Computerised Choice and Negotiation in the National Certificate

Burton, Phillip John (1993) Computerised Choice and Negotiation in the National Certificate. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

One of the original aims of the National Certificate was that it would encourage more students to participate in further education by offering flexibility and choice. Students of differing interests and needs would, through the process of negotiation and by the exercise of choice, achieve a greater sense of 'ownership' of their courses, thereby enhancing their motivation to succeed, and would develop a greater sense of responsibility for their own actions. Choice and negotiation were to be concerned with a number of aspects of the student's studies; this work focuses on the way in which the student should participate in the construction of his course by choosing the units of study, the modules, which would make up that course. It is the contention of this work that choice and negotiation are largely denied to the majority of students. Studies of the extent of choice in the National Certificate have been summarised, and the reasons for the lack of choice identified. It is argued that some of the problems associated with choice can be overcome by the use of a properly designed computer system. The factors influencing the design of such a system are described. A prototype program simulating the operation of key parts of the system is described and evaluated. This work contributes to the literature on the National Certificate, in respect of choice and negotiation, demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system in terms of facilitating choice and encouraging negotiation, and details the design criteria on which the system should be built.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: W Dunn
• Keywords: Education policy, Instructional design, Educational technology, Vocational education
• Date of Award: 1993
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1993-76081
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• Last Modified: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/76081