Design for Adoption

The Internet, and particularly the World Wide Web, has been hailed as having the potential to transform teaching and learning. However, technological possibilities do not automatically transfer into more effective teaching and learning. Instead it takes a deliberate and careful design to integrate technology into education. This article examines the systematic design of a Web-based education environment that draws on social, cognitive, and technological resources to improve teaching and learning This environment, eWeb, is intended to support a wide variety of educational activities in a range of organizational and theoretical contexts over the Internet. The goals and design principles of eWeb are discussed with an emphasis placed on creating applications that promote widespread adoption and new ways of teaching and learning.