Challenges of Web-Based Learning Environments: Are We Student-Centred Enuf?

The last decade has seen a phenomenal growth in the use of the Web in university education, with various factors influencing the adoption of Web-based technology. The reduction of government funding in the higher education sector has forced universities to seek technological solutions to provide courses for a growing and increasingly diverse and distributed student population [13,14]. Another impetus has been a shift in focus from teacher-centred to learner-centred education, encouraging educators to provide courses which enable students to manage their own learning [6]. In this paper we discuss challenges associated with the design and provision of Web-based learning environments that are truly student-centred. We draw on interview and questionnaire data from an evaluation study to raise issues surrounding the provision of online environments that meet learners' needs. We discuss the challenges of catering for the needs of different learners and the challenges associated with helping students to make the transition into new online learning environments.

[1]  Christian Wolf,et al.  iWeaver: Towards 'Learning Style'-based e-Learning in Computer Science Education , 2003, ACE.

[2]  Elizabeth Downs,et al.  So You Want to Develop Web-based Instruction - Points to Ponder , 1998 .

[3]  Azza A. Arif.  Learning from the Web: Are Students Ready or Not? , 2001, J. Educ. Technol. Soc..

[4]  Angela F. L. Wong,et al.  Computer anxiety and its correlates : a meta-analysis , 1999 .

[5]  Lih-Ching Chen Wang,et al.  Effects of Learner Control and Hypermedia Preference on Cyber-students Performance in a Web-Based Learning Environment , 2002 .

[6]  Julianne Lynch,et al.  Academics' Concerns about "The Push for Flexible Delivery.". , 2001 .

[7]  P. MacIntyre,et al.  Motivational Influences on Computer-Related Affective States. , 1999 .

[8]  Albert L. Ingram.  Using Web Server Logs in Evaluating Instructional Web Sites , 1999 .

[9]  Gerlese S. Åkerlind,et al.  Enhancing Self‐Directed Learning through Educational Technology: When Students Resist the Change , 1999 .

[10]  Betty A. Collis,et al.  New didactics for university instruction: why and how? , 1998, Comput. Educ..

[11]  Fred D. Davis.  User Acceptance of Information Technology: System Characteristics, User Perceptions and Behavioral Impacts , 1993, Int. J. Man Mach. Stud..

[12]  Allison Peraya,et al.  Creating web-integrated learning environments: An analysis of WebCT authoring tools in respect to usability , 2000 .

[13]  Chris Lund,et al.  Barriers to studying online for the first time: Students' perceptions , 1998 .

[14]  Stephen W. Harmon,et al.  The Five Levels of Web Use in Education: Factors To Consider in Planning Online Courses. , 1999 .

[15]  Paul Brna,et al.  Fostering cartoon-style creativity with sensitive agent support in tomorrow's classroom , 2001, J. Educ. Technol. Soc..

[16]  Allison W. Harrison,et al.  An Examination of the Factor Structures and Concurrent Validities for the Computer Attitude Scale, the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Computer Self-Efficacy Scale , 1992 .