Developing a college web‐based course: lessons learned

Abstract

This paper discusses the process of achieving the two most important tasks in web‐based course design and development. These are website development and the identification of interactive communication systems that allow the instructor and students to interact individually, and as a group. The theoretical foundations that influenced course design and development, including applications from human‐computer interaction studies to web‐based course design are also presented. It also discusses procedures that instructors ought to consider in order to facilitate virtual discussions, particularly when asynchronous interactive communication systems are used. The paper concludes with reflections about the lessons learned during the process of developing a fully web‐based college course for the first time.