Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 1999. / Title from title screen (viewed Apr. 21, 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Education. Degree awarded 1999; thesis submitted 1998. Includes bibliography. Also available in print form.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed February 23, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-178)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia State University, 2007. / Title from file title page. Christine Thomas, committee chair; Stephen Harmon, Pier Junor-Clark, Lynn Stallings, committee members. Electronic text (122 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed August 11, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-115).

O objetivo desta dissertação foi desenvolver um método para implementação e acompanhamento de atividades a distância em disciplinas de Estatística, por meio de ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem. O método inclui alguns recursos comumente encontrados em ambientes virtuais, como materiais de leitura, fórum, chat, correio eletrônico, FAQ, links, espaço compartilhado de trabalho e quadro de notas. O método foi aplicado a uma disciplina semipresencial do curso de graduação em Administração da FEA-RP/USP. Este trabalho se configura como uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, com delineamento por estudo de caso único, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de observação participante (nos processos de tutoria), entrevistas do tipo focus group, relatórios de acessos dos alunos ao ambiente e um survey sobre o perfil da turma. O gerenciamento do curso ocorreu conjuntamente com o processo de tutoria da disciplina, o que permitiu acompanhar os acessos dos alunos a cada recurso do ambiente e o seu desempenho nas atividades propostas. Observou-se que alguns recursos não foram utilizados da forma planejada pelo método. A análise de regressão revelou que, durante a primeira fase da disciplina, as discussões no fórum e o desempenho nos trabalhos práticos influenciaram positivamente o desempenho do aluno na prova. Na segunda fase, apenas o trabalho prático e o fórum influenciaram na nota da prova. A análise de cluster identificou quatro grupos de alunos com desempenho: excelente, bom, mediano e insatisfatório. Os resultados indicam que outras variáveis, além das atividades a distância, determinam o desempenho do aluno na disciplina. / The objective of this dissertation was to develop a method for distance activities introduction and attendance in Statistics subjects through learning virtual environments. The method includes some resources commonly found in virtual environments, such as reading materials, forum, chat, electronic mail, FAQ, links, shared work space, and table of notes. The method was applied to a subject semi-presence of the Administration graduation course of FEARP/ USP. This work is a qualitative and descriptive research, with an outline by a single casestudy, of which data collection occurred through present observation (in the tutorial processes), interviews like focus group, reports of students accesses to the environment and a survey about the group profile. The management of the course occurred together with the subject tutorial process, which allowed attending the students\' accesses to each environment resource and their development in the proposed activities. It was observed that some resources were not used in the planned way by the method. The regression analysis revealed that, during the first stage of the subject, the discussions in the forum and the development in the practical works influenced positively the student\'s development in the test. In the second stage just the practical work and the forum influenced in the test\'s grade. The cluster analysis identified four groups of students with excellent, good, medium, and unsatisfactory developments. The results indicate that other variables, besides the distance activities, determine the student\'s development in the subject.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi desenvolver um método para implementação e acompanhamento de atividades a distância em disciplinas de Estatística, por meio de ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem. O método inclui alguns recursos comumente encontrados em ambientes virtuais, como materiais de leitura, fórum, chat, correio eletrônico, FAQ, links, espaço compartilhado de trabalho e quadro de notas. O método foi aplicado a uma disciplina semipresencial do curso de graduação em Administração da FEA-RP/USP. Este trabalho se configura como uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, com delineamento por estudo de caso único, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de observação participante (nos processos de tutoria), entrevistas do tipo focus group, relatórios de acessos dos alunos ao ambiente e um survey sobre o perfil da turma. O gerenciamento do curso ocorreu conjuntamente com o processo de tutoria da disciplina, o que permitiu acompanhar os acessos dos alunos a cada recurso do ambiente e o seu desempenho nas atividades propostas. Observou-se que alguns recursos não foram utilizados da forma planejada pelo método. A análise de regressão revelou que, durante a primeira fase da disciplina, as discussões no fórum e o desempenho nos trabalhos práticos influenciaram positivamente o desempenho do aluno na prova. Na segunda fase, apenas o trabalho prático e o fórum influenciaram na nota da prova. A análise de cluster identificou quatro grupos de alunos com desempenho: excelente, bom, mediano e insatisfatório. Os resultados indicam que outras variáveis, além das atividades a distância, determinam o desempenho do aluno na disciplina. / The objective of this dissertation was to develop a method for distance activities introduction and attendance in Statistics subjects through learning virtual environments. The method includes some resources commonly found in virtual environments, such as reading materials, forum, chat, electronic mail, FAQ, links, shared work space, and table of notes. The method was applied to a subject semi-presence of the Administration graduation course of FEARP/ USP. This work is a qualitative and descriptive research, with an outline by a single casestudy, of which data collection occurred through present observation (in the tutorial processes), interviews like focus group, reports of students accesses to the environment and a survey about the group profile. The management of the course occurred together with the subject tutorial process, which allowed attending the students\' accesses to each environment resource and their development in the proposed activities. It was observed that some resources were not used in the planned way by the method. The regression analysis revealed that, during the first stage of the subject, the discussions in the forum and the development in the practical works influenced positively the student\'s development in the test. In the second stage just the practical work and the forum influenced in the test\'s grade. The cluster analysis identified four groups of students with excellent, good, medium, and unsatisfactory developments. The results indicate that other variables, besides the distance activities, determine the student\'s development in the subject.

