Design principles for online tutorials

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is an online tutorial?
3. Why create online tutorials?
4. Demonstration - Two approaches
5. Principles for creating effective tutorials
   1. Create a simulated conversation between learner and teacher
   2. Involve learners actively
   3. Work with what learners already know
   4. Manage the flow of the learning conversation
   5. Go from the particular to the general (at least sometimes)
6. Applying the principles - some examples
7. The process of creating tutorials
8. Practical Hints and Tips
9. Summary
10. References

Involve learners actively

It is now recognised that students learn when they are actively involved in solving problems and discussing their ideas with lecturers and other students. Current models (Mason 1998, Laurillard 2002, etc) of education place emphasis on these student activities.

These models assume that students do not learn simply by accessing information. Rather students construct their ideas and understandings of concepts through interactions with lecturers, other students and with learning materials (Palinscar, 1998).

Therefore, effective tutorials will include tasks for students to carry out that replicate these kinds of interactions.