Online pedagogical practices in the Faculty of Education at the University of Southern Queensland

Abstract

This report is a product of ongoing discussions in the Faculty of Education, USQ, related to the role of networked computing and communications technologies in higher education. The report is informed by reflection on several years of experience using technology to enhance the provision of education, information collected as part of a recent evaluation of online courses and current notions of best practices in online learning and teaching. Section 1 of the report discusses the theoretical foundations of online learning and teaching and identifies the characteristics of sustainable, quality, online learning. Among the key ideas is the need to consider the relationships among various systems associated with online learning within an organisational context, the active and social nature of learning online, and continuity with good educational practice in other contexts. A series of vignettes presented in Section 2 provide illustrations of best practices within courses and other projects managed by the Faculty. Out of this background and experience, five propositions emerge as the basis for developing and extending online education in the Faculty of Education and in the wider university community, along with a number of recommendations for future online practices at USQ.