Implementing an Integrated Web-Based Synchronous eLearning Collaboration Platform at Tertiary Level for Part-Time Mature Evening Students

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the lessons learned and new insights gained, from the pilot implementation of a webbased synchronous eLearning collaboration platform at Tertiary Level evaluated on part-time mature evening students. Over the past ten years, with the advent of the Internet, the convergence of communication and computer technologies has facilitated the development of eLearning models and platforms. The scope of this research is to explore and evaluate the use of these newly emerging synchronous eLearning technologies in lectures for part-time mature evening students as part of a course at Tertiary Level. The availability of sufficient base data from projects of this nature is very limited. A blend of traditional University teaching, pedagogies and strategies coupled with the use of emerging webbased collaboration models and platforms, both synchronous and asynchronous, would appear to offer significant potential for a blended eLearning solution at Institutional, Faculty and Student level. Through the GENIUS project, this research was afforded the opportunity to put a blended eLearning solution to the test within a traditional University where non-traditional learners engage in continuing professional educational and development, in effect, part-time mature evening students at Trinity College. The advantages and disadvantages of the approach have been discussed. A comprehensive literature review and investigation of enabling technologies and currently accepted best practice has been carried out as part of this research. Lessons learned from the four lecture presentations at the Computer Science Department, at the University of Dublin, Trinity College are detailed. Different perspectives were addressed specifically of Faculty ? Management and Administration, Lecturer and Student. Arising from this research, it is clear that despite stated limitations a blended learning model can be used to address the constituency, but possibly not yet until the effectiveness of the broadband domain.