This book is the first comprehensive and integrated guide to online education. It systematically presents all aspects of the emerging “big picture” of online education, providing a broad range of information and insights from online experts, learners, teachers, developers and researchers.
The book introduces readers to online education and reveals its potential for bringing about a paradigm shift in education. It describes avenues for increasing the value of the online education medium and examines techniques for improving the online student experience. It also offers a wealth of real-world examples and experiences and shares recommendations on how to improve them, provided by students, teachers, developers, and researchers.
Accordingly, the book equips readers – including online learners, teachers, researchers, developers, and administrators – to optimally participate in and contribute to current and future online education advances.
Stephen McKenzie is a high-profile and pioneering expert in online education and online education research who is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, and is coordinating and contributing to the expansion of its online education programs. Stephen previously co-led the development, implementation and research-evidence based refinement of a large and innovative new fully online course – the Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced (GDPA), at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and also an international online education research program, and an online education community of practice. Stephen has also led the development and implementation of an online Research Portal and associated Virtual Lab.
Filia Garivaldis is a Senior Lecturer in the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Filia is leading the development of online education in behaviour change at the Institute, including by developing a MOOC on applying behavioural science to address Sustainable Development Goals. Filia previously co-led the development, implementation and research-evidence based refinement of a large and innovative new fully online course – the Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced (GDPA) at Monash University, and also an international online education research program, and an online education community of practice. Filia has worked in academia for over 15 years, previously as a Senior Lecturer at Regent’s University London, where she developed an MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology, accredited by the British Psychological Society.
Kyle Dyer is the Academic Lead for Digital Education for King’s College London and the Director of Digital & Curriculum Innovation at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). Kyle is responsible for developing the Digital Education Vision for King’s and for providing academic input andsupporting faculties in developing and adopting successful and consistent approaches to digital education. He has extensive experience in higher education, workforce development, curriculum design and digital education. His research interests include supporting student wellbeing, building communities within digital education and supporting education and wellbeing with young Syrian refugees.
