This chapter considers the use of cognitive styles and metacognitive skills in the design and development of e-learning environments. Participants involved in a unit in Human Computer Interaction used the results of a Riding’s Cognitive Styles Analysis to assist in the design and development of Web-based Individual Learning Environments (ILEs). Student reflections and cognitive styles results are considered in terms of their impact on the design process. They are also used to consider participants’ metacognitive awareness of their own cognitive and learning styles. It is suggested that the use of cognitive styles in this manner will produce interfaces and environments more suited to the learning requirements of each individual. In addition, the process of reflecting on and using the style results will help develop more metacognitively aware learners. The individual environment and metacognitive awareness are both desirable elements for a student-centered learning system for successfully participating in virtual education.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of individual and group factors that facilitate successful collaborative work in e-learning environments. The aim of the paper is to develop a conceptual framework and a methodology for implementing the framework. Design/methodology/approach -A theoretical framework is developed. The framework is an integration of two innovative methodologies (CEDA and RAPAD) which have been implemented in previous research. Findings -The operationalisation of the integrated methodology enables the development of a learning environment by structured reflection and negotiation on preferred learning related characteristics. Originality/value -The proposed approach facilitates student learning at the individual and group level. Extending the framework to training procedures locates the research to a broader societal context.

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This paper suggests that for academics to be good teachers, especially in the context of e-Learning, they need to understand learning. This is especially important with the associated changes in higher education as we move towards the knowledge society. E-Learning is embedded in learning and, without an understanding of what learning encompasses, it can be difficult for academics to develop into good teachers. It is suggested that, although this may appear to be a simple aim, it is not necessarily understood or applied by university academics in their teaching. One inference is that university teachers need to develop a theory of learning and teaching. Academics may have a 'philosophy of teaching', but in many cases even this may not be consciously held or successfully implemented. A program for promoting conceptual change in academics' approaches to teaching is outlined. Personalização e aprendizado: novos métodos para ensinar em e-learningResumo Esse artigo sugere que para estudantes serem bons professores, especialmente no contexto do e-Learning, é necessário entender de aprendizagem. Isso é especialmente importante devido às mudanças na educação superior, na medida em que nos movemos em direção a uma sociedade de conhecimentos. O e-Learning é baseado em aprendizagem e tem objetivo de formar bons professores, porém sua compreensão pode ser difícil para acadêmicos que não compreendem quais aspectos a aprendizagem engloba. Apesar de seu objetivo ser simples, ele não é necessariamente compreendido ou aplicado por acadêmicos universitários no ensino. Um dos problemas é que professores universitários têm que desenvolver uma teoria de aprendizagem e ensino. Logo, acadêmicos podem ter uma filosofia de ensino mas, em muitos casos, até essa filosofia pode não ser conscientemente realizada ou implementada com sucesso. Um programa para promover mudanças conceituais nas técnicas de ensino dos estudantes é destacado no artigo. Palavras-chave: Aprendizagem; Conhecimento; Tecnologia. Personalización y aprendizaje: nuevos métodos para enseñar en e-learningResumen Este artículo sugiere que para que estudiantes sean buenos profesores, especialmente en el contexto e-learning, es necesario entender sobre aprendizaje. Eso es especialmente importante por causa de los cambios en la educación superior, en la medida en que nos movemos en dirección a una sociedad de conocimientos. El e-learning es basado en aprendizaje y tiene como objetivo formar buenos profesores, pese a que su comprensión puede ser difícil para los académicos que no entienden cuales aspectos son englobados por el aprendizaje. Pese a su objetivo ser simple, no necesariamente es entendido o aplicado por universitarios académicos en la enseñanza. Uno de los problemas es que los profesores universitarios tienen que desarrollar una teoría de aprendizaje y enseñanza. De esa forma, los académicos pueden tener una filosofía de enseñanza, pero en muchos casos, esa propia filosofía puede no ser conscientemente realizada o implementada con suceso. Un programa para promover cam...

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This chapter introduces RAPAD, a reflective and participatory methodology for e-learning and lifelong learning. It argues that by engaging in a reflective and participatory design process for a personalized e-learning environment, individual students can attain a conceptual change in understanding the learning and e-learning process, especially their own. Students use a framework provided by the concept of a personal cognitive or learning profile and the design and development of a personalized e-learning environment (PELE) to engage with key aspects of their learning. This results in Flexible Student Alignment, a process by which students are better able to match their learning and e-learning characteristics and requirements to the practices, resources, and structures of universities in the emerging knowledge society. The use of Web-based technologies and personal reflection ensure that RAPAD is well-placed to be an adaptive methodology which continues to enhance the process of lifelong learning.

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