DEVELOPING HIGH-LEVEL COGNITIVE SKILLS IN E-LEARNING

Abstract

This research analyses how the development of high-level cognitive skills happens in higher education distance learning courses that employ e-learning. The determining and restrictive factors to the development of high-level cognitive skills through e-learning were investigated; academic activities that facilitate the development of these skills were identified, procedures for assessing the development of cognitive skills and for creating the course design links that facilitate the development of high-level cognitive skills in higher education courses delivered by e-learning were identified. This study shows that e-learning provides a number of benefits that facilitate the development of high-level cognitive skills. Specifically, the ability to develop asynchronous activities was the quality most often cited. E-learning also displays some restrictive factors, such as difficulties that e-learning students had during autonomous studies. The results highlighted that the development of high-level cognitive skills is assumed in all courses offered by key informants; however it is not always part of the specific objectives or the design of these courses. Some activities are given to facilitate or support the development of high-level cognitive skills by e-learning. From this research a set of guidelines has been drawn up to facilitate the development of high-level cognitive skills through distance learning when working with e-learning.