Learning with the web: Experience of using the World Wide Web in a learning environment

Abstract While the potential of the World Wide Web is still being realised for direct teaching purposes it remains a resource that cannot be ignored, especially in the field of computing and communications. This paper reports an experiment in learning that has been carried out at the University of Wolverhampton using the Web as a teaching resource. The findings of this study are that using the Web has (a) allowed students better access to information which is more up-to-date than is possible in a traditional university library; (b) given students a greater input into their own learning process making the process more pro-active and (c) allowed a more individual approach to assessment and learning than is traditionally possible. Whilst the students may be considered a special case, since they are learning about computer communications, the experiment shows that use of this resource is a worthwhile addition to any class of students in the wider field of computing, science and engineering. The paper also contains some guidelines for teachers wishing to use this resource in a learning environment in this, and other, subject areas.