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

Esta tese aprofunda os estudos na área de formação de professores para educação básica na modalidade a distância, integrando a linha de pesquisa Ambientes Informatizados e Ensino a Distância do curso de Pós-graduação em Informática na Educaçao do CINTED/UFRGS. A Teoria da Distância Transacional estuda a distância pedagógica em ambiente virtual de aprendizagem. O objetivo é verificar como se comportam nos cursos os operadores conceituais que formam a base de compreensão deste estudo. São eles: o diálogo, a estrutura do curso e a autonomia do aluno. Estes três pilares sustentam a distância transacional para se investigar como se comportam nas disciplinas pedagógicas de cursos de licenciatura na modalidade a distância. Agrega-se a Teoria da Ação Dialógica que tem o potencial de aprofundar e enriquecer a abordagem sobre a Distância Transacional. Percorre-se brevemente o contexto histórico da Ead, os cursos de formação de professores no Brasil e o processo de escolarização da educação básica. A pesquisa é construída na triangulação analítica entre o conteúdo dos documentos referentes aos cursos e as disciplinas, o questionário assíncrono, o registro da observação no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Netaula, o relatório de participação dos fóruns e os diálogos com a coordenação do curso de Pedagogia. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma universidade particular de ensino superior da região Sul compreendendo em um estudo de caso O campo de pesquisa constitui-se de oito disciplinas pedagógicas, oferecidas do primeiro ao sétimo semestre, em sete cursos de licenciaturas, com destaque para o curso de Pedagogia, com todos os sujeitos envolvidos. Apresenta-se a voz dos agentes: alunos, os professores regentes e tutores virtuais a partir da análise dos questionários e dos fóruns das disciplinas. Os resultados mostram a relevância da aplicação da teoria da distância transacional na apreciação dos cursos de licenciatura na modalidade a distância para pensar o estreitamento da distância pedagógica nos cursos a distância. Isso implica no sentimento de pertencimento ao curso para os alunos, os professores regentes e os tutores virtuais. Destaca-se a relevância da estrutura do curso que mostra a interação mais expressiva do aluno com o conteúdo. E a importância do auto estudo e da autodisciplina para a consolidação da autonomia do aluno. / This thesis develop the studies in the area of teacher training for basic education in the distance modality, integrating the research line of Learning Management System and Distance Learning of post graduate course in informatics in education of CINTED/UFRGS. The theory of transactional distance investigate pedagogical distance in virtual learning environments. The main goal is to verify how conceptual operators make their own basis of comprehension for this study, which are: the dialogue, the structure of the course and the student autonomy. These tree pillars sustain the transactional distance to investigate how pedagogical disciplines of graduation courses behave in the distance modality. I added the dialogical action theory which has the potential to develop and enrich the approach of transactional theory. We analyze very briefly the history context of distance learning, the formation courses of professors in Brazil and the process of schooling of basic education. The research it`s built in the analytical triangulation between the content of the documents concerning the disciplines and the courses, the self-paced questionary, the observation register in the virtual learning environment Netaula, the report of the participation in the forums and the dialogues with the pedagogical course co-ordination. The research was developed in a private university of graduation teaching in the south region understanding a study of the case The rummage field it`s formed by eight pedagogical disciplines, offered from the first to the seventh semester in seven courses of graduation, and the most important for our research is the course of pedagogy with all the individuals involved. We present the voice of the agents: students, regent professors and virtual tutors starting from the review of the questionary and the discipline forums. The findings shows us relevance of the application of transactional distance theory for appreciation of graduation courses in distance modality, to analyze the decrease of pedagogical distance in the distance education courses. This implies in the feeling of belonging to the course for the students, the regent professors and the virtual tutors. The relevance of the structure of the course stands out, because it shows the most expressive interaction of the student with the content of the course. And the importance of self study and self discipline for the consolidation of the autonomy of the student.

