Adopting a learner-centred focus with online delivery of service mathematics

With the advantage of hindsight, the comparison drawn by James Kaput in 1992, likening the task of describing the role of technology in mathematics education to that of attempting to describe a newly active volcano, appears an astute observation. His statement acknowledges the pressure that advances in technology exert as they move to drive education and the discipline of mathematics from outside and simultaneously act to support learning from within. This paper discusses a role for technology in mathematics education that few vlIiters foresaw at the end of last centtuy; that is, through the World Wide Web to offer online delivery of mathematics in environments that centre on the individual learner and their needs. The case for online delivery as a medium that adopts a leamer-centred focus is put forward. This paper discusses an initiative to develop a leamer-centred environment for a level-one business mathematics course at Central Queensland University. It win be maintained that the creation of such a learning environment offers individual mathematics-learners opportunities for understanding above and beyond those offered through traditional media.