远程学习材料开发的基础之探讨

Foundations for the Development of Distance Learning Materials

对于远程教育院校来说,探讨学习发展过程中所有参与者的共同认识是非常必要的,包括普通院校教师、学习材料开发人员以及各种不同的远程学习情景下的学生群体,这样才能使其密切合作,并保证学习材料的质量。本文的目的在于描述和解释南非大学在2002年制定的辅导政策中规定的教材开发基本标准。负责此项工作的单位是学习发展部,他们采用诸如建构主义等多种学习理论。本文介绍了典型的学习发展过程,集中说明团队协同工作的方法。文中用于个案研究的学习材料得到了南非全国的公认,该个案研究基于建构主义理论,阐明了教材开发的各类相关利益群体的共同要求,探讨远程教育参与者之间存在的共同认识,这有利于远程教育领域的进一步发展。教育范式的变革可以大大地推动远程学习材料的开发,使其达到更高的水平。

It is imperative for distance learning institutes to have a common understanding regarding different participants in the learning process which may include teachers, developers of learning materials and different student communities. Their cooperation is essential to assuring the quality of learning materials. This paper aims to describe and explain the benchmarks for developing learning materials as stipulated in the Learning Guidance Policy drafted by the University of South Africa in 2002. The Bureau for Learning Development is responsible for this work. In the process, constructivist theories have been applied. This paper introduces the typical process of learning materials development and explains the teamwork approach adopted. Among the many learning materials developed, case studies have been widely recognized as essential learning materials in South Africa. These case studies have been developed based on the ideas of constructivism. Besides, the process of course development should take into account the various stakeholders involved and that a common understanding is essential to the development of high quality learning materials. The authors of this paper argue that this change in paradigm can be beneficial.