Telematic Education (TE) is a non-academic department at TUT with 5 instructional designers. The mission is to introduce technology enhanced e-teaching and e-learning opportunities for both educators and learners, e.g. WebCT (LMS), E-testing (WebCT), Multimedia, Video-production, Video-conferencing and Mobile Technologies. The purpose is to change the traditional chalk-and-talk learning environment by empowering educators to create, manage and facilitate an e-learning environment that will result in unlimited support and alternative opportunities for both educators and learners. This will suit a major focus for the institution, i.e. an effort to improve the pass and retention rate of students, to enhance the teaching and learning environment and to integrate courses over the distances.

TE, established in 1998, was challenged to provide for capacity building, empowerment and professional development for educators in order to take advantage of e-learning opportunities provided by the WebCT LMS. The initial point of departure was a Project Proposal Model (PPM) where educators were encouraged to participate voluntarily in e-learning activities under certain conditions. In 2004 an alternative model, called Partners@Work (P@W), was introduced where educators were nominated by faculty members to a dedicated and in depth training program. In this presentation each participant contributes from a different perspective and shares their own involvement when introduced to and trained in how to develop, manage and facilitate e-learning. The four participants will discuss the failures and successes of their experience by different practical examples and substantiated results. Recommendations about the applicability of these models are highlighted.