In disciplines requiring high technological intensity the success of e-learning can be hampered by a lack of pedagogical support for the intended outcomes. The design of learning activities through mediating tools (MTs) moderates this difficulty, allowing the adaptation of instructional designs so they are pedagogically appropriate to the learning…

Quality Matters™ (QM) is a nationally recognized organization that certifies online courses for effective design, using an evidenced-based set of standards and a structured peer review process. In this paper, the authors demonstrate how academic librarians involved with online courses can adopt Quality Matters to build capacity for designing…

This study developed a decision making process for the selection of rapid e-learning tools that could match different learning domains. With the development of the Internet, the speed of information updates has become faster than ever. E-learning has rapidly become the mainstream for corporate training and academic instruction. In order to reduce…

Higher education institutions are introducing standardised electronic course profiles (ECPs) to advance quality outcomes. Involving both "message" and "medium", they alter traditional practice and interpretations. Critical examination is required of the values, presuppositions and operation of the nascent system. Lacking much…

This article examines the issues and barriers to effective online course design, recent research concerning guidelines for designing effective online courses (Bannan-Ritlan, 2002; Hirumi, 2005; Koszalka & Ganesan, 2004; Northrup, 2001), and research-based instructional design guidelines for course design (Kemp, Morrison, & Ross, 1998). It then…

Discusses self-instructional programs on library use in large academic libraries and recommends including opportunities for face-to-face interaction with subject specialist librarians. Topics include behavioral objectives; experiences at Brigham Young University; the use of Web sites; distance learning; electronic classrooms; and theories of…

Tools to support teachers and learning technologists in the creation of effective learning designs are currently in their infancy. This paper describes a metadata model, devised to assist in the conception and design of new learning activities, that has been developed, used and evaluated over a period of three years. The online tool that embodies…