DEeLTA - Designing & Evaluating e-Learning & Teaching Approaches

http://elisu.gcal.ac.uk/deelta/home.asp

e-Learning is now becoming prevalent in education and training in all sectors, from schools, colleges and universities to public and commercial organisations. Teachers, trainers and programme developers are under increasing pressure to include blended or wholly online e-learning elements in their programmes. However e-learning is still a new approach for the majority of professionals in the education and training sector, which demands new pedagogical approaches and technical skills. To ensure high quality provision, it is essential that e-learning professionals have access to a coherent and integrated training and development framework which will focus on the sequential needs of professional development from beginners who require basic training to experienced practitioners who demand a more reflective learning experience at a Masters level as part of a community of practice.

In Scotland the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) e-Qualifications framework is emerging as a suite of five qualifications in e-learning which builds to an Advanced Diploma in e-Learning. The DEeLTA project ( Development and Evaluation of e-Learning Training Applications) aims to build directly on the SQA framework by building an articulation route to advanced study at masters level. This simple but essential step will ensure integrated professional development in e-learning for the sector from novice to masters level. We believe this will be very attractive to teachers and trainers and will encourage professionals both to seek qualifications and progress to higher levels of study.

Two core modules are about to be launched. ‘Theory and Practice of e-Learning’ will provide an overview of current theories of e-learning and how they can be supported by the use of appropriate technologies. The emphasis will be on the learning experience and the rationale for e-learning and will address challenging pedagogic issues such as the impact on the tutor and learner roles, designing online learning experiences, motivating students and supporting learning communities. ‘Design for Learning with Learning Management Systems’ will focus on the design and delivery of flexible programmes within the increasingly popular learning management systems and will address issues such as engagement, collaboration and activities in these learning environments.

Last Updated: 25 January, 2006
Edited by: Learning Services Web Team