Internet Based Course Delivery: Technology and Implementation

This paper describes the implementation experience of an Internet based distance-learning course currently offered at University of Salford in the UK. The course uses the Blackboard system which provides a virtual teaching and learning environment. It facilitates the interactions between the tutors and students to be conducted over the Internet, which were traditionally only possible in classrooms. This paper seeks to offer some observations on distance learning practice by reflecting the experience of the course delivery. As the Course Director, the author is well positioned to gather extensively qualitative data of feedback from students and tutors. These data together quantitative data captured by the Blackboard system form the basis for this paper.