Applying Constructivist Instructional Strategies to E-Learning: A Case Study of a Web Development Course

摘要

As the practice of e-learning continues to proliferate, online educators, especially in the computing disciplines, are facing special challenges, due to the lack of relevant literature, the technical nature of the courses, and the perceived need for direct student support mechanisms. This paper presents a constructivist instructional approach to the online delivery of a highly technical Web development course that has been traditionally taught in face-to-face settings and illustrates it in the form of a case study. The results of the evaluation, based on three different data sources, indicate that the constructivist instructional strategies have played a significant role in the high levels of student satisfaction and the success of the course. When implemented online, the strategies can be as effective as when conducted face-to-face. The paper makes a unique contribution to the e-learning research by providing empirical evidence and indicative support for the successful application of problem-based learning methods in a fully online environment and exemplifying the use of screencasts as an effective instructional technology. It is hoped that some or all of the practical techniques illustrated in this case study will prove beneficial to online educators facing similar challenges in other technical fields.