Challenges in the reuse of learning materials: technical lessons from the delivery of an online GIS MSc module

Abstract

Programme delivery through consortia of institutions, each contributing different areas of expertise, is seen as one solution to the teaching challenges posed by increasing subject specialization within academic departments. For the institutions within such consortia, this may mean that specialist modules will be delivered to multiple streams of students from different institutions, backgrounds, and possibly even countries. This paper draws on experiences in delivering a specialist online GIS MSc module to distance learners studying at three different US and UK institutions. It describes technical lessons learnt from delivering the same learning materials to different groups of students, from both a GIS and an educational perspective.