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This paper presents an investigation into how students studying at university engage actively with learning technology in their self-directed study time. The case study surveyed 250 students studying at undergraduate and postgraduate level from a purposive sample of departments within one institution. The study has also conducted focus groups and a number of in-depth follow-up interviews with respondents to the survey. In this article we explore three emerging aspects of the learning experience, namely student expectations of the technology, their lecturers' engagement with technology and how the technology might support processes of transition in higher education. One key implication is that more academic guidance is needed on what and how to use the technology effectively for independent learning, even where ICT skills levels are high. The study also identifies the significant role that the lecturer plays in facilitating students' use of technology. The findings of this study will be of interest to those working to incorporate learning technologies more effectively in higher education, in particular for those who are looking to improve the engagement of students in self-directed learning.

Adapted from-and extending-the recommendations found in Chickering and Gamson's, Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991), here are some of the most commonly agreed upon best practices for course design and development. They can be applied to both traditional and online courses, however some are particularly crucial to online course development.

scroll down the long page to find best practice guidelines

"Daves Moodle 2 file adventures" Slideshare presentation

Wimba Classroom quick step instructions for Blackboard

Heaps of useful Powerpoint files

Designing effective teaching and learning in La Trobe's Moodle LMS

"Can online discussion be structured to achieve a high level of effective student participation without an increase on staff workload? This resource considers structuring sustainable online discussion by applying Bill Pelz's (2004) principle to online discussion: "Get the students to do (most) of the work." "

Useful site with lots of Moodle support resources. This page -Online Strategies and Best Practices for instructors has some useful resources - video interviews under Core Competencies for Online Teaching Success are interesting.

* 1 Definition of Pedagogy * 2 Moodle in three short paragraphs * 3 Social Constructionism as a Referent * 4 How Moodle tries to support a Social Constructionist view * 5 Finding a balance * 6 Progression * 7 Where Moodle can do better and what we're doing about it o 7.1 Repositories and Portfolios o 7.2 Community Hubs o 7.3 Better interaction between tools o 7.4 Metadata and outcome statements o 7.5 Role-playing and scenario simulations * 8 What else would you like to see? * 9 Interesting links

Details the supported Operating Systems, supported Internet Browsers, and recommended system specifications for using the Wimba Classroom.

An overview of instructional design principles that may be used to guide beginning instructors in the creation of online learning courses and materials that support learner engagement and knowledge construction.

From the Australian Flexible Learning Framework, this VET page has several archived webinars on using ePortfolios and training people in the use of ePortfolios. Despite it's VET focus the materials are very useful and there's a lot that can be applied to the HE contect.