Recent advances in the use of information and communications technologies in Higher Education have led to an explosion of interest in networked learning, which offers the potential for more open ended and flexible study in an ODL context. Anew generation of resource based courses in networked environments combines access to a wide variety of resources in electronic form, with the construction and negotiation of meaning through online collaborative interaction. This study set out to establish what assessment strategies might be appropriate to support student learning in this context. A case study of one Open University undergraduate course was undertaken over a three year period, with three cohorts of students, and the findings were compared with a short study of a second postgraduate course. The research explored perspectives on resource based learning in networked environments and highlighted aspects of assessment which appeared to support learning effectively. These findings led to the refining of assessment in later course presentations, demonstrating a successful interplay between evaluation and teaching practice. The study has confirmed that the assessment strategy must be aligned with the exercise of self-directed learning, whilst developing information handling and online collaborative skills, and allowing scope for open-ness and flexibility in content. The extent to which these criteria for design are important will depend on the stage of development of the students, and the aims, and degree of openness of the course. The experience here shows that it is important to identify and differentiate between appropriate skills required for a course, and those which the course will seek to develop, so that the assessment can reflect these aims.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 168 p. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis reports the outcomes of an investigation into students’ experience of Problem-based learning (PBL) in virtual space. PBL is increasingly being used in many fields including engineering education. At the same time many engineering education providers are turning to online distance education. Unfortunately there is a dearth of research into what constitutes an effective learning experience for adult learners who undertake PBL instruction through online distance education. Research was therefore focussed on discovering the qualitatively different ways that students experience PBL in virtual space. Data was collected in an electronic environment from a course, which adopted the PBL strategy and was delivered entirely in virtual space. Students in this course were asked to respond to open-ended questions designed to elicit their learning experience in the course. Data was analysed using the phenomenographical approach. This interpretative research method concentrated on mapping the qualitative differences in students’ interpretations of their experience in the course. Five qualitatively different ways of experiencing were discovered: Conception 1: ‘A necessary evil for program progression’; Conception 2: ‘Developing skills to understand, evaluate, and solve technical Engineering and Surveying problems’; Conception 3: ‘Developing skills to work effectively in teams in virtual space’; Conception 4: ‘A unique approach to learning how to learn’; Conception 5: ‘Enhancing personal growth’. Each conception reveals variation in how students attend to learning by PBL in virtual space. Results indicate that the design of students’ online learning experience was responsible for making students aware of deeper ways of experiencing PBL in virtual space. Results also suggest that the quality and quantity of interaction with the team facilitator may have a significant impact on the student experience in virtual PBL courses. The outcomes imply pedagogical strategies can be devised for shifting students’ focus as they engage in the virtual PBL experience to effectively manage the student learning experience and thereby ensure that they gain maximum benefit. The results from this research hold important ramifications for graduates with respect to their ease of transition into professional work as well as their later professional competence in terms of problem solving, ability to transfer basic knowledge to real-life engineering scenarios, ability to adapt to changes and apply knowledge in unusual situations, ability to think critically and creatively, and a commitment to continuous life-long learning and self-improvement.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri--St. Louis, 1993. / Includes abstract. "March, 1993." eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-187).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri--St. Louis, 1993. / Includes abstract. "March, 1993." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-187).

The desire to translate constructivist and sociocultural approaches to learning in specific learning activities is evident in most forms of training at current, not least in online education. Teachers worldwide are struggling with questions of how to create conditions in this fairly new realm of education for learners to contribute to the development of a good quality in their own and others' learning. Collaboration in forms of text talk in asynchronous, text based forums (ADF) is often used so students can participate at the location and time that suits them best given the other aspects of their life situation. But previous research show how collaboration in forms of text talk do not always evolve in expected quality, and how participation sometimes can be so low that no discussions at all take place. Perhaps it is time to move on and make use of the variety of user-friendly audio-visible technologies that offers conditions for collaboration similar to those in the physical environment? Is there any point to use ADF for collaboration, beyond the flexible opportunity for participation it allows? If so, why, how and under what conditions are it worthwhile to use ADF for tasks meant to be worked collaboratively on? These questions were the starting point of the studies in this thesis that was researched through two case studies involving different techniques and data samples of various natures, with the aim to understand more about collaborative text talk. The research approach differs from the vast majority of studies in the research field of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) where many studies currently are conducted by analysis of quantifiable data. The first case study was conducted in the context of non-formal learning in Swedish Liberal Adult Education online, and the second in the context of higher education online in Sweden. The studies in the thesis were made on basis of socio-cultural theory and empirical studies. Empirical data was collected from questionnaires, interviews and texts created by students participating in tasks that they jointly resolved through text talk. Some results were brought back to the students for further explanation of the results. Findings from data analysis were triangulated with other results and with sociocultural theory. The results indicate that students can create knowledge relevant to their studies through text talk, but can feel restrained or dismiss the activity as irrelevant if important conditions are lacking.  Collaboration through text talk makes individual resources accessible in a specific place where it can be observed and its validity for the purpose of the task evaluated by others. Students with good insight in what they are supposed to accomplish seem be able to consult relevant guidance for this evaluation, from teachers, textbooks, scientific articles and other valid experiences important to their studies, and thereby contribute to learning of the quality they studies are meant to produce. Text talk also increases teachers’ possibilities to identify what the guidance the study group needs when evaluating the gathered resources and through their own active participation provide support in the students “zone of proximal development”. Contributions offered to the CSCL research field is the identifications of important mechanisms related to learning collaboratively through text talk, and the use of case study methodology as inspiration for others to try also these kinds of strategies to capture online learning.

