Integrating CMC into distance learning programmes: Lancaster University advanced learning technology programme

Computer mediated communications (CMC) are changing teaching and learning patterns in higher education. Multimedia CMC environments provide opportunities for learning in flexible yet cost effective ways: from distributed locations and within flexible time frames. They allow learners and tutors to draw upon, and interact with, a vast army of resources, using them to define problems and to represent ideas in different media, and to augment the resources with personal commentary, questions and alternative viewpoints. We explore how CMC or groupware systems are used to promote dynamic learning partnerships: between educational providers and a specialist practitioner community; between tutors and learners; and between learners and learners. We begin by describing a professional development programme that utilises communication technologies for flexible learning networks. We then outline some of the successful models for CMC participation we have used on the programme, leading into a discussion of how multimedia groupware systems can be used to support collaborative learning activities. The main focus of the paper is the pedagogical principles that provide the underlying foundation for, and give structure to, the design of effective CMC and groupware learning systems.