Authentic activity as a model for web-based learning

Abstract

There has been a renewed interest in the role of authentic activities within courses as constructivist philosophy and advances in technology influence instructional design in higher education. This paper proposes ten characteristics of authentic activities, based on a substantial body of educational theory and research, which can assist teachers in designing more engaging and effective web-based learning environments. The paper presents the preliminary results of an in-depth investigation of two web-based courses using the aforementioned characteristics as an analytical framework. Preliminary analysis of the data generally supports the design of web-based courses around authentic activities.