Esta tese aprofunda os estudos na área de formação de professores para educação básica na modalidade a distância, integrando a linha de pesquisa Ambientes Informatizados e Ensino a Distância do curso de Pós-graduação em Informática na Educaçao do CINTED/UFRGS. A Teoria da Distância Transacional estuda a distância pedagógica em ambiente virtual de aprendizagem. O objetivo é verificar como se comportam nos cursos os operadores conceituais que formam a base de compreensão deste estudo. São eles: o diálogo, a estrutura do curso e a autonomia do aluno. Estes três pilares sustentam a distância transacional para se investigar como se comportam nas disciplinas pedagógicas de cursos de licenciatura na modalidade a distância. Agrega-se a Teoria da Ação Dialógica que tem o potencial de aprofundar e enriquecer a abordagem sobre a Distância Transacional. Percorre-se brevemente o contexto histórico da Ead, os cursos de formação de professores no Brasil e o processo de escolarização da educação básica. A pesquisa é construída na triangulação analítica entre o conteúdo dos documentos referentes aos cursos e as disciplinas, o questionário assíncrono, o registro da observação no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Netaula, o relatório de participação dos fóruns e os diálogos com a coordenação do curso de Pedagogia. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma universidade particular de ensino superior da região Sul compreendendo em um estudo de caso O campo de pesquisa constitui-se de oito disciplinas pedagógicas, oferecidas do primeiro ao sétimo semestre, em sete cursos de licenciaturas, com destaque para o curso de Pedagogia, com todos os sujeitos envolvidos. Apresenta-se a voz dos agentes: alunos, os professores regentes e tutores virtuais a partir da análise dos questionários e dos fóruns das disciplinas. Os resultados mostram a relevância da aplicação da teoria da distância transacional na apreciação dos cursos de licenciatura na modalidade a distância para pensar o estreitamento da distância pedagógica nos cursos a distância. Isso implica no sentimento de pertencimento ao curso para os alunos, os professores regentes e os tutores virtuais. Destaca-se a relevância da estrutura do curso que mostra a interação mais expressiva do aluno com o conteúdo. E a importância do auto estudo e da autodisciplina para a consolidação da autonomia do aluno. / This thesis develop the studies in the area of teacher training for basic education in the distance modality, integrating the research line of Learning Management System and Distance Learning of post graduate course in informatics in education of CINTED/UFRGS. The theory of transactional distance investigate pedagogical distance in virtual learning environments. The main goal is to verify how conceptual operators make their own basis of comprehension for this study, which are: the dialogue, the structure of the course and the student autonomy. These tree pillars sustain the transactional distance to investigate how pedagogical disciplines of graduation courses behave in the distance modality. I added the dialogical action theory which has the potential to develop and enrich the approach of transactional theory. We analyze very briefly the history context of distance learning, the formation courses of professors in Brazil and the process of schooling of basic education. The research it`s built in the analytical triangulation between the content of the documents concerning the disciplines and the courses, the self-paced questionary, the observation register in the virtual learning environment Netaula, the report of the participation in the forums and the dialogues with the pedagogical course co-ordination. The research was developed in a private university of graduation teaching in the south region understanding a study of the case The rummage field it`s formed by eight pedagogical disciplines, offered from the first to the seventh semester in seven courses of graduation, and the most important for our research is the course of pedagogy with all the individuals involved. We present the voice of the agents: students, regent professors and virtual tutors starting from the review of the questionary and the discipline forums. The findings shows us relevance of the application of transactional distance theory for appreciation of graduation courses in distance modality, to analyze the decrease of pedagogical distance in the distance education courses. This implies in the feeling of belonging to the course for the students, the regent professors and the virtual tutors. The relevance of the structure of the course stands out, because it shows the most expressive interaction of the student with the content of the course. And the importance of self study and self discipline for the consolidation of the autonomy of the student.

