Using the Internet to Gain Personalized Degrees from Learning through Work

Abstract

This paper presents the outcomes of a systematic review of the experience of the first cohorts using Ufi's online Learning through Work (LtW) facility to negotiate personalized programmes of study leading to full university awards based on projects related to their everyday work. The concept of learning through work and wider experience of online work-based learning are discussed, and the main features of the LtW programme are described. Data are drawn from user surveys and in-depth interviews of participants. A grounded theory methodology is used to allow propositions to emerge from the data about user readiness, institutional responses and wider impact on the learners and their work-place. These propositions are presented for discussion in the wider context of learner-managed learning and the use of the Internet for university-recognized learning through work.

Keywords

online learning negotiated learning work-based learning grounded theory Ufi

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Bonk

C. J.

(2002), Online Training in an Online World, CourseShare.com, Bloomington, IN.

Boud

Middleton

(2003), ‘Learning from others at work: Communities of practice and informal learning’, Journal of Workplace Learning, Vol 15, No 5, pp 194–202.

Boud

Solomon

, eds (2001), Work-Based Learning: A New Higher Education, Open University Press, Milton Keynes.

Brink

Munro

Osborne

(2002), ‘Online learning technology in an SME work-based setting’, Educational Technology and Society, Vol 5, No 2.

Cairns

L.G.

Stephenson

(2002), ‘Online workplace learning: Ideas, issues and a “working example”’, paper presented at the 2002 Annual Meeting, American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, 1–6 April.

Collis

van der Wende

M.C.

, eds (2002), ‘ICT and the internationalisation of higher education: Models of change’, Special Issue, Journal for Studies in International Education.

Coomey

Stephenson

(2001), ‘Online learning: It is all about dialogue, involvement, support and control-according to research’, in Stephenson

, ed, Teaching and Learning Online: Pedagogies for New Technologies, Kogan Page, London, Chapter 4.

Cooperrider

D. L.

Whitney

(1999), Appreciative Inquiry, Berrett-Koehler Communications Inc, San Francisco, CA.

Cunningham

Bennett

Dawes

(2000), Self Managed Learning in Action, Gower, Aldershot.

10.

Glaser

B. G.

Strauss

A. L.

(1967), The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research, Aldine, Chicago.

11.

Hall

LeCavalier

(2001), E-Learning Across the Enterprise: The Benchmarking Study of Best Practice, BrandonHall.com, http://www.brandon-hall.com/elacenbenstu.html.

12.

HEfCE (2004), ‘Wind-down and transfer of activities of the e-Universities to be completed’, Higher Education Funding Council for England, http://www.hefce.ac.uk/News/hefce/2004/euni/, 10 June.

13.

Kleiner

Roth

(1997), ‘How to make experience your company's best teacher’, Harvard Business Review, Vol 75, No 5, September–October, p 172.

14.

Martinez

(2003), ‘Challenges, predictors, and solutions’, e-Learning Developers Journal, 14 July.

15.

Moore

(1999), ‘Towards a theory of work-based learning’, IEE Brief, Vol 23, pp 1–8.

16.

Polanyi

(1958), Personal Knowledge, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.

17.

Reeve

Gallacher

Mayes

(1998), ‘Can new technology remove barriers to work-based learning?’ Open Learning, Vol 13, No 3, pp 18–26.

18.

Seagraves

Osborne

Neal

Dockerell

Hartshorn

Boyd

(1996), Learning in Smaller Companies: Final Report, Educational Policy and Development, University of Stirling, Stirling.

19.

Stephenson

(2003), A Review of Research and Practice in e-Learning in the Work-Place and Proposals for its Effective Use, American Education Research Association, obtainable from http://www.iclml.co.uk.

20.

Stephenson

Critten

(2003), Maximizing Benefit from Researching Learning through Work, American Education Research Association, obtainable from http://www.iclml.co.uk.

21.

Strauss

A. L.

Corbin

, eds (1997), Grounded Theory in Practice, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

22.

Williams

(2003), ‘Success still in the distance’, The Guardian, 22 March.