Identifying e-learning principles for Maritime Education through the e-initiatives project: A design-based approach

Abstract

The Australian Maritime College (AMC) has a major objective to innovate and build better practice in e-learning by developing high quality learning for anyone, anytime, anywhere. One strategy that the AMC has undertaken to achieve this is to fund a number of e-initiatives (learning and teaching projects being undertaken using digital technologies) each year between 2012 and 2016. To gain maximum long-term benefit from this project it is essential to develop an evidence based approach, studying each initiative's effectiveness and derive learning and teaching (L&T) principles for using technology within the maritime context. This paper describes a project to explore, implement and document e-learning principles relevant to the maritime education context. The project uses an educational design-based approach. At conclusion of the project it is expected that a number of learning designs and guiding principles for maritime education will be developed. Keywords: e-learning, Maritime Education, design-based research, learning designs