Online courses have increased in enrollments over the past few decades. As the number of students taking online courses have increased, so has the number of students who have dropped or failed an online course. According to the literature, online courses may have higher drop rates than traditional, face-to-face courses. The number of students who fail an online course is, also, of concern. As online courses may continue to grow over the next few decades, studies on persistence in online courses may benefit students, administrators, instructional designers, educators, and researchers. Although previous research studies have addressed persistence in online courses, very few examine it from the perspectives of students who were unsuccessful in their courses. These students may have unique insights about the online experience that may have related to their lack of success. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of university students who have failed or dropped an online course through the lenses of transactional distance theory and Kember’s model of dropout in distance education. Transactional distance theory discusses the dialog, structure, and learner autonomy involved in an online course, while, Kember’s model presents categories that may relate to dropping an online course. Together, the theory and model may help in understanding the experiences of students who have dropped or failed an online course. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants from a large Southeastern university in the United States. Based on the participants’ responses, the data was sorted and ranked according to the amount of transactional distance in their courses, as well as the categories of Kember’s model. Many of the participants who experienced low or high transactional distance have, also, expressed an issue with the goal commitment category of Kember’s model. Additionally, there were important differences in the student characteristics of those who dropped or failed an online course. Furthermore, suggestions for improving online courses were given by the participants. Some of these suggestions included more student-instructor interactions, the use of more technology tools in their online course, and for orientations to the online environment to be offered.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between faculty perceptions, selected demographics, implementation of elements of transactional distance theory and online web-based course completion rates. This theory posits that the high transactional distance of online courses makes it difficult for students to complete these courses successfully; too often this is associated with low completion rates. Faculty members play an indispensable role in course design, whether online or face-to-face. They also influence course delivery format from design through implementation and ultimately to how students will experience the course. This study used transactional distance theory as the conceptual framework to examine the relationship between teaching and learning strategies used by faculty members to help students complete online courses. Faculty members’ sex, number of years teaching online at the college, and their online course completion rates were considered. A researcher-developed survey was used to collect data from 348 faculty members who teach online at two prominent colleges in the southeastern part of United States. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in six factors related to transactional distance theory. The factors accounted for slightly over 65% of the variance of transactional distance scores as measured by the survey instrument. Results provided support for Moore’s (1993) theory of transactional distance. Female faculty members scored higher in all the factors of transactional distance theory when compared to men. Faculty number of years teaching online at the college level correlated significantly with all the elements of transactional distance theory. Regression analysis was used to determine that two of the factors, instructor interface and instructor-learner interaction, accounted for 12% of the variance in student online course completion rates. In conclusion, of the six factors found, the two with the highest percentage scores were instructor interface and instructor-learner interaction. This finding, while in alignment with the literature concerning the dialogue element of transactional distance theory, brings a special interest to the importance of instructor interface as a factor. Surprisingly, based on the reviewed literature on transactional distance theory, faculty perceptions concerning learner-learner interaction was not an important factor and there was no learner-content interaction factor.

This applied dissertation was designed to provide better access to current information for best practices in kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) online learning. Virtual schooling is becoming a mainstream option for high school students, especially when some courses are not offered in every traditional school. Despite its increased popularity, very few studies had been conducted in K-12 virtual schooling. There was a need for more research based on the perspectives of adolescent students to understand the importance of quality interactions that can bridge the psychological and communications gap that may result when the learner and teacher are separated by time and distance. A quantitative study was conducted at a district-level high school located in the southeastern area of Florida to understand the relationship between adolescent students’ perceptions of the quality and level of learner-teacher, learner-learner, and learner-content interactions; academic achievement; and satisfaction in an online course. Transactional distance theory was used to explain if the quality interactions utilizing synchronous and asynchronous tools have the potential to increase the dialogue within this online course, thereby, reducing the transactional distance. Data was gathered by using a nonexperimental, self-reported, Web-based interaction preferences survey of approximately 50 high school students. Descriptive and nonparametric inferential statistical methods were used to guide, interpret, and analyze students’ responses from this survey.

