Opportunistic Challenges

Over the last few years there has been a raft of initiatives involving the use of information communication technology (ICT) in various learning environments. The use of ICT to transfer and support the construction of knowledge in schools and tertiary institutions has received a lot of investment and a certain degree of thought. Many of the initiatives are aimed at developing more flexible systems of learning with a core aim to provide the learner with more choice, in terms of what, where and how they learn. A key aim of this book is to signal some of the challenges and opportunities that we face in designing and using appropriate technologies within various learning environments. A key intention of the book is to report on the work of several researchers and product developers engaged in investigating the potential of ICT in learning environments in terms users, computers and organisations. There are two key themes within the book: the influence of learning theory on design and the influence of design on learning. The first section of the book discusses some implications for design of e-learning environments. The second section of the book concentrates on the influence of design on learning, and reports on investigations into the nature of interactivity and its impact on student learning.