Learner Diversity

Addressing Learner Diversity by Promoting Flexibility in e-Learning Environments
Maia Dimitrova, Global Campus Project Middlesex University
Chris Sadler, Global Campus Project Middlesex University
Stylianos Hatzipanagos, Global Campus Project Middlesex University
Alan Murphy, Global Campus Project Middlesex University

Addressing Learner Diversity by Promoting Flexibility in e-Learning Environments
Maia Dimitrova, Chris Sadler, Stylianos Hatzipanagos, Alan Murphy
Proceedings of the 14th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications, Page: 287
Year of Publication: 2003

Abstract:

e-Learning has opened a multitude of possibilities forteaching and learning. As the market matures there is ademand for more effective and cost-efficient learninginterventions that meet the learning needs of the diverselearner population. Currently, however, very few teachingattempts have been made to match the pedagogical stylesunderlying e-Learning interventions to students' diverselearning styles. Information and communicationtechnologies can provide a variety of ways for adaptinglearning environments to students learning styles,although they are not often used to their full potential.In the Global Campus (GC) project at MiddlesexUniversity, we studied the differences in the learningstyles of our distance and classroom students. We thenexamined the electronic learning resources and underlyingpedagogical approach to establish how effectively theyaccommodate the diverse learning styles of the students.Finally, we proposed some measures to improve the e-learningenvironment in a way that matches the students'learning styles more effectively.