Comparing Web Based Course Development with and without a Learning Environment.

Over the last five years, several online courses covering different subjects have been developed and delivered in different settings at Wageningen UR (Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands). The total course content developed and delivered with a learning environment is equivalent with about 700 hours of study, and the total course content developed and delivered without a learning environment is equivalent with about 400 hours of study. This paper discusses the theoretical benefits of learning environments in general, the use of Keller's ARCS (Attention Relevance Confidence Satisfaction) model for instructional design, actual experience with a specific Learning environment based on MS SQL Server and Cold Fusion, and the reasons why it was decided not to develop every course in a learning environment. The paper also describes and evaluates the current development approach, which is based on a set of tools for World Wide Web site management and tools for authoring of content. (MES)