Developing an on-line course

Abstract

The UNITEC Directorate appreciates the need to create quality on-line courses. In February 1998 the Directorate approved the development of on-line courses. During 1997 a Faculty of Business working party had formatted a method of selecting which courses could be developed during 1998. One of the courses selected was Bachelor of Business Studies 04.410 Information Systems Principles.

This discussion paper identifies how the selection of courses was made by the working party. The paper then traces the development steps in producing a course that can be accessed by students from the UNITEC site and from outside UNITEC. The paper examines how the structure of the course was altered to incorporate on-line delivery, issues of technical support for staff and students and administrative matters that had to be considered.

This paper will offer advice to lecturers who are contemplating the leap to on-line education.