Using intranets to support teaching and learning

Computer networks now offer many interesting and exciting ways for accessing teaching and learning resources. They also make available many new possibilities for the support of both synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning activities. These can involve both autonomous and collaborative modes of study. This paper describes and discusses some of the ways in which private (in-house), web-based networks (intranets) can be used (possibly in conjunction with the Internet) to facilitate new ways of supporting student-managed, autonomous learning activities, The techniques involved are illustrated by means of a case study which deals with the teaching of a particular final year module within an undergraduate degree course at the University of Teesside. Some possible future applications of this approach to teaching and learning are then briefly discussed.