Delivering Effective Distance Education Through Engaging Students in Authentic Learning Activities A Learning Design and Longitudinal Research Results

Abstract

  Abstract—Our paper presents the underlying educational principles along with the evaluation results for an innovative project-based postgraduate distance education course. We show how designing the course in terms of sound pedagogical principles has led to an authentic learning experience in which students gain usable knowledge that they can apply in their workplace. Student evaluations clearly demonstrate a positive student learning experience and student pass rates provide a clear indication that students are achieving the intended learning outcomes. Whilst being innovative, delivering a taught project-based postgraduate course brings a number of challenges and these will be discussed.