Online teaching and learning in higher education: a case study [EIP 03/11]

This study involved an investigation of the practice of online teaching and learning in the Faculty of Education at the University of Southern Queensland.  The purposes of the study were to assess the applicability of online education for higher education institutions, to document the issues with which teachers have to come to terms in the online environment, and to determine whether there might be a ‘pedagogical framework’ that is unique for online education in higher education. The study drew upon quantitative statistics concerning the number and types of interactions that staff and students have with the online platform as well as qualitative data designed to elaborate upon those interactions. 

The report presents the findings with regards to:

• major issues and dilemmas in online education;
• quantitative analysis of “blackboard” course statistics;
• teacher-learner engagement;
• designing online courses;
• emerging principles and procedures for online teaching and learning; and
• the management and administration of online teaching and learning. 

The conclusion provides the beginnings of a pedagogical framework for online education in higher education. 

Despite the strategies and tactics used by online lecturers, the experience at the University of Southern Queensland has revealed the resource intensity of a highly interactive approach to online education. Whether this model is economically sustainable without tighter management controls is an open question at this time.  The study was funded under the Evaluations and Investigations Programme of the Department of Education, Science and Training.

Executive summary: view HTML    

Report: download PDF    (836.2 KB, 235 pages)

Not published in hard copy format