Title: An efficient constructive e-alignment for onsite-online learning

Authors: Quoc-Tuan Vien; Purav Shah

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK ' Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT, UK

Abstract: This paper aims at proposing an efficient constructive electronic-based alignment (CeA) to promote self-learning amongst the students via e-learning environment where e-lectures/e-tutorials are developed followed by e-assessments. The CeA is developed based on behaviourism, cognitivism, humanism and constructivism to ensure the students' learning does take place in the e-learning environment. Considering engineering related courses at higher education, it has been shown that the decline in mathematical background of the students causes difficulties in accomplishing the quantitative curricula. A well-designed constructive alignment is thus necessary to support active learning of the students having different backgrounds. Onsite tutorials and seminars may be helpful; however, they may not be very effective, especially in a large-sized and/or high-diversity class. Therefore, in this paper, the proposed CeA not only helps the onsite students strengthen their knowledge but also provides the offsite students with various kinds of learning supplement. Particularly, a case study is presented to show the potential impact of the CeA on both onsite and online learning of mathematics for postgraduate students in both telecommunications engineering and computer networks.

Keywords: constructive alignment; online learning; onsite learning; engineering subjects.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2018.098073

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2018 Vol.28 No.3/4, pp.276 - 292

Received: 25 Apr 2017
Accepted: 28 Jun 2018
Published online: 01 Mar 2019 *

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