Abstract

This paper is centred on the design phase of four e-learning projects in Hong Kong. Our challenge is to use e-learning in ways that enhance student learning. Our desired learning outcomes include not only discipline knowledge but a whole raft of capabilities, including independent learning, critical thinking and creative design. The Hong Kong education system is remarkably highly structured and emphasizes discipline content above these more generic capabilities. Our work, therefore, sought ways to include students in the design phase of a number of e-learning projects in order to understand students’ learning needs in a broad sense so as to ensure optimal learning designs, and also provide students with an authentic design experience as part of their educational development. Students’ contributions to the design and development of four cases of educational websites in Hong Kong universities are discussed. Students provided information in the following areas: their views on the role of the web in learning, areas of difficulties in the discipline domain, and actual design ideas for the specific projects. In all four cases the information obtained was valuable. We suggest that student input to e-learning design can improve the effectiveness of e-learning and also contribute to students’ own educational development. The design process itself thus becomes an authentic learning experience for students.