Developing an active learning environment with courseware approach

Using multimedia tools in reaching and enhancing students' learning is of interest to many educators and researchers. Moreover, production of multimedia-based educational software has become a popular trend. Many of these products are basically a combination of text, animation, sounds and video scenes. This paper discusses some of the expected features of multimedia-based educational software and courseware approach that are useful in active learning. The focus of the paper will be on engineering education and we will use our circuits courseware product to illustrate some of the requirements. First, we will present a formal/typical definition of an active learning environment and discuss some of the necessary features of an appropriate courseware product for use in this kind of approach. Next, we will describe the development of our circuits courseware product.