Virtual Europe is a web-based European community from which health education scenarios may be accessed for learning and teaching purposes. Featuring a map giving access to country specific resources, it is populated with different cultural case studies allowing contrasts between cultures to be examined. For example, a student could evaluate the…

Research spanning the last thirty years confirms that people learn better by active enquiry, collaboration and experimental problem solving than by passive reception and acceptance of information. Empirical evidence, as well as the pressing demands of pervasive social and technological change, requires learning and teaching approaches that combine…

The ACCE position statement for creating media enriched learning communities targets all stakeholders in educational policy and practice who influence the future of learning, schools, and systems. Stakeholders include policy-makers in government, national and international organisations, professional networks and institutions, school leaders,…

Learning styles are increasingly being incorporated into technology-enhanced learning. Appropriately, a great deal of recent research work is occurring in this area. As more information and details about learning styles becomes available, learning styles can be better accommodated and integrated into all aspects of educational technology. The aim…

Efforts have been made by language educators and researchers to use computer technology to assist L2 learners' growth in either linguistic or intercultural competence. Nonetheless, web-based environments devoted to developing both types of competences in tandem are new and experimental. The purpose of this project, which involves the collaboration…

This paper looks at the implications of Web 2.0 technologies for university teaching and learning. The latest generation of undergraduates already live in a Web 2.0 world. They have new service expectations and are increasingly dissatisfied with teacher-centred pedagogies. To attract and retain these students, universities will need to rethink…

This paper examines the use of digital resources by academic staff in a single UK University and its influence on academic practice over a two to three year period. The paper describes two linked studies that address several of the themes regarding the impact of electronic resources identified in this special edition. In particular it provides…

At last year's ECEL [European Conference on e-Learning] conference e-Learning in practice was often concluded to be more e-Teaching in that it focused on delivery and technology, with relatively little attention paid to the context of learning or the long-term consequences. This paper uses the example of a highly entrepreneurial company, who have…

Work undertaken on the development of Foundation degrees at the University of Glamorgan directly addressed employer and higher education concerns that the new award should aim to build on, and not reinvent, the HNC/HND awards it sought to replace. One of the key factors in this was to reconsider the role and purpose of "work experience."…

It is commonly agreed that professional development of teachers in the use of information and communication technologies should be sustained over time. Most professional development, however, is delivered in single or short sequences of face-to-face sessions, paying little heed to this requirement. Once the face-to-face training is completed, a…

Open and distance education has integrated quality assurance processes since its inception. Recently, the increased use of distance teaching systems, technologies, and pedagogies by universities without a distance education heritage has enabled them to provide flexible learning opportunities. They have done this in addition to, or instead of,…

Using interview-based "insider case study" research, this paper outlines why the University of Salford has adopted a Learning Technologies Strategy and examines the factors which are likely to lead to its successful implementation. External reasons for the adoption focused on the need to: respond to "increased Higher Education (HE)…

E-learning standards ensure interoperability and reusability of learning contents. Learning objects that are standard conformant allow a learning management system (LMS) to import learning objects and track user learning progress more easily. This article provides a comprehensive approach complete with both a procedure and a software tool for…

Based on the authors' reflections on experience working at the Open University, approaches to making online learning accessible to disabled students are considered. The considerations are applicable to all concerned with online learning and indeed anyone seeking to trade, disseminate information and mediate services online. In reflecting on the…

This volume comprises the refereed proceedings of the 2008 ATLAANZ (Association of Tertiary Learning Advisors of Aotearoa/New Zealand) conference, and explores strands of transformations--learning within cultural contexts, service delivery, student literacy and numeracy, graduate students and professional practice. In Chapter 1, Kay Hammond…