On line Learning Material

The expansion of access to the Internet over the past decade has opened new possibilities for learning and teaching. The term e-learning incorporates all learning and teaching activities carried out by individuals or groups using electronic information and communication technologies in different modes:

1. Individualized self paced learning online 
2. Individualized self paced learning offline 
3. Group-based learning synchronous, i.e. interactions between participants on the Internet or Intranet occur in real time 
4. Group-based learning asynchronous, i.e. interactions between participants on the Internet or Intranet occur with a time delay.

[Commonwealth of Learning, E-Learning Guide Book of Principles, Procedures and Practices, Naidu, S., 2006]

Creating stimulating e-learning environments in which students have a high likelihood of success is a curriculum development activity. As with any course and design process it requires a thorough understanding of the course, the context, the student profile and needs, appropriate learning and teaching methods, and the features of electronic technologies including the www. The selection of available technologies is driven by the course outcomes and the opportunities and constraints within a particular context.

A variety of software packages and tools are commercially available to design every aspect of an e-learning course or programme, e.g. interactive web pages that make it easy for students to navigate the course content, study skills guidance, a facility for students to upload their assignments, tracking student progress, providing personalized feedback to students. Collaboration tools make it possible for students to interact with each other in different ways, e.g. blogs, forums, discussion boards. Some tools for designing e-learning materials are freely available on OER websites.