Development and Delivery of E Learning Materials on Two Different e-Learning Platforms

Abstract

PCF5 Sub-theme: Cross-cutting Themes // The revolutionary development in the field of information technology and communication (ICT) has brought about a fundamental and major shift in the field of education. Conventional education is no longer perceived as the most ideal education system. Distance education, an educational sector which dates long back, is gaining wider recognition, owing to both the flexibility associated to it, and also the growing use of ICT. Distance-learning programmes have become even more popular over the last few years, as the Internet has developed into a reliable channel of tuition. Over the recent years, though we have seen the emergence of many Open Universities, at the same time, there has also been the creation of distance education centres at dual mode institutions. The University of Mauritius (UoM) is one such dual mode institution. UOM started with its first distance education centre in 1993, with an initial task of providing hard copy distance education manuals to support some modules offered in full time and part time programmes at UoM. Later in 2001, a virtual education centre was created to make use of ICT to promote distance education via e-learning platforms. The instructional design pertaining to hard copy manuals and to e-learning platforms differ significantly. While distance educational materials tend to provide the students with detailed information, elearning encourages students to look for additional information. Different e learning platforms provide tutors with different pedagogical frameworks, whose applicability vary from subject to subject. This very aspect of elearning platforms was tested by developing and delivery education materials for a number of engineering modules via two e-learning platforms, Moodle and ILearn. This present study highlights the instructional design approach which has been used in mounting the e learning materials, stressing on the role learning platforms play in the structure of the e learning materials. // Paper ID 738