Educational Design at Southern Cross University Australia: A Case Study

Abstract

This case study provides an overview of educational design practice in a relatively small regional Australian university with a unique profile of highly distributed, mature-aged learners, and a particular mandate regarding its students and the region in which it is located. In its 15-year history at Southern Cross University, educational design practice has been significantly shaped by its context, and has evolved continuously to meet the changing needs of the university and its student profile. This case study charts educational design evolution over the 15 years, the impact of online learning upon roles and practice, the current institutional “footprint” of the educational designers, the convergence of roles with academic staff development, and its current research agendas. Chapter II should be read as the companion to this chapter for a more extensive exploration of the issues and dilemmas of educational design practice.