Using E-Learning to Promote Excellence in Polytechnic Education

Abstract

This chapter describes the participatory role faculty members have played in the first year of a five-year initiative that uses e-learning to promote educational excellence in learning, teaching, and research at a polytechnic institute. It argues that faculty engagement will ultimately determine the success of this e-learning initiative and, as such, faculty need to be active members in a collaborative process informed by participatory design. As this chapter outlines, faculty have used constructivist learning principles to create the educational vision that drives the initiative and provides its focus. They have participated in decision-making processes on the management team and advisory committee, and have piloted tools, learning approaches, and technical and educational support structures to inform the institute-wide implementation of this vision. This chapter aims to provide a model to inform the strategic direction of other institutes implementing similar e-learning initiatives and, therefore, concludes with preliminary lessons learned from year one.