WWW Curriculum Development and Delivery Issues

Peter Holt

Athabasca University
E-mail: holt@cs.athabascau.ca
URL: http://ccism.pc.athabascau.ca

At Athabasca University, we are in the process of putting all of our Computing Science and Information Systems courses into HTML for web-based delivery. To date we have converted/developed five courses, and have completed delivery of three of those courses, including an evaluation of the prototype for the Introductory Computer Science and Information Systems course. We have found that the process of converting/developing a curriculum raises issues for the Centre of Computing Information Systems and Mathematics (CCISM), and for the institution, beyond that of simply developing individual courses. This paper outlines how several concepts from computing and information systems development are relevant for the development of a WWW-based curriculum, and assesses our success in regard to the courses we are currently delivering.

CIS Concepts for Curriculum Development Reusability of Code and Integrity of Data

Although most of the reports on WEB development focus on individual courses, a major advantage of having materials in format for WEB delivery is the sharing of materials across courses. In our long term goal, is a body of curriculum knowledge, instructional support tools, and design strategies from which we can highlight materials for a particular course. As an approach to reusability of materials, we try to use principles of object oriented design. At a pragmatic level this means tactics such as identifying what are common pieces from courses, and presenting such material in a course-neutral manner. There are obvious shortcomings in current WEB technology that constrain this approach.

Participatory Design

We have students who are not only field-testers of courses, but as senior students are involved in the actual design and development of WEB-based courses.

Rapid Prototyping

As do many others, we do not develop all materials from the ground up, even when that might be the final intention. Instead, we develop rapid prototypes, using printed materials and graphics from the WEB, and course HTML templates developed in-house.

Computer Supported Collaborative Work

Since we are a distance education institution, our students are not located onsite. Currently, our student employees and students doing project work, live in Northern B.C., Manitoba, Southern B.C., Northern Alberta, and Southern Alberta. Thus our primary work environment is the INTERNET itself, and its associated tools for file transfers, file sharing, computer mediated communications, and computer supported collaborated work.

Versions and Revisions

In the next version of the Introductory Computing Science and Information Systems course, we have eliminated the need for a purchased text in order to shorten the revision cycle. Other Issues In developing an entire curriculum, we have to deal with other issues, such as parallel development streams, coordination, and synchronization between teams. In courses where we have purchased materials, copyright has rapidly become an issue. In the next version of the Introductory Computing Science and Information Systems course, we have eliminated the need for a purchased text.

N.A. Web '96 Home Page

This page updated and maintained by:
Hope.Greenberg@uvm.edu Last update: 22 August 1996