Programme

Abstract

Recently, e-learning (particularly e-learning strategies) has become a popular topic for discussion particularly in Institutions where virtual learning environments have been imposed on a willing (or unwilling) staff. The benefits of these systems, while well rehearsed, seem to be based more on “hope” than on any evidence that the students – the consumers of our efforts – actually want it or even appreciate it. Lecturers are encouraged to place learning materials on the web, and to provide audio- or video-recordings of lectures for students. Do the students want this? The authors believe that the provision of web-based learning will eventually prove to be capable of helping to provide an enhanced learning experience. But before the provision is designed, and all the effort is expended, a human-oriented requirements analysis should be undertaken. The students should be involved in the overall design of their learning environment. To this end, a study of computer science student learning preferences has been undertaken and early results are reported in this paper .