The semi-formal benchmarking of TEL practice: Helping the TEL community get its act together

Over the last year, two major sector-wide events were held that have brought together technology enhanced learning (TEL) professionals from across the country to semi-formally benchmark their practices in the use of new and emerging technologies. These events have focused on major trends with technologies such as virtual and augmented reality and the use of the Office O365 suite of tools with a special focus on the use of the Teams application. This paper reports on the findings of these two national Summits hosted and facilitated by Griffith University. The motivating force for these free Summits was to provide an open forum for the sharing of practice across Australian and New Zealand universities. The data gained through the formal evaluations of these activities indicated that the collegial nature of these events has assisted in stimulating an openness and willingness to share examples of good practice seen across the sector. This form of semi-formal benchmarking is both appreciated and highly valued as TEL professionals seek to push in to new territories and provide opportunities for this community to further share their practices.