The role of eLA was integral to the project’s success. This role involved:

• Contributing to the development and delivery of a SPDP aimed at changing the eLearning culture in their Faculty / School in consultation with EDC staff;
• Supporting other eLAs and teaching staff in their Faculty / School in developing and extending their use of blended and eLearning approaches in their teaching;
• Contributing their knowledge, skills and experience to the achievement of the key project deliverables, including contributing to the development of the eLM resource and the associated LDTs;
• Assisting in raising awareness of the project activities and outcomes;
• Promoting successful sharing and re-use of resources related to the project.
• Collaborating (both formally and informally) with other eLAs;
• Participating in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Annual Award, the eLearning Showcase and the Teaching and Learning Innovation Symposium;
• Working with invited international consultants as part of their role as eLAs.
• Contributing to the Needs Analysis and evaluation of the project.

Appointments to the eLA role were made by Deans of Faculties and Directors of Schools in February 2009, with the first meeting of the eLAs held in March. The eLAs attended 15 meetings from March 2009 to June 2010. The success of this initiative as a means of building a community of practice around blended learning is in part indicated by the agreement that the eLA role be continued beyond the life of the project and the University has now established a “Blended Learning Advisory Committee”.

Dr. Chi-kin Chan Associate Professor AMA Dr. Jimmy Lam Lecturer ITC Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles	Dr. Patrick Leung Assistant Professor AF Prof. Eric Ngai Professor MM Faculty of Business
Dr. Barbara Leung Lecturer BRE Dr. Baki Iz Associate Professor LSGI Faculty of Construction and Land Use	Dr. Vincent Ng Associate Professor COMP Prof. Eric Tsui Professor ISE Faculty of Engineering
Dr. Pauline Cho Associate Professor SO Dr. Stephanie Au-Yeung Assistant Professor RS Faculty of Health and Social Science	Dr. Xiaoheng Zhang Assistant Professor CBS Mr. Andrew Morrall Senior Lecturer ELC Faculty of Humanities
Mr. Wilson Yuen Lecturer SD School of Design	Mr. Murray MacKenzie Education Specialist SHTM Mr. Paul Penfold Education Specialist SHTM School of Hotel & Tourism Management
Mr. David Chiu Acting Associate Director ITS Information Technology Services Office	Ms. Christina Chau Section Head/e-Learning Librarian (Special Collections) LIB Pao Yue-kong Library

Specific input from invited eLearning experts (the invited eLearning speakers) and the opportunity to disseminate their approach and findings suitable to their context to a wider audience (through the symposium) is also seen to be beneficial to enhancing the eLearning culture at PolyU. eLearning Advocates will also be supported and encouraged to disseminate their work to as wide an audience as possible thorough publication and presentation.

At present many staff have expressed interest in this projectand eLearning at PolyU. In conjunction with the project launch, all Faculty Deans and School Directors have nominated the above eLearning Advocates. (2 eLearning Advocates from each Faculty and 1 from each school. A total of 14 staff).

NOTE - the role comes with compensation of $12,000 HKD that each advocate can use towards their own professional development.