Empowering learning through design: a comparative analysis of ICM course development for web-based and classroom delivery

This article reviews the development of two courses focussed on meeting Integrated Coastal Management capacity building needs: an undergraduate degree course, and a web-based distance learning course. Influential factors in the development of each course are identified and compared. Important considerations are found to be methods of quality assurance, course content, the temporal and spatial context of teaching and learning, level of learner empowerment, and the role of the teacher. It is concluded that in order to understand the role of such courses in capacity building, coastal educators need to share experiences and encourage reflection on the effectiveness of capacity building efforts.