Experience redesign: a conceptual framework for moving teaching and learning into a flexible e-learning environment

Peter C K Chuah
SIM University
Singapore

A new global landscape is emerging with a knowledge-based economy and industries are now shifting their focus towards knowledge workers. Hence, human capital becomes one of the most valuable assets in any organization. Therefore, being able to provide continuous learning opportunities to update and upgrade the knowledge and skills for life-long learners to function in the dynamic working environment becomes an increasingly important aspect of human development in an organization.

The advancement of information and communication technologies is posing more challenges for the delivery of education and training. Some scholars and researchers argue that the integration of information and communication technologies is a vital strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Furthermore, the convergence of new media is also transforming the way that people present, disseminate and communicate in a more fluid and flexible cyberspace. The impact of information and communication technologies is an increasing adoption rate for e-learning and a rapid growth of digital content and e-learning tools. The teaching and learning paradigm in higher learning institutions is moving towards a redesigning of it.

This paper argues that moving teaching and learning into a flexible learning environment enabled by e-learning with appropriate infrastructure requires special attention to a number of critical issues, specifically, the instructional materials, assessment, and presentation and support. The author proposes a conceptual framework that provides 'workable' practices to help educators to be better prepared when moving teaching and learning online. In addition, this paper examines how an understanding of experience design -- an emerging field that draws from a variety of disciplines in design and new media, such as information design, interaction design, visual design, drama and digital storytelling -- and educational theory will enable designers to create learning experiences that are engaging and that emotionally connect the learners in a flexible e-learning environment. A case study will be used to illustrate how a section of a face-to-face course is being redesigned to embrace an online learning experience that engages and connects learners.