Project-Based Module Development.

N

24

Adult Education; Computer Assisted Instruction; Courseware; Curriculum Development; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Independent Study; Learning Modules; Models; Open Universities

A project management design for modularizing higher education at open universities was developed and tested. Literature in the fields of project management and development of modular curriculum materials was reviewed and used as a basis for developing a project-based approach to the process of developing modules for self-instruction. According to the model developed, project management should be regarded as a combination of planning control techniques requiring systematic planning and control of time, quality, information, organization, and money. The module development process consists of the following activities: development of an overall course description; development of a course plan; production and testing of written, audiovisual, and software course materials, readers, and test/examination instruments and harmonization of the materials/course with study support requirements; development of a draft course; development of a finalized version of the course; and publication and distribution of the learning modules. The proposed modularization method has several advantages: it permits optimal use of staff capacity and material resources; it provides a better overview of the various projects involved in the modularization process; and it allows better subsequent costing of each module. (Contains 28 references.) (MN)

1995

ED374212