This study examined a web-based undergraduate course structured around social learning theories through the lens of social construction as a theoretical framework and a case study research method. The purpose of the study was to investigate students' learning experiences from a cognitively guided research framework. Instructional strategies practiced in the course, instructional design developed, and demonstrated students' learning outcomes were examined to help characterize students' learning experiences. The study proceeded from a social constructivist framework, employing a qualitative case study approach. Data collected to support the description of students' learning experiences included early course survey, in-depth interviews, course documents, students' artifacts, online class interactions, email correspondences among participants, and the researcher's journals based on online observations. The results of the study reveal that students' learning experiences and learning outcomes were greatly affected by the instructor's belief about teaching a distance course. Her belief that students should be fully responsible for their own learning in the web-based course resulted in minimal facilitation of the class in all aspects, including moderating students' online discussions, fostering learning communities within the class, and providing elaborate, critical feedback to elicit students' cognitive processes. As a result, the engaged cognitive processes and knowledge domains students demonstrated over the term were not significantly improved. Furthermore, the course goal of establishing a collaborative, interactive, and social learning environment for distance students was not met. The results of this study contribute to the picture of the facilitation skills and moderating practices that support more fully the goal of the development of a cognitively rich learning community. / Graduation date: 2006

The purpose of this study was to identify if differences existed in perceived barrier factors and perceived attitude factors toward distance education between faculty and administrators in the decision stage and those in the implementation stage of distance education technology adoption. Information was gathered from teaching faculty and program leaders involved in agricultural education teacher preparation programs across the United States during the 1999-2000 academic year. The barrier statements were reduced to nine barrier factors and the attitude statements were reduced to five attitude factors through Principal Components Analysis. Respondents were grouped into the decision stage or the implementation stage of distance education technology adoption according to Rogers' (1995) innovation-decision process. Statistically significant differences existed for various technology types between the groups for both barrier factor scores and attitude factor scores. The following conclusions were formulated from this study: (a) a majority of the participants were in the decision stage of the innovation-decision process for distance education technology adoption; (b) on-line delivery of courses was the distance education technology most respondents were currently using or planning to use; (c) distance education was not a major factor helping to meet program level goals; (d) training opportunities were available for faculty who teach using distance education; (e) the majority of the population indicated they were not adequately supported by the department to teach using distance education technologies; (f) participants were planning to have resources available for students taking courses via distance education technologies, yet were noticeably indecisive for some resources; (g) cost barriers, course quality, student contact, and equipment concerns were considered barriers for a majority of the respondents; (h) each type of distance education technology had barrier factors that showed significant differences between participants in the decision stage and those in the implementation stage; (i) overall the respondents' attitudes were favorable to distance education, but significant differences in attitude factor scores were evident between deciders and implementers when viewed by type of distance education technology; (j) all but one of the barrier factor scores were considered reliable, and (k) all of the attitude factor scores were considered reliable. / Graduation date: 2003

This study was conducted to develop a holistic understanding of distance education by identifying factors and patterns of factors that foster or impede distance education. The Washington State Community and Technical College System provided the context for the investigation of four primary questions: 1. What is the community and technical college perception of distance education? 2. What factors affect the development of distance education? 3. Which factors and factor patterns foster distance education? 4. Which factors and factor patterns impede distance education? A literature review revealed three major themes related to this study: (a) change and transformation in higher education, (b) technology and learning, and (c) distance education. Further understanding of the context for this study was derived from a review of the history of distance education in Washington State. Data were collected from interviews, documents, and participant field observations. Interviews were conducted with one administrator and one practitioner from four community colleges and one technical college. The four community colleges were stratified by location and distance education history. Constant comparative data analysis generated four hypotheses from this study: 1. The five major factors that affect the development of distance education in community and technical colleges are: (a) institutional leadership, (b) technology, (c) support, (d) faculty and department acceptance, and (e) funding. 2. These five major factors are dynamically and interdependently linked to create a "whole" that is greater than the sum of its parts. 3. Distance education in community and technical colleges is advanced by coordinating and balancing these factors, rather than by focusing exclusively on any single factor. 4. Factors that have the potential to foster or impede distance education in the future, but little effect in 1997 include: (a) intellectual property, (b) governance, (c) contracts, (d) policies, and (e) accreditation. This study generated findings with implications for community and technical college distance education leadership, management, and practice. Additional research is warranted. It is recommended that statistical analysis of factors, validated by a modified Delphi panel, be conducted. / Graduation date: 1998

