The most common difficulty is in balancing operational issues and a need to use existing structures, against particular needs of learners. The sorts of operational pressures often encountered include: - Competing budgetary constraints. Often developmental initiatives compete with other 'special' projects in an environment of reduced and uncertain funding. - Organisation wide change. Significant as spread of elearning is, it still must integrate with other organisational change issues such as restructuring and internationalisation of education. - Institution-wide IT systems. Often, existing IT systems were originally designed to support administration of organisations, rather than provision of training. Where delivery software is purchased, decision is often based on cost and ease of integration within existing systems. - The development of courses has traditionally been seen as one part of job of lecturers rainers. 'Getting a course going' was something that educators did as part of their wider delivery role. It sometimes demanded additional resourcing, which was negotiated as part of annual workload. As such, it was a cost to be minimised. - Time pressure. Pre-determined course start dates often dictate small development timeframes.

1. Select delivery tool. Relevant factors here are: - The existence of legacy systems such as generic online delivery tools - The 'best fit' for existing course resources, with a focus on minimising adaption process. For example, online availability of PDF documents generated from presentation materials. - Lowest implementation cost. - Minimising need for staff training or upskilling in order to implement delivery.

2. 'Path of least resistance' development. Collate existing resources (usually print) and adapt for online/distance delivery.

3. Supplement core. Provide communication, support or learner feedback to extent permitted by timeframes and budgetary constraints.

Tough Times Never Last But Tough People Do

(Overcoming Obstacles, Adversities And Discouragement)

By Rick Gettle © 2003

How would you like to see a permanent end to all of your problems?

We all have problems – and our problems only end - when we do. The only people without problems are in cemetery. I’d like to stick around – problems and all. How about you?

No matter what problems we have to face today, there is a solution, because we have nothing to deal with but our own thoughts. As long as we think that our destiny is in hands of other people, situation is hopeless. We need to confront our problems with courage, boldness and action.

There’s an old Chinese saying that goes, “If you live with a problem long enough, it could eventually become a blessing.” Within every adversity in life, there is always a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. We have to look for it - find it - and act on it.

We learn courage - when we face danger. We learn patience - when we endure suffering. We learn tenderness - when we taste pain. We learn to prize true friends – when false ones forsake us. We treasure health - when illness strikes. We learn to prize freedom - when we are in danger of losing it. Without trouble we would be like plants that have sprouted, grown, and been nurtured in overprotected shelter of a hothouse -- too tender ever to live in open.

How can we possibly become a strong person, if we have an easy life? The tougher it is, tougher we have a chance to become – if we choose to fight back. Tough times never last – but tough people do.