Students+and+their+Learning+Styles

= Travel Online =

With the assistance of the Internet, the learning material I am developing could be used all over Australia. This course would appeal to several learner groups:
 * //The dedicated traveller//: those who have a real passion for travel and like to control their own booking plans
 * //The frugal traveller//: believes there are bargains to be found on-line rather than via a travel professional
 * //T////he travel agent//: some may already be in the industry and looking to re-train in areas they are currently unfamiliar with. They recognise that unless they embrace the Internet as a selling tool, they will be “left behind”
 * //The nervous traveller:// other students may be looking for easy and cost-effective solutions to booking travel and would like to develop their confidence by knowing they will be guided to work in a safe and protected online environment
 * //T////he corporate traveller:// This course material would also be useful within the corporate market, so that they may utilise the training programme as a development tool to further their administrative functions within a company, i.e. travel coordinator

"Learning styles can be defined as the different ways that people perceive, process and learn information. In order to accommodate this as facilitators we should try to present content in different ways to suit different types of learners and to offer different types of learning activities. As learners ourselves, we can make our own learning more effective and more enjoyable by considering our own preferred learning styles. As a course is developed, we should include the kinds of resources that we find easy to use, and the kinds of activities that we enjoy and assist our learning". Edith Cowan University website link: http://www.hr.ecu.edu.au/pd/html/ls_index.cfm Accessed: 09 February 2009 The learning styles and preferences for each of the "Student Types" listed will all be different to a certain extent, however their desired outcome will still be the same.

With this in mind, I have tried to include as much interactive activity as possible, including several different types of online tools to facilitate the training. Learners wishing to be involved in a short course will not normally enjoy lengthy articles to read; they will want to be shown examples how how websites work and then be provided with an environment to safetly trial them.

As much of the course will be "self-directed", I have provided a series of exercises at the conclusion of each topic to test their knowledge and also act as a revision of the subject content.

A unit or topic will be released each week, each with a different content, i.e. flights, coach, rail and cars. It will be a relatively fast-paced course with examples of 2 to 3 different websites for the students to use. The units will be covered thoroughly, but not in great depth, as ultimately they are not training to be travel professionals they simply want some knowledge to assist with their own travel plans.

The assessment options will allow the students to learn from each other, either through researching the topic provided or from their own past experiences. The assessment items will not be overly taxing, it will be a set task that will help to develop their own geographical knowledge as well as strengthen their researching skills.

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