Title: From crisis to creativity: undergraduates craft their own online learning modules

Authors: Marcus Birkenkrahe, Matthias Mundt

Addresses: Department of Economics, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Berlin D-10825, Germany. ' Department of Economics, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Berlin D-10825, Germany

Abstract: We investigate the creation of online teaching material by a large, highly heterogeneous group of undergraduate students using an open source learning management system as a case study carried out two consecutive semesters teaching a business information systems course. We identify and discuss the conditions under which students create valuable online learning modules and discuss how our approach to blended learning relates to contemporary didactic approaches such as learning through teaching and constructivist/cognitive approaches. The discussion places the learning management results in the context of current debates on diversity in the classroom, in particular with respect to gender mainstreaming.

Keywords: learning management systems; LMS; ILIAS; open source; constructivism; learning through teaching; creativity; coaching; e-learning; diversity; electronic learning; online learning; teaching material; business information systems; higher education; undergraduate students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2009.030106

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.96 - 119

Published online: 10 Dec 2009 *

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