Thesis (Ph.D. (Didactics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Leadership and Policy Studies)--Vanderbilt University, May 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Current statistics suggest women form the majority of online learners. Their enrollment levels may be a result of promotional materials suggesting online learning allows learners access to flexible learning opportunities that will complement their busy lives. This research questions those assertions by examining the tensions women experience while learning online. Using a poststructural feminist approach, tensions are defined as the messy spaces where complexities, contradictions and competing ideas, actions, expectations, values and emotions interact to produce opposition and opportunities. Research questions asks: How do women learning online mediate tensions in the learning environment and in their own personal context? What tensions do women face when learning online? What strategies do they use to address these tensions? Are they able to find ways to balance or overcome these tensions? A poststructural feminist theoretical framework acknowledges the diversity of womens experiences and allows space for questioning discourse around lifelong learning, online learning, womens responsibilities, and institutional authority. Data was collected using multiple methods: photo-elicitation interviews and an online focus group plus a demographic survey and autoethnography. Twelve women, who all completed at least two online courses, participated representing learners of different ages, marital and family situations, geographical locations, and level and field of study. Six women took photographs, which formed the basis of face-to-face interviews. Six other women participated in an asynchronous online focus group. Themes from the results showed the tensions they experience, namely, the blurring between the boundaries between home and school, the cost of flexibility, and three strategies they used for mediating tensions (multitasking, procrastinating and persevering). While the women acknowledged the benefits of online learning and demonstrated that they were successful students, their narratives make it clear that they faced challenges in attending to and completing their schoolwork to the standards they desired, while meeting family and work responsibilities. A theoretical analysis explores how the poststructural feminist concepts of positionality and subjectivity are useful in examining womens experiences learning online and where there are gaps in applying this theoretical framework in online learning contexts. Participants narratives and photographs and the researchers own autobiographical narrative are included. / Adult Education

Distance education has seen rapid growth over the recent decades. The rapid development of Information Communication Technology [ICT] has been one of the main drivers of this growth in distance education. However, distance education and ICT themselves posts challenges to both students and educators alike. This thesis finds its basis in the problem of high failure rates and quality assurance issues in the Bachelor of Information Technology [BIT] distance degree programme conducted by the University of Colombo School of Computing in Sri Lanka. A Formative Assessment for Distance Education [FADE] model that promotes the development of and assesses higher-order skills in a collaborative online distance-learning environment was designed based on a methodological approach involving design-based research. The main study was focussed on two main problems, plagiarism in distance education [part A] and the use of technology to address the issues of learning and assessment [part B]. Research questions arising from different aspects of the design required the use of multiple methodologies. Issues of plagiarism in technology aided assessment in distance education put forward questions that required the use of a quasi-experiment and a literature survey. The empirical material of this phase of the study comprised of keystroke logs and questionnaire data. The design and evaluation of the FADE model employed a mixed method two-phase sequential explanatory strategy. The empirical material of this phase of the study comprised of questionnaires, observations coding, interviews and examination and registry data. The quasi-experimental data was analysed using a fuzzy logic engine. The questionnaire, observation coding and examination and registry data were statistically analysed and interviews were used to interpret and explain finding. The results of the part A of the study indicate that there are keystroke patterns for individuals that are stable within and across different tasks. However, the results of the literature review on plagiarism suggested the use of both technological and pedagogical approaches to plagiarism. Part B of the study, showed relationships between higher order thinking demonstrated by students and their course results and attitudes.  Collaborative learning skills demonstrated by students showed relationships to the students’ purpose of use of the FADE forum and their experience on the social web. This study finds that both technological tools and pedagogical practices have to be used in conjunction to limit the possibility of plagiarism. With reference to assessment with a focus on the development of higher order thinking, the study indicates that assessment should be based on the student’s perspective, the purpose and aim of the assessment and the assessment environment. Furthermore, the study finds that in distance education collaboration seems particularly important.

