Ultimate or alternate? Enhancing the e-learning experience for creative media students : Hong Kong and Singapore perspective

Abstract

Online learning (E-learning) platforms such as Blackboard, Moodle, and MOOCs have been widely used in various higher educational institutions. These E-learning platforms have been designed and developed for students to enhance their learning experiences by promoting blended learning. Current research in this area has demonstrated the effectiveness of online learning for distance education and as an online resources tool for students’ benefit. Conversely, the potential of E-learning platforms for art, design, and creative media students’ learning experience have not been adequately explored extensively for the full benefit of it; for instance, courses that are meant to provide tutorial sessions, peer reviews, and project-based learning practices are not favorable to be delivered through general E-learning portals. Hence, this paper aspires to bridge the knowledge gap by providing insights into how the E-learning approach can be harnessed to facilitate the teaching process in art, design, and creative media courses. Through an analysis of sixty(60) face-to-face in-depth interviews and online surveys with current students and educators in tertiary creative media courses in Hong Kong and Singapore, this study seeks to examine the current E-learning model and makes recommendations to generate better understanding in order to build an enhanced conceptual model. Furthermore, the findings of this study will indicate that customized and improved E-learning experiences are much needed for creative media students which could be catered to their specific pedagogical needs of the discipline.