Building a culture of learning design: Reconsidering the place of online learning in the tertiary curriculum

Recent reviews of online learning (QUT, 2003; ATN, 2004) at Queensland University of Technology have found that the affordances of existing learning and teaching technologies are not being exploited by the mainstream culture of the university. These reviews have lead to a reconsideration of online learning and teaching frameworks, tools and resources that are used to support academics develop curriculum and design learning environments. This paper describes a Learning Design Framework and an associated Learning Design Evaluation Tool to support curriculum design and the integration of online learning at Queensland University of Technology. The framework has been designed to encourage a more holistic approach to integrating online learning in the curriculum with the intention of refocussing the designed use of online learning environments away from information delivery and toward the engagement of learners in active and interactive learning. It is hoped that this framework and evaluation tool in conjunction with a number of other initiatives will build a culture of learning design across the academic community of the university.