Doctor of Philosophy / The thesis of this study is that two seemingly disparate research disciplines can be coalesced to develop an effective pedagogical framework for educational design in the context of networked learning. That contention is grounded in, and inspired by, the rapid developments in educational technologies which have greatly changed the landscape in teaching and learning in higher education over the last decade. The study attempts to add to the corpus of contemporary learning theory which sees students not merely as passive recipients of knowledge, but as active participants in the learning process, having much greater control over their selection of technological learning tools, learning resources and learning methodologies. This is very much in line with the shift from the traditional focus on content design and knowledge transmission towards a more student-centred design for knowledge co-construction, a development which demands the type of new thinking about the design of learning tasks and learning resources contained in this study. Also set out are new lines of action for the fashioning of a collaborative learning environment, for community interaction and the sharing of knowledge, and for promoting good teaching and learning practice. The central argument of the study is that such pedagogical goals may be attained by juxtaposing the theories of Systemic Functional Linguistics (hereafter SFL) and pattern languages. These have not, thus far, been used in combination. SFL is a well established theory in the study of language, and is used in this thesis to help analyse and classify discourses produced and shared by teachers and students in networked learning. Pattern languages have their origin in architecture. Design patterns can be used as a means of representing and sharing important and specific empirical research results and design experiences. This new knowledge can be used to support and improve the quality of educational design. The study has two central components. The first uses the SFL theoretical framework to demonstrate how text is used as a key medium in networked learning. In other words, it is argued in this section that the quality of texts has a direct impact on the quality of learning and learning outcomes. The quality of text is assessed by means of a detailed discourse analysis of selected texts. This process involves deconstructing, identifying and capturing the linguistic resources and language strategies used in the texts. The detailed discourse analysis also illustrates and reveals how language is used in the construction of knowledge and the promotion of collaboration in teaching and learning. The second component centres on the argument that SFL provides valuable language knowledge which can be represented by using Alexander’s design patterns. New knowledge encoded in these design patterns can be used by teachers and designers as reusable and shared resources to help them improve their design work. The empirical research was carried out in three phases. The first involved a) the identification of text patterns of discourses used in networked learning based on detailed discourse analysis; b) Interviewing experienced academic staff to identify their perspectives on good online teaching practices and success factors. The second phase involved using the data which emerged from these interviews and discourse analysis to model illustrative patterns. (Here, illustrative means that due to the scope of the study, it is only possible to develop a limited number of patterns to illustrate the methods used for pattern development. It is not the intention to develop a full repository of design patterns in this study). In the third (validation) phase the patterns were reviewed by two groups of academic staff, with the aim of improving these patterns. Improved patterns were then tested on a group of educational design students for their usefulness and application. It is concluded from this research that it is possible to develop design patterns which ensure the best use of linguistic resources in both the teaching and learning process. Finally, it is argued that the combination of SFL and pattern languages provides a promising theoretical framework for the complex and demanding task of educational design. Future research could make use of such a framework to explore a fuller application of the pattern- based approach for the representation of new knowledge for educational design. Suggested additional research directions include finding new ways of capturing a new pedagogical approach to mobile learning and blended learning. Also, a promising direction could be the use of SFL Appraisal theory (Martin, 2000) for the investigation on how students construct interpersonal relationships (appraise peer work) in online joint projects. In the conclusion, it is contended that through its exploration of new ground in the use of SFL and pattern language theory in the construction of education design patterns, the study makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of networked learning.

