A design-based research

approach for creating

effective online higher education

courses

Jenni Parker

WAIER Conference

Design-based research

Figure 1 - Four phases of design research (Reeves, 2006, p. 59)

Analyse the problem

The problem

Literaturereview

Practitioner experiences

Phase1

The problem

Literature review

• Learner needs• Pedagogy• Technology• Professional development

Learner needs

Expert thinking

skills

Complex communication

skills

Independent learning

skills

Pedagogy Authentic learning

principles align with

“the way the human mind

turns information into useful, transferable knowledge”

(Lombardi, 2007, p. 7)

Technology

Professional Development

Practitioner experiences

Face-to-face informal discussions with peers

Rich e-learning environments

Research question

How can an authentic learning framework be implemented within a learning management system (LMS) to provide effective and sustainable online learning experiences for higher education students?

Design and develop potential solutionPhase

2 • 2nd literature review• Framework developed• Proposed solution

designed & developed

Authentic e-Learning Examples

Pre-service teachers• EDN205 – ICT in the

classroom (2010)• EDN113 – Living and

learning with technology (2011)

http://web.aanet.net.au/~jenmar/jennip/WorkExamples/EDU205_2010_Assign1/sites.google.com/site/ictintheclassroomtrendsissues/index.html

http://jjd.yolasite.com/

Implement and evaluatePhase3

Course implemented and evaluated twice to determine effectiveness of framework

Evaluation design guide (Reeves & Hedberg, 2003)

Qualitative data collected and analysed to answer secondary research questions

Reflect and reportPhase4

• Reflect on entire project

• Disseminate information

• Learning design principles and guidelines for designing effective e-learning environments in higher education

ConclusionConducting research at a practitioner level where teachers are immersed in the theoretical environment they are learning about has the potential to change existing online teaching practises using a bottom up approach (Oliver, 2005).

Design-based research contributes substantially to such change through the publication of principles and guidelines for other educators in similar situations.

The processes and results of this study are expected to contribute to knowledge about the effectiveness and sustainability of authentic e-learning approaches.

ReferencesParker, J. (2011). A design-based research approach for creating effective online higher education courses. Availalbe at: http://murdoch.academia.edu/JenniParkerImages: Berman flickr set:http://www.flickr.com/photos/theartdontstop/sets/72157627126617228/ and Langwitches flickr sets : http://www.flickr.com/photos/langwitches/sets/

Jenni Parker (2011).