Orientador: Maria Lucia Lorenzetti Wodewotzki / Banca: Ole Skovsmose / Banca: Denise Helena Lombardo Ferreira / Resumo: Este trabalho discorre sobre uma experiência com alunos de uma disciplina de Estatística para Administração. Com os quais realizamos, extraclasse, trabalhos via Modelagem Matemática a distância: um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem, onde os alunos foram convidados a investigar a realidade por meio da Estatística. Deste ambiente emergiu o termo ciberespaço de interação: todo encontro online com o objetivo de discutir e encaminhar atividades de Modelagem. Nesta pesquisa, o objetivo principal foi utilizar o ambiente de Modelagem Matemática a distância na tentativa de criar condições para estes alunos desenvolverem uma Educação Estatística Crítica (EEC). Nesta linha, a Modelagem além de envolver investigações da realidade, trata-se de um ambiente onde os alunos ganham um amplo espaço para discussões, o que nos proporcionou identificar uma forma de desencadear reflexões: a partir das discussões que surgiram nos ciberespaços de interação. Sendo assim, estudamos a natureza das discussões e as categorizamos da seguinte maneira: Discussões Matemáticas, Discussões Reflexivas, Discussões Técnicas; Discussões Paralelas; e as novas ramificações identificadas nesta pesquisa: Discussões Paralelas Matemáticas, Discussões Paralelas Reflexivas, Discussões Paralelas Técnicas e Outras Discussões Paralelas. Diante disto, observamos que as Discussões Reflexivas e as Discussões Paralelas Reflexivas, são as que mais colaboram para o desenvolvimento de uma EEC / Abstract: This paper discusses an experience with students of the discipline of Statistics Administration. With which we performed, extracurricular, work via Mathematical Modeling in the distance: a virtual learning environment where students were invited to explore reality through the Mathematics and / or Statistics. From this environment emerged the term cyberspace interaction: every encounter online in order to discuss and forward modeling activities. In this research, the main objective was to use the environment for Mathematical Modeling at a distance in an attempt to create conditions for these students develop a Critical Education Statistics (CES). In this line, besides involving modeling investigations of reality, this is an environment where students gain a wide space for discussion, which provided us identify ways to stimulate reflections: from the discussions that have emerged in cyberspace interaction. Therefore, we studied the nature of the discussions and categorized as follows: Mathematical Discussion, Reflective Discussion, Technical Discussion, Discussion Parallels, and new branches identified in this research: Discussion Parallel Mathematics, Parallel Reflective Discussion, Discussion Technical Parallel and Other Discussion Parallel . It gave this classification and analysis on them, we see the Discussion Reflective and Reflective Discussion Parallels, are the most contribute to the development of a CES / Mestre

Online social interactions differ from face to face interactions and lack the non-verbal cues leading a learner to procrastinate, decreased motivation, feelings of isolation and high drop out rates. Existing research illustrates a need for social awareness information in online education, and this research studied the impact of the visual presence of social information on a learner's sense of connectedness and learning using Rovai's (2002) classroom community scale (CCS). Specifically, the study examined if a learners' sense of connectedness is improved with the exposure to others' social awareness information; and if and to what degree learning advanced due to the improved sense of connectedness. <br>Two, 5 X 1 between-subjects one-way analyses of covariances compared connectedness and learning scores of five social awareness information disclosure groups (appearance, educational, contact and personal information disclosure groups and control group). Although the study did not find evidence of exposure to social awareness information having an impact on learning, the findings confirm the claim that social awareness provides a sense of connectedness. The type of social information presented in the educational category (last degree earned, major and educational year) provided a strong relationship compared to other categories studied. <br>Educators, course designers and content management companies will benefit in recognizing that social awareness information positively impacts online educational participants by providing a sense of connectedness when presented with educational related materials. The development of social awareness support within a learning management system can improve an online learner's experience and enhance the quality of online education. This social awareness support in a learning management systems infrastructure is thus recommended. / School of Education / Instructional Technology (EdDIT) / EdD / Dissertation

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 1999. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Dissertation (Ed.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2010. / Directed by Carl Lashley; submitted to the Dept. of Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jul. 9, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-129).