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine and develop statistics education by implementing computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL). This study has been influenced by design-based research, and it focuses on describing the statistical learning of upper secondary school students (N=138) in a CSCL environment, both quantitative and qualitative methods have been utilised. The present study is filling a gaping void in classroom study and disseminates new knowledge with a novel approach in combining CSCL, mathematics education at secondary level and statistical literacy. First, the students’ starting level in statistical literacy was assessed in the pre-test in which students’ perceptions and knowledge of statistics was evaluated. The results showed that students had a severe lack of understanding of basic statistical concepts. Second, CSCL supports students in collaborating asynchronously in different small-groups by using technology. Results suggest that studying in a group fostered their learning and the electronic and interactive material clarified learned topics which was designed by integrating the principles of cognitive theory of multimedia learning. Third, the shift from traditional didactic instruction towards student-centred CSCL learning was challenging for students. According to the results, students had only a few earlier experiences in learning CSCL environments. The quality of the students’ conversational acts varied considerably. It seems that learning how to collaborate productively needs practice. According to the results, the articulation and quality of mathematical discussion increased as students’ acquaintance with their teammates improved. Students’ collaboration in small groups was examined by using video analyses and content analyses. Contact summary sheet -instrument used in analyses facilitated observation of the magnitude and quality in student’s inter-subjective phenomena in collaborative learning. Fourth, students in the treatment group had better learning outcomes than students in the control group. The results suggest a statistically significant difference between treatment and control groups only in the delayed post-test and the effect size indicates a medium effect. The interactive material and CSCL seemed to foster and facilitate the development of statistical literacy. Nevertheless, students were critical of studying in the CSCL environment. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia ja kehittää tilastojen opetusta hyödyntäen tietokoneavusteista yhteisöllistä oppimista (CSCL). Tutkimus on saanut vaikutteita design-perustaisesta tutkimuksesta ja se keskittyy kuvaamaan lukio-opiskelijoiden (N=138) tilastojen oppimista CSCL-ympäristössä ja tutkimuksessa on hyödynnetty kvantitatiivisia ja kvalitatiivisia menetelmiä. Tämä tutkimus lisää tietämystä luokkahuonetutkimuksesta ja yhdistää CSCL:n ja tilastollisen lukutaidon opetuksen toisella asteella. Ensimmäiseksi oppilaiden tilastollisen lukutaidon lähtötaso mitattiin alkutestissä, missä arvioitiin heidän ennakkokäsityksiä ja tietoa tilastoista. Tutkimustulokset osoittivat, että oppilailla oli suuria vaikeuksia ymmärtää tilastollisia peruskäsitteitä. Toiseksi CSCL-teknologia tukee asynkronisesti pienryhmätyöskentelyä. Tulosten mukaan opiskelu ryhmissä tuki opiskelijoiden oppimista ja sähköinen ja interaktiivinen oppimateriaali selkiytti opeteltavia asioita, joka oli suunniteltu kognitiivisen multimedia oppimisteorian periaatteiden mukaisesti. Kolmanneksi opiskelijat kokivat haasteellisuutta siirryttäessä perinteisestä opettajajohtoisesta opetusmenetelmästä oppijakeskeiseen CSCL-oppimismenetelmään. Tulosten mukaan opiskelijoilla on ollut vain vähän aikaisempia kokemuksia oppimisesta CSCL-ympäristöissä. Opiskelijoiden funktionaalisten roolien laadut vaihtelivat huomattavasti. Näyttää ilmeiseltä, että produktiivisen yhteistoiminnallisuuden oppimiseen tarvitaan harjoittelua. Tutkimustulosten mukaan artikulaatio ja laatu matemaattisissa keskusteluissa lisääntyivät oppimistilanteissa, kun opiskelijoiden ryhmätyöskentelytaidot kehittyivät. Opiskelijoiden pienryhmätyöskentelyä tutkittiin video- ja sisällönanalyysin avulla. Analysoinnissa käytetty contact summary sheet -instrumentti auttoi havainnoimaan opiskelijoiden intersubjektiivista yhteistoiminnallisen oppimisen laatua ja määrää. Neljänneksi opetuskokeiluun osallistuneilla oli parempia oppimistuloksia verrattaessa kontrolliryhmän oppilaisiin. Tutkimustulosten mukaan tilastollisesti merkittävä ero oli havaittavissa opetuskokeilu- ja kontrolliryhmän välillä ainoastaan viivästetyssä lopputestissä ja vaikutuksen suuruus on keskivoimakasta. Interaktiivinen opetusmateriaali ja CSCL näyttäisivät edistävän tilastollisen lukutaidon kehittymistä. Tästä huolimatta, opiskelijat suhtautuivat kriittisesti opiskeluun CSCL-ympäristössä.

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