Transforming the student experience at a distance: Designing for collaborative online learning

dc.creator	Lindsay Jordan
dc.date	2009-12-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-08-12T11:30:21Z
dc.date.available	2015-08-12T11:30:21Z
dc.identifier	1750-0044
dc.identifier	1750-0052
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/8276e62396644feb83af6f8d7b8d2a06
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/30960
dc.description	Distance learning programmes allow greater flexibility of learning. They are often necessary for those who wish to enhance their professional development and/or gain higher-level qualifications while simultaneously continuing to work, especially where appropriate courses of study are not offered locally. However, the isolation and lack of feedback experienced by off-campus learners are key factors in the low retention rates common to many programmes. Dependence on freelance, off-campus tutoring staff brings challenges for managing change. While there is no single solution for these problems, the student experience can be significantly improved by weaving the development of an online community into the fabric of the course of study and addressing challenges such as the relevance of curricula (including assessment and feedback procedures) through the use of appropriate technologies.This article describes the redevelopment of a series of distance learning modules through the application of established educational principles. It explains the need for and approach to change and documents how learning technologies have been applied to combat student and tutor isolation, improve the quality, quantity and variety of feedback sources and increase student engagement with feedback.The lessons learned throughout this redevelopment project will be of interest for educators developing or redeveloping online blended or distance learning programmes, particularly in Engineering and/or Built Environment subject areas.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	The Higher Education Academy
dc.relation	http://www.engsc.ac.uk/journal/index.php/ee/article/view/134/172
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1750-0044
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1750-0052
dc.rights	CC BY-NC-ND
dc.source	Engineering Education, Vol 4, Iss 2, Pp 25-36 (2009)
dc.subject	online blended learning
dc.subject	distance learning
dc.subject	learning technology
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	DOAJ:General and Civil Engineering
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	DOAJ:General and Civil Engineering
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
dc.subject	TA1-2040
dc.subject	Technology
dc.subject	T
dc.title	Transforming the student experience at a distance: Designing for collaborative online learning
dc.type	article