Web-Based Course Authoring Tools: Pedagogical Implications

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of an evaluation conducted on Web-based courseauthoring tools. A comprehensive framework encompassing pedagogical, institutional, and ethicalaspects among others, was used to examine the instructional effectiveness of the online learningenvironment by applying the framework to completed courses rather than assessing the specificfeatures of the tool under investigation. A review of these courses and the attributes of the toolsused to deliver them revealed several conclusions. In order for Web-based instruction to beeffective it must be pedagogically driven, dynamically designed, interaction oriented, and contentspecific. Focus should be placed on designing a pedagogical approach appropriate for the content,inclusion of organization and interaction strategies that enhance the student's processing of theinformation, and integration of the medium's attributes to support the designated goals andobjectives of the course.