A Longitudinal Study of E-learning for Constructio

JournalforEducationintheBuiltEnvironment,Vol.2,Issue2,October2007pp.61-84(24)ISSN:1747-4205(Online)61Copyright©2007CEBEALongitudinalStudyofE-learningforConstructionManagementEducationPatrickX.W.Zou:UniversityofNewSouthWales,AustraliaAbstractTheaimofthisresearchwastoinvestigatethefeasibility,effectivenessandviabilityofe-learninginconstructionmanagementeducationandthestudents’preferencebetweene-learningandtraditionalface-to-facelearning.Alongitudinalstudyone-learningforconstructiontechnologycourseshasbeencarriedoutoveraperiodofthreeyearsbetween2002and2004.E-learningmodulesweredevelopedforanundergraduatethirdyearcourseConstructionTechnologyandimplementedinsemester1of2002andsubsequentlyin2003and2004.Eachyear,thestudentsenrolledonthiscourseweresurveyedpriortoandafterthee-learningsessions,toidentifytheirknowledge,perceptionsandchangeofattitudetowardse-learning.Thesurveyresultsshowedthatthemajorityofstudents’knowledgeofe-learninghasincreasedandtheirexperienceofe-learninghasbeenpositive.Furthermore,thestudentsfeltitwasfeasibleandeffectivetousee-learninginconstructioneducation.Inaddition,moststudentsconsideredthattherewaslittledifferenceinthelevelofmasteryofcoursecontentsobtainedbye-learningcomparedwithface-to-facemethod.However,themajorityofthestudentsindicatedthattheywouldpreferacombinationofface-to-faceande-learningmethods.Basedontheexperiencegainedoverthethreeyears,thelecturer(i.e.theauthor)hadalsoreflectedontheprocessandprovidedsuggestionsonhowe-learningcouldbeusedintheteachingandlearningconstructiontechnology/managementcourses.Itisconcludedthate-learningisfeasibleandeffectiveforconstructionmanagementeducationandismosteffectivewhenintegratedwithface-to-faceteachingandlearning.Keywords:E-learning,ConstructionManagementEducation,LearningOutcomes,EducationalTechnologyP.X.W.Zou:ALongitudinalStudyofE-learningforConstructionManagementEducation62JournalforEducationintheBuiltEnvironment,Vol.2,Issue2,October2007Copyright©2007CEBEIntroductionE-learning(alsocalledonlinelearningormultimedialearning)canbedefinedasusingcomputerandInternetmediatedcommunicationforteachingandlearning.Withoutanydoubt,theaimsofe-learningaretoincreasequalityoflearning,generatemoreeducationalopportunities,increasestudentnumbers,improvelecturer’sproductivity,improvetheeffectivenessofresourceusage,andultimatelyenhancestudents’learningexperienceandoutcomes.Theadvantagesofe-learningaremanifold,including:moreefficientandcentralisedmaintenanceofup-to-datecoursematerials;moreflexibleclassandlearningtimeandspeed(selfpacedlearning);localorremoteclassroomaccess;onlineassessment;paperlessdelivery;capableofpresentinglearningmaterialsindifferentforms,suchastext,photo,videoandanimation;catersforlargestudentnumbers;allowspart-timestudentstobeenrolled;enablescross-disciplinarycollaborationandreducesunnecessaryduplication;abilitytoextendthecoursetostudentswithdisabilities.However,despitethefactthate-learningoffersmanyadvantagesovertraditionalface-to-facemethods,untilnowthemajorityofeducatorsarestillnotusingitande-learningforconstructioneducationisperceivedasaninfeasibleconceptduetotheprolongedrecognitionofalecturer-studentlearningenvironment.Furthertothis,itisimportanttounderstandfromthestudents’perspectivewhethere-learningiseffectiveinenhancingtheirlearning.Theaimofthisresearchwastoinvestigatethefeasibilityandeffectivenessofe-learninginconstructionmanagementeducationfromstudents’perspectives.Assuch,alongitudinalstudyone-learninghasbeenconductedoveraperiodofthreeyearsbetween2002and2004usinganundergraduatethirdyearcorecourseConstructionTechnology.Thispaper,followingacriticalreviewofliterature,summarizesthemainfindingsofthisresearchintermsofstudents’perspectivesandthislecturer’sreflection.RelatedPastResearchAsearlyasthe1960’s,someeducatorsusedcomputerstosupportlearning(Rada,2001).However,theadoptionandbenefitsofe-learninghavenotbeenwidelypromoteduntilrecentyears.AccordingtoE-learningAge(2003),BrendanCasey,directoroflibrariesandinformationservicesatCityUniversity(intheUK)said:Providingafirstclasseducationsystem;boostingthestudentlearningexperienceanddrivingstudents’successissomethingallhighereducationinstitutionsfacetoday.Bytakingadvantagesoftheinnovativetechnologythatisavailable,universitieswillbeabletomeetthesegoalsandofferstudentsanevenbettereducation.WebCTisane-learningplatformthatincludesarangeofcoursedevelopment,delivery,contentandinformationmanagementcapabilities(E-learningAge,2003,p.7).P.X.W.Zou:ALongitudinalStudyofE-learningforConstructionManagementEducation63JournalforEducationintheBuiltEnvironment,Vol.2,Issue2,October2007Copyright©2007CEBELikewise,CarolVallone,presidentandCEOofWebCT,said:…formostuniversities,justofferingface-to-facelearningisnolongeraviableoption.Manystudentshavejobs,orfamiliestolookafter.Theyneedtheflexibilityofbeingabletodosomeoralloftheirstudyremotely,atatimethatsuitsthem.BychoosingWebCT,CityUniversityisleadingthewaywithitscommitmentnotonlytoofferingstudentsamoreflexiblewayoflearningbutbyembracingtechnologythatwillimprovelearning,teachin