013710 e-Learning Research and Development Project

In this subject, small groups of students collaborate to develop and research an e-learning environment, using and extending the knowledge they have developed in preceding subjects in their course. Small teams are formed, under the primary supervision of a member of the Faculty of Education, and work to delineate individual responsibilities for the purposes of project development and research and subject assessment. There may be some limited opportunities for team members to take up internships in industry if relevant positions become available at an appropriate time. Students in employment or involved in community projects are encouraged to use the opportunity of this subject as a test-bed. As well as producing an artefact in the form of an e-learning environment, students become familiar with key approaches to the embryonic field of researching e-learning. Alongside their development project, they conduct and report a small empirical study, for example, piloting, comparing and contrasting a set of possible development pathways or trialling their project so as to examine the learning that results from it. They learn how to argue a case for their inquiry, justify its methodology and report their findings and implications. Students negotiate the form of reporting of their e-learning research and development project with their subject lecturer. However, it is intended that through this study and its reporting, students develop their appreciation of the role of e-learning research and development in the generation of educational knowledge.