Doctor of Philosophy / The thesis of this study is that two seemingly disparate research disciplines can be coalesced to develop an effective pedagogical framework for educational design in the context of networked learning. That contention is grounded in, and inspired by, the rapid developments in educational technologies which have greatly changed the landscape in teaching and learning in higher education over the last decade. The study attempts to add to the corpus of contemporary learning theory which sees students not merely as passive recipients of knowledge, but as active participants in the learning process, having much greater control over their selection of technological learning tools, learning resources and learning methodologies. This is very much in line with the shift from the traditional focus on content design and knowledge transmission towards a more student-centred design for knowledge co-construction, a development which demands the type of new thinking about the design of learning tasks and learning resources contained in this study. Also set out are new lines of action for the fashioning of a collaborative learning environment, for community interaction and the sharing of knowledge, and for promoting good teaching and learning practice. The central argument of the study is that such pedagogical goals may be attained by juxtaposing the theories of Systemic Functional Linguistics (hereafter SFL) and pattern languages. These have not, thus far, been used in combination. SFL is a well established theory in the study of language, and is used in this thesis to help analyse and classify discourses produced and shared by teachers and students in networked learning. Pattern languages have their origin in architecture. Design patterns can be used as a means of representing and sharing important and specific empirical research results and design experiences. This new knowledge can be used to support and improve the quality of educational design. The study has two central components. The first uses the SFL theoretical framework to demonstrate how text is used as a key medium in networked learning. In other words, it is argued in this section that the quality of texts has a direct impact on the quality of learning and learning outcomes. The quality of text is assessed by means of a detailed discourse analysis of selected texts. This process involves deconstructing, identifying and capturing the linguistic resources and language strategies used in the texts. The detailed discourse analysis also illustrates and reveals how language is used in the construction of knowledge and the promotion of collaboration in teaching and learning. The second component centres on the argument that SFL provides valuable language knowledge which can be represented by using Alexander’s design patterns. New knowledge encoded in these design patterns can be used by teachers and designers as reusable and shared resources to help them improve their design work. The empirical research was carried out in three phases. The first involved a) the identification of text patterns of discourses used in networked learning based on detailed discourse analysis; b) Interviewing experienced academic staff to identify their perspectives on good online teaching practices and success factors. The second phase involved using the data which emerged from these interviews and discourse analysis to model illustrative patterns. (Here, illustrative means that due to the scope of the study, it is only possible to develop a limited number of patterns to illustrate the methods used for pattern development. It is not the intention to develop a full repository of design patterns in this study). In the third (validation) phase the patterns were reviewed by two groups of academic staff, with the aim of improving these patterns. Improved patterns were then tested on a group of educational design students for their usefulness and application. It is concluded from this research that it is possible to develop design patterns which ensure the best use of linguistic resources in both the teaching and learning process. Finally, it is argued that the combination of SFL and pattern languages provides a promising theoretical framework for the complex and demanding task of educational design. Future research could make use of such a framework to explore a fuller application of the pattern- based approach for the representation of new knowledge for educational design. Suggested additional research directions include finding new ways of capturing a new pedagogical approach to mobile learning and blended learning. Also, a promising direction could be the use of SFL Appraisal theory (Martin, 2000) for the investigation on how students construct interpersonal relationships (appraise peer work) in online joint projects. In the conclusion, it is contended that through its exploration of new ground in the use of SFL and pattern language theory in the construction of education design patterns, the study makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of networked learning.