In the informational age of today, continuous learning is of greatest importance. The demand for this seems to be increasing, while at the same time people are under more pressure to carry out more tasks in shorter amounts of time. A way to solve the problem of finding time to learn could be to make use of the possibilities that Internet offers for learning at a distance. The purpose of this thesis is to, from a pedagogical perspective, contribute to the discussion concerning Internet based distance education for a target population consisting of professionals. We have found that some of the courses included in the two certification programs which we have investigated are suitable for Internet based distance education. Furthermore, we believe that such an educational format should be a complement, and not a substitute, for the target population.

This dissertation has the main purpose of analysing the biggest single musical educational project in Sweden, so far, Radiokonservatoriet (the Radio Conservatory) from an educational perspective. The project was planned and carried out in 1965–68. This was a time of change in Swedish society. The economy was stronger than ever which had made it possible to let education expand explosively. At the same time, the subject of music in schools was in trouble since the previous and obvious religious legitimacy had faded with secularisation. A lack of music teachers and a lack of relevant higher education in music were well known problems. The expectations were high on an educational project that was going to use media and new methods. Musicology was supposed to build the core of music teaching. In spite of the tough education with three new programmes every week, 132 students managed to conclude all the three courses and were awarded a diploma. In the analysis, I have used concepts from the theory of distance education. With great distance between teacher and pupil, the former has to create strong ”structure” and explicit declarations of how the material is formed in the sense of selection and progression. On the other hand, great distance creates a free space where the pupil can choose autonomously: where, when, and what to study. The Radio Conservatory was well aware of the pedagogic imperatives of the time: ”activity” and ”integration”. The included exercises show different activities of registering, analytic and creative kinds. Singing and playing instruments were not included as ”activities”. The integration of the project consisted of the fact that the three courses were given simultaneously. This gave advantages, but made the education extensive and disregarded the intention of blending different school subjects, which was the established pedagogic intention. The essentialistic striving to create a music subject built on musicology was fruitless. In the 1970s the interest in material theories and teaching content was marginalised in favour of formal theories. My proposal is that both these sides of interest, the material and the formal side of music education, should be balanced.

This thesis is a part of a project, “Interactive Learning in Distance Education”, funded by The Swedish Research Council. The overall purpose was, from adult distance learners’ perspective, to describe, analyse and understand factors influencing studies and interactive learning in asynchronous computer-mediated learning environments. Da¬ta were collected in 2003; from 62 students (56 women and six men) attending an undergraduate and a supplementary distance cour¬se within the teacher training program. The study was based on questionnaires, diaries, portfolios, interviews and transcriptions of students’ postings to the computer conferences FirstClass and Web¬Board, respectively. The courses included campus meetings and individual studies accompanied by study guides containing reading instructions, timetables and individual as well as group-related assign¬ments. Asynchronous text-based, computer-mediated commu¬nication (CMC) was used for dialogue among the participants. The results indicate that difficulties to combine studies with commitments in the students’ everyday lives and lack of familiarity with higher education and computer mediated distance education constituted learning obstacles. Almost everyone emphasised the importance of communicaion with peer students for feeling satisfied in the study and learning situation. They appreciated the asynchronous text-based CMC because it increased the flexibility of the studies. The students´ online behaviour and statements also indicate feelings of social presence and solidarity with peer learners, despite using a medium with relatively low capacity to convey social cues. Female and male students described similar difficulties of combining family, work and study. Women sho¬wed lower self-esteem in terms of computer skills and coping with their studies. They highlighted the social importance of the studygroup to a higher extent than the men did. The ideal course design in terms of structure, dialogue and autonomy altered depending on students´ perceptions of benefits. They wanted flexibility and autonomy to be able to combine the studies with commitments in their everyday life, at the same time they appreciated elements of structure and governance in situations when these involved saving of time. The communication in the computer conferences was extensive but the analysis of the learners’ contributions provides little evidence of effective collaborative learning activities. Several reasons to this were discussed, e.g. students´ lack of time and knowledge to form functioning learning communities, as well as insufficient course design to promote and support collaborative distance learning. It was concluded that there is a gap between teachers' ambitions to create an interactive learning environment on the one hand, and students´ skills, attitudes to collaboration and need to share their time between studies and other commitments on the other. Also, teachers´ ambitions to develop distance education aiming at collaboration and interactive learning are often hampered by their limited skills and time frames to design and implement such courses. / Interactive Learning in Distance Education