Developing an Interactive Online Learning Environment for Post-Graduate Learning

Abstract

The proposed online learning environment is under development for a post-graduate course by following the educational design research (EDR) approach. The developmental process will progress through three phases: preliminary research, prototyping, and assessment. In the preliminary research phase, needs and context analyses, a review of literature, and the development of a conceptual framework have been accomplished. Three rounds of iteration will be carried out in the prototyping phase. Each round focuses on pedagogical, social and technical designs. Ten topics will be developed and added to each round. Through appraisals of invited experts and formative evaluation from the participants in each cycle, comments and suggestions will be collected and synthesized, and revision decisions will be generated and incorporated into the next prototype. Design principles are to be summarized. In the final assessment phase, students will be using the online learning environment to test its effectiveness. This paper describes the conceptual framework and design ideas for the development of the online learning environment.