Constructivist learning: understanding and experience in IT tertiary education

This paper firstly introduces the concept of constructivist learning which advocates that students actively construct knowledge themselves with teachers’ assistance. Based on the six important elements of constructivist learning and teaching planning approach, detailed examples of designing the six constructivist elements of situation, groupings, bridge, questions, exhibit, and reflections for two units offered at school of Information Technology, Deakin University are provided. A conclusion emphasizing the learners' difference to be paid attention to while educators designing curriculum on CloudDeakin platform is made at the end of this paper.

Improving assessment management using tools

This paper firstly explains the importance of assessment management, then introduces two assessment tools currently used in the School of Information Technology at Deakin University. A comparison of assignment marking was conducted after collecting test data from three sets of assignments. The importance of providing detailed marking guides and personalized comments is emphasized and future possible extension to the tools is also discussed at the end of this paper.

Managing learning evidence using eportfolio

This paper introduces ePortfolio and its use of managing learning evidence in an eLearning environment. The paper uses the outcomes of a recent project sponsored by Deakin University, Australia and examples from IT teaching practice based on CloudDeakin to explore how ePortfolios add value to personalized and reflective models of eLearning. ePortfolios are proved to be an effective tool for discussion, information collection and reflection, and new ways of thinking about learning evidence management.

Moving online with engineering physics at Deakin University – lessons learned in delivering online laboratories in D2L

As part of Deakin’s Course Enhancement Program, The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, the School of Engineering and Deakin Learning Futures, combined their resources to produce a series of video presentations to enhance the efficiency of physics practicals in the first-year engineering course. Along the way it was decided the unit also needed a complete overhaul in terms of content layout and delivery. And this was all to be done in a short time frame of a few months before start of Trimester 1, 2014. The end result includes eight professionally developed videos embedded into HTML pages of instruction and information within the CloudDeakin environment, a completely new navigation structure, and templated content pages with links to various resources. The production journey was not without it’s challenges and constraints, but the unit has been delivered, and the student feedback is in.