Developing e-learning content

The Guide provides an overview of the processes and some of the things to consider when developing content for e-learning and describes some useful resources that may assist. This Guide is particularly targeted at those working in the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Developing e-learning content (259 KB) - updated April 2005

Developing e-learing content (431 KB) - updated April 2005

Privacy issues in online teaching and learning

This Quick Guide discusses privacy issues specific to online teaching and learning. It assumes that you are operating in an organisation such as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or under the auspice of a state training authority that is required to have a privacy policy. The guide does not provide legal advice. Rather the intention is to alert you to issues and activities in relation to online teaching and learning which may raise privacy implications and direct you to additional resources.

Privacy issues in online teaching and learning (176 KB) - updated April 2005

Privacy issues in online teaching and learning (196 KB) - updated April 2005

What are the conditions for and characteristics of effective online learning communities?

This guide explores definitions and characteristics of online communities synthesised from the literature, summarises key success factors, and provides references to additional material for those who want to know more. It focuses in particular on online communities as part of teaching and learning, and on 'communities of practice' in vocational education and training (VET).

What are the conditions for and characteristics of effective online learning communities? (228 KB)

What are the conditions for and characteristics of effective online learning communities? (251 KB) - updated April 2005

Approaches to Change Management for Flexible Learning

This Guide looks at current research on change management and describes some of the tools and models that have been developed to assist the management of change toward flexible delivery and use of online technology in vocational education and training in Australia. It focuses particularly on approaches adopted and tools developed within the Australian Flexible Learning Framework and key research conducted within VET.

Download Approaches to Change Management for Flexible Learning (258 KB) - updated April 2005

Download Approaches to Change Management for Flexible Learning (292 KB) - updated April 2005

Australian Statistical Resources to Inform Flexible Learning

The focus of this Quick Guide is the location of quantitative data sources that can provide statistical information about online learning and/or flexible learning within Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Australia. It discusses some of the definitional and organisation issues which make obtaining reliable national statistics on these topics difficult and reports on what statistical sources are available.

Australian Statistical Resources to Inform Flexible Learning (158 KB) - updated April 2005

Australian Statistical Resources to Inform Flexible Learning (191 KB) - updated April 2005

Definition of key terms used in e-learning

This Guide provides definitions and descriptions of some of the key terms relating to online and flexible learning in vocational education and training. It also provides descriptions and annotated links to more comprehensive glossaries of terms, and sources which discuss key terms and concepts in more detail.

Definition of key terms used in e-learning (169 KB) - updated April 2005

Definition of key terms used in e-learning (195 KB) - updated April 2005

Other Guides

Effective Online Facilitation

This Guide looks at effective online facilitation and its importance in online teaching and learning. Specifically it unpacks the various interpretations of 'facilitation', the impact of online mediums on teacher and student roles, facilitation strategies, and emerging models and theories. The focus of this guide is on practical application and strategies associated with the facilitation of student learning.

Effective Online Facilitation (135 KB)

Effective Online Facilitation (364 KB) - updated April 2005

Cross-cultural Issues in Content Development and Teaching Online

The focus of this Guide is the exploration of some of the cross-cultural issues associated with developing content and designing and delivering online courses and support services. Cultural considerations are important in any teaching design. Teaching across cultures (from one place to another, or to different audiences), and the teaching of diverse groups or individuals from different cultures in one setting or dispersed across different geographic locations, presents particular challenges. It includes research and resources on cross cultural issues in relation to Indigenous students.

Cross-cultural Issues in Content Development and Teaching Online (235 KB) - updated April 2005

Cross-cultural Issues in Content Development and Teaching Online (397 KB) - updated April 2005

Globalisation/Internationalisation of Online Content and Teaching

The purpose of this Quick Guide is to explore what is currently known about globalisation and internationalisation in relation to online content and online teaching and to synthesise findings and issues that have particular relevance to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) community within Australia. Cultural aspects on internationalising content and teaching are dealt with in a separate Quick Guide 'Cross-cultural Issues in Content Development and Teaching Online'.

Globalisation/Internationalisation of Online Content and Teaching (217 KB) - updated April 2005

Globalisation/Internationalisation of Online Content and Teaching (367 KB) - updated April 2005

Online Assessment

This Guide looks at the nature of assessment in a changed (and changing) Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) context, and considerations and issues for online teaching. Specifically this guide looks at why the topic of online assessment is important, key research projects that are looking at online assessment in the VET context, current uses of online assessment, issues such as validity, reliability, fairness, and flexibility (including the hot topic of plagiarism), current barriers to the use of online mediums for assessment, and the impact on selection of assessment strategies and assessment management processes.

Online Assessment (241 KB) - updated April 2005

Online Assessment (413 KB) - updated April 2005

Success Factors for Collaborative Development of Content to Support Online Learning

This Guide reviews critical success factors for the collaborative development of content to support online learning. It deals particularly with issues which may arise when the collaboration is between different types of organisations with diverse cultures and expectations, for example an educational institution and a commercial software developer.

Success Factors for Collaborative Development of Content to Support Online Learning (221 KB) - updated April 2005

Success Factors for Collaborative Development of Content to Support Online Learning (370 KB) - updated April 2005

What is Interoperability and Why is it Important?

This Guide describes the various aspects that are part of achieving interoperability in both technology and information systems, illustrated by examples taken from activities in the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, and in particular, projects within the Australian Flexible Learning Framework.

What is Interoperability and Why is it Important? (210 KB) - updated April 2005

What is Interoperability and Why is it Important? (364 KB) - updated April 2005

What is Universal Design and How Can it be Implemented?

This Guide provides an introduction to the principles of Universal Design, identifies the contribution of particular projects within the Australian Flexible Learning Framework to understanding and implementing Universal Design, and lists relevant resources on both the philosophy and practical implementation of Universal Design.

What is Universal Design and How Can it be Implemented? (194 KB) - updated April 2005

What is Universal Design and How Can it be Implemented? (323 KB) - updated April 2005

In addition to the above Quick Guides, you may wish to access:

Flexibility through online learning: At a glance

This publication consolidates findings from a number of research projects undertaken to increase the vocational education and training sector's understanding of the pedagogical, technical and managerial aspects of flexible learning. It specifically focuses on issues related to online learning and delivery. The research was funded by the Research Program under the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. This publication is part of the NCVER "At a glance" series.

Flexibility through online learning: At a glance (649 KB)updated April 2005