Trial-3 was an introductory course on e-learning (blended) course design. The objective of the course was to familiarize the students with the domain of e-learning as a part of new media usage through international group work on preparing an e-learning course. The course load was 5 ECTS.

The e-learning course consisted of a series of practical hands-on activities and reflective discussions in international groups, where the participants gained insight into e-learning concepts, issues, technologies, standards, methods and policies. These were introduced with real-life examples and with the support of an advanced distributed e-learning environment. Special attention was given to interoperability issues in learning technology domain, knowledge management and social-constructivist methods of computer-supported collaborative learning and networking. Students applied self-directed learning principles using conversational learning contracts.

The course lasted 14 weeks, and every week a specific topic was in focus in relation to e-learning in general and course design principles in particular (details see Appendix A). The students had to carry out a particular task every week either individually or in groups. In addition, the students were required to perform weekly reflections, which aimed to encourage students to review their own learning processes and learning activities and write about their success stories as well as failure. In order to support self-directed learning activities and understanding of one’s own learning skills and habits, a procedure for constructing learning contract procedure was implemented. Through this course the participants were assumed to:

• become familiar with key concepts, competing theories and approaches of designing e-learning,
• develop practical skills of setting up, implementing and evaluating the use of distributed set of integrated e-learning systems and tools,
• design a prototype of an advanced e-learning course,
• advance competence in self-directed learning projects, collaboration and social networking