The essential lessons from the research literature on successful e-learning are brought together to show how to structure online learning. The results are presented within the framework provided by the seven maxims for effective teaching formulated by McMahon (2006).

This paper starts from the premise that using learning outcomes to organise the curriculum has been demonstrated to be beneficial to both students and teachers. Accepting, however, that there are legitimate concerns over the extent to which the use of learning outcomes can inhibit originality and critical thinking of students, this paper uses the…