I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and assistance of many people who made the Learning in Networks of Knowledge project possible. Firstly, my thanks to Robyn Quin, DVC Education at Curtin University for sage advice on the original proposal. Second, my deepest thanks to all of my colleagues in the Department of Internet Studies at Curtin University. Michael Kent, Tama Leaver, Helen Merrick, Michele Willson and Elaine Tay: this project would not have been possible without your willingness to participate and wisdom. I would also like to thank Michael Kent, Ted Mitew, and Elaine Tay would provided research assistance and project support. Staff at the ALTC, especially Michael Algar and Siobhan Lenihan, played a crucial role in supporting and managing the project as did ALTC Fellows Ron Oliver and Peter Goodyear. Assistance was also provided by dozens of people working in university teaching and learning centres in arranging visits and workshops. To all these people, my gratitude.
Of course, more generally, I must acknowledge the incredibly talented people who create the applications which are the main focus of this site, as well as the many researchers, thinkers and teachers from whom I have learned so much about online learning over the years.
The Australian Learning and Teaching Council deserves special mention. The ALTC was a wonderful, innovative institution in Australia, picking up on the efforts of earlier bodies such as CUTSD and CAUT, to give proper formal focus to the paramount significance of learning and teaching in Australian higher education. Support for this Fellowship has been provided by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council Ltd.
I also specifically do NOT acknowledge the federal government of Australia which has recently decided to axe the ALTC – not to save money (because the money will still be spent) but because, as far as I can tell, the ALTC poses a threat to the formalistic, standards-based monitoring which the government will introduce via TEQSA. A shame.
