From graduate to undergraduate - Translating a successful online graduate model for undergraduate teaching

Online teaching has not as yet penetrated too deeply into the undergraduate culture, and most successful programs are targeted towards vocational or postgraduate courses. It is often argued that postgraduate students are more likely to have the skills necessary to survive in an online environment. However, there is a large cross-section of undergraduates, which would find benefits in the flexibility of online delivery and will also possess the skills necessary to successfully complete online courses. Anecdotal evidence indicates a changing profile for undergraduate students where many continue to work part-time while studying. The work-experience gained by these students can give them experiences, which can be used to construct their learning experience in a synergistic manner by utilization of an appropriate online paradigm. This paper details the experiences of translating a successful online teaching approach used in a fully online postgraduate course to an undergraduate program.