Curriculum Development in Web-Based Education

Abstract

A paradigm shift has taken place in the last decade, with a move from traditional to Web-based education at different educational levels (Harasim, 2000; Karuppan, 2001; Kilby, 2001). Web-based education (WBE) has moved on from the delivery of educational content to Web-based sites with interactive functions (Carty & Philip, 2001). Concurrently, new innovative kinds of pedagogical experiments have shifted the paradigm from teaching to learning (Pahl, 2003). As summarised by Armstrong (2001), what educators have in fact realised is that a good Web-based education theory and good education theory are one and the same; the only difference is that WBE transcends the barriers of space and time. The paradigmatic shift has occurred as part of planned educational policy, while at the same time good international or national experiences have also supported the growth of WBE. In addition, there have been attempts to have more coherent and cohesive educational systems and degrees especially in the European context (The Bologna Declaration, 1999.)