This paper describes the challenges experienced by Academics and Instructional Designers when creating quality, innovative and accessible educational materials for the University sector in 2001 and beyond. These two roles, which play a crucial part in the development and delivery of the new educational experience, are vital to the success of the student and ultimately, the University. Are we exploiting these roles to their full potential? It is currently the trend to place the burden of the instructional design, along with the plethora of other tasks, on the academic due to the lack of investment in instructional design and teamwork. Is the demand to create fast, easy and inexpensive courses now resting predominantly on academics when their main role should be as a content expert and not instructional designer? Are we getting it right? Can we do it better?

Abstract:This paper describes a quality framework for the development of a set of online learning resources, namely worked examples with audio enhancement and simulations, used to improve the offering of a level one business mathematics course at Central Queensland University. The framework centres around five criteria that emerged as the resources were developed. They were a primary reference determining the quality of the learning environment created.

The main objective of the CD-ROM project is to provide all students, especially distance learners, with a virtual laboratory environment where they can be exposed to the physical and technical aspects of electronic communication equipment. We believe this CD-ROM resource will contribute towards the enhancement of the distance education experience and go some way to providing educational equity.

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In this paper we describe the creative and innovative work that has emerged from the collaboration between content experts and creative designers. The project detailed here focuses on enhancing the current range of online learning opportunities for students studying a level one business mathematics course. We highlight some of the positives and negatives encountered when converting existing print-based materials to quality online educational tools and the mapping of face-to-face instruction into the electronic medium. A discussion of some of the major challenges encountered when creating resources such as these for distribution in an online environment is included. The conference presentation for this work will demonstrate the two primary online resources, worked examples with audio enhancement and simulations.