Abstract

For e-learning courses to be effective, their designers and tutors should introduce a wide variety of support structures into every stage of learning design, taking into account the affordances of the course management system and the tools they are going to use. Support should come from the four elements of the educational process, that is, the tutor, course participants, technology and resources/activities. A cohort-based course run in a learner-centred constructivist e-learning environment helps students acquire different skills, analytical, critical-thinking, reflective and interactive, and become active participants in the educational process, who develop knowledge by constructing new meanings during co-operative and collaborative tasks. Various flexible support structures should guide, encourage, motivate, and keep students engaged in learning. Constant monitoring, quick identification of problem areas, fast remedial action and positive feedback result in the enhancement of the learning process, and in an increase in student confidence, motivation and satisfaction. Without strong support, online courses prove not to be very effective for the majority of participants, who are unable to self-direct their learning.

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