Implementing an integrated web-based synchronous elearning collaboration platform at tertiary level for part-time mature evening students

This thesis focuses on the lessons learned and new insights gained, from the pilot implementation of a webbased; synchronous eLearning collaboration platform at Tertiary Level evaluated on part-time mature evening; students.; Over the past ten years, with the advent of the Internet, the convergence of communication and computer; technologies has facilitated the development of eLearning models and platforms.; The scope of this research is to explore and evaluate the use of these newly emerging synchronous eLearning; technologies in lectures for part-time mature evening students as part of a course at Tertiary Level.; The availability of sufficient base data from projects of this nature is very limited.; A blend of traditional University teaching, pedagogies and strategies coupled with the use of emerging webbased; collaboration models and platforms, both synchronous and asynchronous, would appear to offer; significant potential for a blended eLearning solution at Institutional, Faculty and Student level.; Through the GENIUS project, this research was afforded the opportunity to put a blended eLearning solution; to the test within a traditional University where non-traditional learners engage in continuing professional; educational and development, in effect, part-time mature evening students at Trinity College.; The advantages and disadvantages of the approach have been discussed.; A comprehensive literature review and investigation of enabling technologies and currently accepted best; practice has been carried out as part of this research.; Lessons learned from the four lecture presentations at the Computer Science Department, at the University of; Dublin, Trinity College are detailed. Different perspectives were addressed specifically of Faculty ?; Management and Administration, Lecturer and Student.; Arising from this research, it is clear that despite stated limitations a blended learning model can be used to; address the constituency, but possibly not yet until the effectiveness of the broadband domain.