Study On Project Management-Based Development Of Online Course For Distance Teaching And Learning

Distance education has grown rapidly in China since the pilot project of distance education. It has enrolled more than 5 million students by 2006, and this number grows even faster. Then, distance education organizations are facing the challenge in providing adequate online course for distance learners, within limited time, finance and human resources. Undoubtly, standardization and the quality monitoring of the development process is the key factors for success, while the project management method will be a good choice.This study investigated the actuality of online course development and development management process through a layered-sampling on the sixty-eight online colleges. The results indicate that it is necessary to introduce scientific management methods and tools into online course development and the application of project management method has been acknowledged.The purpose of this study is to design a widespread online course development model and write a standard online course development project handbook based on the project management theory.This study illuminated the content project management in online course development in distance education according to project management theory. Then the author analyzed several typical online course development models, and used them for references to construct online course development model, which combined management activities with development activities. After that the author applied the model to the online course development of the course, Human Resources Management of Enterprises, in order to revise the model. In the action research, the role of the author was the assistant of project manager and instruction designer. Interviews and observations were used for data collecting during project management process. The validity of action research has been proved by the project manager, members of the project group and data analysis of the observations.Finally, based on the analysis of project management theory and the case study of online course development, this study finished the online course development project handbook. And the author collected the assessment of the handbook.It is necessary to combine online course development activity with process management activities effectively and to apply project management tools in online course development project in distance education. Based on the data collected during the action and researcher's reflections in every stage, the author put forward suggestions to the project management of online course development.This study will help the practicers' work on the online course development in distance education and will promote the standardization of online course process management. The online course development model and handbook based on the project management theory has great significance for the theory and practice of distance education.