MyLO: Collaborative Learning through Web-Based Courseware Applications

Position Of Web-Based Courseware

To understand the role of web-based courseware in teaching and learning, the other related terms and definitions must firstly be understood. “Educational software” is a widely used term in computer assisted education. It indicates to a type of computer software which is designed with a specific purpose of assisting teaching and learning. Educational software appears in various formats, according to its intended aims, including home learning software, classroom aids, courseware, etc. Web-based educational software is a particular type of educational software which operates fully or partially via the internet. It is vary in the objects of learning activities served and assisted, for example, a class, a seminar, a subject, or a course.

In this chapter, courseware refers to a specific type of educational software. it is used to offer information and communication services, and to support course needs within tertiary education contexts (De Moor, 2007). In large education institutions like universities, educational software packages are serving to support teaching across all courses, as well as to create independent asynchronous courses, which allow students to study or gain degrees off campers. The term courseware refers to these online learning systems in building virtual learning environments at universities. It appears in a variety of formats, such as html pages and PDF files, etc. Recently, higher education in most Australian universities is supplemented with courseware systems, for instance, the My Learning Online (MyLO) at the University of Tasmania, the MyUTS at the University of Technology, Sydney, and the Learning Management System (LMS) at the University of Melbourne. Students are accommodated by this online platform, which provides them with opportunities to interact with their instructors and to learn at anytime and any location.