Title: Issues and innovations in very large scale online distance learning: a case study

Authors: Gary R. Alexander

Addresses: Electronic Media in Education Research Group, Technology, Faculty, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

Abstract: A new online course catering for 900 students in its pilot year and about 13,000 in its full presentation is described. It covered the beginning use of computing, collaborative work online, finding information on the web, creating web pages, and skills of learning to learn. Issues discussed are the best learning approach to use, ways of coping with the wide variety of student backgrounds, experience and software, and the nature of the online environment needed.

Keywords: distance learning; online learning; large scale; teaching on the web; computer conferences; collaborative learning; generic teaching.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2000.000377

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2000 Vol.10 No.1/2/3/4, pp.362-375

Published online: 16 Jul 2003 *

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