Academic Development Unit

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is unique in having the only law school in Australia whose distance program does not require a residential component. A key and innovative feature in teaching law externally at this regional and remote university is the use of web based audio conferencing to conduct tutorials. This paper is an exploratory reflection on the implementation of this educational technology. It describes the background to the introduction of the technology, how it works and practical experience to date. Within the online learning context and the place and value of synchronous and asynchronous components, the authors conclude that there is a need for further research into the effectiveness of the media and teaching methods being employed. This evidence will then be able to inform decisions about the future design of the Law School’s external program