place in 2001 - 2002.

deliverables

Analyse and improve existing Website and IT-related Proposals for asTTle website
INCLUDING: Perform creation, verification and validation of Site Designs and broader IT-related infrastructure needs while analysing costs, risks and effectiveness of the solutions offered.

Propose / Advise / Lead new development requirements
INCLUDING: Providing suitable Development options, supporting information, and advise on future Planning and Development of Architecture and Design activities.

outcome

Successful implementation occurred across all deliverables and the Project was able to grow from that point with a strong foundation towards improved processes to build upon going forward. The Project also placed first in its category at National-level Awards held by Computerworld NZ.

“The development of the asTTle web site started with a meeting with Alan Benton, who immediately provided multiple options, marked improvements to our original ideas, and quickly gave us some samples. He then helped guide us to provide the most effective page, the best downloadable features (to cover possibilities across 3000 NZ schools with various computer configurations), and do all this to meet our future possibilities of locating on three or four sites. In my many years of working with IT people, this experience has been the most pleasurable, the most professional... Alan listens, but with advice, and knows how to make me feel I did it. Thanks."

PROF. JOHN HATTIE
AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY, DIRECTOR OF PROJECT ASTTLE
Winner, "Excellence in use of IT: Education, Tertiary, Community and Commercial", Computerworld Awards 2003

KEY SKILLS USED

Planning/Analysis
30%
Management/Process
20%
ITS/Technical
40%
Other Business Services
10%