A series of ‘e-primers’ authored by Mark Nichols is freely available from the Flexible Learning in New Zealand site. The e-primers are written for those requiring an introductory theoretical and research-based framework for e-learning practice. E-primers have been peer-reviewed and are written from a New Zealand perspective.
This E-Primer series aims to make the unknown known, to place e-learning in a context of learning theory, institutional development, and instructional design. It examines the role of faculty, good practice in hybrid course design, and the dynamics of online discussion — and places all of these in a coherent context, drawing from refereed sources and 7 years of dedicated experience.
The series of E-Primers includes:
| 1. E-learning in context | An introduction to e-learning and the international experience; definitions of terms; a theory for e-learning; technologies; benefits. (PDF, 478KB) |
| 2. E-education and faculty | Education theory and e-learning; the changing role of faculty; workload issues; quality. (PDF, 221KB) |
| 3. Designing for e-learning | Instructional design; learning objects; constructing a hybrid course. (Available by end of 2007) |
| 4. Online discourse | Synchronous and asynchronous communications; designing online discourse; online facilitation. (Draft phase) |
| 5. E-xtending possibilities | Web 2.0; ePortfolios; virtual worlds; lifelong learning. (Conceptual phase) |