A base teórica de um curso online de língua adicional, bem como sua metodologia de ensino, seus materiais didáticos, ambientes virtuais e ferramentas online, são geralmente definidos e criados antes do início do curso ou da realização de atividades durante o curso. Quando o curso inicia, professores e alunos são inevitavelmente impelidos a lidar com tarefas pedagógicas e espaços virtuais criados ou escolhidos previamente, podendo ocasionar tensões de diferentes naturezas entre o design do curso, o andamento do curso e os seus participantes. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivos (a) analisar imbricamentos entre o design de um curso online e as atividades realizadas durante o curso e (b) analisar modos locais de atualização dos conceitos de participação colaborativa e gênero do discurso tanto no design quanto nas atividades pedagógicas realizadas em um curso a distância. Para tal, analisamos dados gerados nas duas primeiras edições (oferecidas em 2011) do CEPI-Português/UFRGS, um curso online de Português como Língua Adicional (PLA) desenhado especificamente para intercambistas que estudarão na UFRGS, e realizado via internet por aproximadamente 8 semanas, antes de os estudantes viajarem para Porto Alegre. As análises destacam a natureza descritiva de tarefas como planos, instruções para ações situadas, como objetos discursivos em relação aos quais os participantes são convidados a agir responsivamente pela realização de atividades situadas. Além disso, destaca a fragilidade de se pressupor, como professor, uma cognição socialmente compartilhada sobre (a) as tarefas e (b) o construto teórico subjacente ao curso e aos métodos de ensino. Ao final, levantamos implicações para a formação de professores de línguas adicionais no que tange à elaboração de tarefas pedagógicas e ao empreendimento de práticas pedagógicas para ensino de línguas adicionais em ambientes digitais. / The theoretical basis of an online additional language course and its teaching methodology, learning materials, virtual environments and tools are generally conceived or chosen before the course starts or previous to the course ongoing activities. When the course starts, teachers and students are compelled to deal with pedagogical tasks and virtual spaces created or chosen beforehand, which may cause different tensions among the course design, its development, and the participants. This research aims at (a) examining interconnections between the design of an online course and the activities undertaken during the course and (b) analyzing how the concepts of collaborative participation and discourse genres are locally put into action in both course design and in the pedagogical activities performed throughout the online course. We analyzed data generated in the first two editions (offered in 2011) of CEPI-Portuguese/UFRGS, an online Portuguese as an Additional Language (PLA) course designed specifically for exchange students who will study at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil), and taught via internet during approximately eight weeks, prior to their traveling to Porto Alegre. The analyzes highlight the descriptive nature of pedagogical tasks as plans, instructions for situated actions, as discursive objects to which participants are asked to respond through their participation in situated activities. The analyzes also emphasize the problem of assuming a socially shared cognition about (a) the pedagogical tasks and (b) the theoretical construct that underlies the course and the teaching methods. We present implications for teacher education concerning task design and the development of teaching practices specifically for additional language teaching in digital environments.

A base teórica de um curso online de língua adicional, bem como sua metodologia de ensino, seus materiais didáticos, ambientes virtuais e ferramentas online, são geralmente definidos e criados antes do início do curso ou da realização de atividades durante o curso. Quando o curso inicia, professores e alunos são inevitavelmente impelidos a lidar com tarefas pedagógicas e espaços virtuais criados ou escolhidos previamente, podendo ocasionar tensões de diferentes naturezas entre o design do curso, o andamento do curso e os seus participantes. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivos (a) analisar imbricamentos entre o design de um curso online e as atividades realizadas durante o curso e (b) analisar modos locais de atualização dos conceitos de participação colaborativa e gênero do discurso tanto no design quanto nas atividades pedagógicas realizadas em um curso a distância. Para tal, analisamos dados gerados nas duas primeiras edições (oferecidas em 2011) do CEPI-Português/UFRGS, um curso online de Português como Língua Adicional (PLA) desenhado especificamente para intercambistas que estudarão na UFRGS, e realizado via internet por aproximadamente 8 semanas, antes de os estudantes viajarem para Porto Alegre. As análises destacam a natureza descritiva de tarefas como planos, instruções para ações situadas, como objetos discursivos em relação aos quais os participantes são convidados a agir responsivamente pela realização de atividades situadas. Além disso, destaca a fragilidade de se pressupor, como professor, uma cognição socialmente compartilhada sobre (a) as tarefas e (b) o construto teórico subjacente ao curso e aos métodos de ensino. Ao final, levantamos implicações para a formação de professores de línguas adicionais no que tange à elaboração de tarefas pedagógicas e ao empreendimento de práticas pedagógicas para ensino de línguas adicionais em ambientes digitais. / The theoretical basis of an online additional language course and its teaching methodology, learning materials, virtual environments and tools are generally conceived or chosen before the course starts or previous to the course ongoing activities. When the course starts, teachers and students are compelled to deal with pedagogical tasks and virtual spaces created or chosen beforehand, which may cause different tensions among the course design, its development, and the participants. This research aims at (a) examining interconnections between the design of an online course and the activities undertaken during the course and (b) analyzing how the concepts of collaborative participation and discourse genres are locally put into action in both course design and in the pedagogical activities performed throughout the online course. We analyzed data generated in the first two editions (offered in 2011) of CEPI-Portuguese/UFRGS, an online Portuguese as an Additional Language (PLA) course designed specifically for exchange students who will study at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil), and taught via internet during approximately eight weeks, prior to their traveling to Porto Alegre. The analyzes highlight the descriptive nature of pedagogical tasks as plans, instructions for situated actions, as discursive objects to which participants are asked to respond through their participation in situated activities. The analyzes also emphasize the problem of assuming a socially shared cognition about (a) the pedagogical tasks and (b) the theoretical construct that underlies the course and the teaching methods. We present implications for teacher education concerning task design and the development of teaching practices specifically for additional language teaching in digital environments.

