Development of a web-based graduate-level module courseware

Abstract

This article presents a survey analysis conducted in and the implementation of a web-based courseware for a graduate-level module on Rapid Response Manufacturing. A courseware website has been developed using HyperText Markup Language, JavaScripts, and Cascading Style Sheets. The website designed is of a hierarchical design. To allow students to navigate easily in this website, a navigation menu that resembled the popular Microsoft Outlook is hence chosen. The website contains course materials, which serve either as introductory materials or pre-class reading materials, and serves to bridge professors and students. The colors scheme and layout used for the website were carefully chosen to achieve a professional look, and the course materials are informative and meaningful. The course materials are presented in an interactive manner using templates created using Macromedia Flash. Using Flash movies, students are able to choose any topic of their choice easily with the click of the mouse. Some animations and mouse rollover effects are also incorporated into the Flash movies for an increased visual experience. The use of dynamic text in Flash movies also greatly improves the way course contents are maintained on the website, allowing the courseware to be easily updated by the lecturers themselves as the materials for the graduate module are updated as technologies in Rapid Response Manufacturing advance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 90–105, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20069