A base teórica de um curso online de língua adicional, bem como sua metodologia de ensino, seus materiais didáticos, ambientes virtuais e ferramentas online, são geralmente definidos e criados antes do início do curso ou da realização de atividades durante o curso. Quando o curso inicia, professores e alunos são inevitavelmente impelidos a lidar com tarefas pedagógicas e espaços virtuais criados ou escolhidos previamente, podendo ocasionar tensões de diferentes naturezas entre o design do curso, o andamento do curso e os seus participantes. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivos (a) analisar imbricamentos entre o design de um curso online e as atividades realizadas durante o curso e (b) analisar modos locais de atualização dos conceitos de participação colaborativa e gênero do discurso tanto no design quanto nas atividades pedagógicas realizadas em um curso a distância. Para tal, analisamos dados gerados nas duas primeiras edições (oferecidas em 2011) do CEPI-Português/UFRGS, um curso online de Português como Língua Adicional (PLA) desenhado especificamente para intercambistas que estudarão na UFRGS, e realizado via internet por aproximadamente 8 semanas, antes de os estudantes viajarem para Porto Alegre. As análises destacam a natureza descritiva de tarefas como planos, instruções para ações situadas, como objetos discursivos em relação aos quais os participantes são convidados a agir responsivamente pela realização de atividades situadas. Além disso, destaca a fragilidade de se pressupor, como professor, uma cognição socialmente compartilhada sobre (a) as tarefas e (b) o construto teórico subjacente ao curso e aos métodos de ensino. Ao final, levantamos implicações para a formação de professores de línguas adicionais no que tange à elaboração de tarefas pedagógicas e ao empreendimento de práticas pedagógicas para ensino de línguas adicionais em ambientes digitais. / The theoretical basis of an online additional language course and its teaching methodology, learning materials, virtual environments and tools are generally conceived or chosen before the course starts or previous to the course ongoing activities. When the course starts, teachers and students are compelled to deal with pedagogical tasks and virtual spaces created or chosen beforehand, which may cause different tensions among the course design, its development, and the participants. This research aims at (a) examining interconnections between the design of an online course and the activities undertaken during the course and (b) analyzing how the concepts of collaborative participation and discourse genres are locally put into action in both course design and in the pedagogical activities performed throughout the online course. We analyzed data generated in the first two editions (offered in 2011) of CEPI-Portuguese/UFRGS, an online Portuguese as an Additional Language (PLA) course designed specifically for exchange students who will study at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil), and taught via internet during approximately eight weeks, prior to their traveling to Porto Alegre. The analyzes highlight the descriptive nature of pedagogical tasks as plans, instructions for situated actions, as discursive objects to which participants are asked to respond through their participation in situated activities. The analyzes also emphasize the problem of assuming a socially shared cognition about (a) the pedagogical tasks and (b) the theoretical construct that underlies the course and the teaching methods. We present implications for teacher education concerning task design and the development of teaching practices specifically for additional language teaching in digital environments.