The ubiquitous nature of digital and social media has had a tremendous impact on higher education. In essence, these new pedagogical media has required faculty members to learn new methodologies to deliver their course content—often through distance education approaches. Transactional Distance Theory, designed by distance research scholar Michael Moore, is the preferred framework for instructional design for distance education. Even though there are examples of student affairs educators teaching students online, there are limited references to distance learning theory as a foundation for the work they are doing. This study was designed to explore the ways in which two online orientation co-curricular educational opportunities (CCeOs) created for student affairs departments adhere to the tenets of Moore's Transactional Distance Theory. In addition, a secondary purpose was to identify tangible examples that could inform an operationalize definition of Moore's Transactional Distance Theory for application in student affairs online CCeO development and, ultimately, enhance learning efficacy for these online educational programs, which is the purpose of an instructional design theory. The theoretical framework for this study was Moore's Transactional Distance theory. Document analysis was used to assess and interpret materials from two online orientation programs. The findings of this investigation reveal the existence of two online CCeOs created by, or for, student affairs educators that adhere in significant, although limited, ways to a pedagogical theory traditionally used in online course design. / Ph. D.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-01-12T17:50:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Enilson Elias de Castro Monteiro.pdf: 2242730 bytes, checksum: 604477581dfb2b3ea8ed0e47112a9370 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-12T17:50:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Enilson Elias de Castro Monteiro.pdf: 2242730 bytes, checksum: 604477581dfb2b3ea8ed0e47112a9370 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-12 / Fundação São Paulo - FUNDASP / This research dissertation is titled Case Study About Evasion in a Distance Learning Theology Course. The work is within the concentration area of Cognitive Processes and Digital Environments aligned with the research field of Learning and Cognitive Semiotics from the Stricto Sensu Graduate Program of Intelligence and Digital Design Technologies. The study aims to answer a guiding question about what are the reasons that led students to evade from the Distance Learning Free Theology Course of Latin American Faculty (FLAM). The objective of the research is to investigate the dropout phenomenon in the Distance Learning Free Theology Course offered by FLAM, analyzing it by the theory of transactional distance. For this, it commits to investigate the perceptions of evaded students and their course tutors about the teaching and learning process of this specific course as long as the possible causes of evasion; examine these reasons, categorizing them according to the variables dialogue, structure and autonomy, as presented in Theory of Transactional Distance and propose possible interventions that may reduce the evasion rates of the course. The research methodology is based on a qualitative approach, searching not only to pull up data but also to interpret and give them meaning in their own context. About the dissertation work type, it is a case study. As an instrument for data collection it was used the application of an online questionnaire to alumni and semi-structured interviews with two tutors of the course. For data analysis, this work employees the methodology of thematic analysis of content. The research result ends up denying the initial hypotheses to conclude that dropout reasons external to the course were a major factor than internal reasons and thus the phenomena is not related to the variables of transactional distance / A pesquisa tem como título Estudo de Caso sobre a Evasão em um Curso de Teologia a Distância e se insere na área de concentração Processos Cognitivos e Ambientes Digitais e na linha de pesquisa Aprendizagem e Semiótica Cognitiva do Programa de Pós-graduação Stricto Sensu em Tecnologias da Inteligência e Design Digital. Como questão norteadora, busca responder quais são os motivos que conduziram os alunos a evadirem do curso livre de Teologia a distância da Faculdade Latino-americana (FLAM). O objetivo da pesquisa é investigar o fenômeno da evasão no curso livre de Teologia a distância oferecido pela FLAM, analisando-o a partir da Teoria da Distância Transacional. Para isso, se dedica a descobrir a percepção dos alunos evadidos e a de suas tutoras acerca do processo de ensino e aprendizagem do curso em análise e as possíveis causas da evasão; a examinar esses motivos, categorizando-os conforme as variáveis diálogo, estrutura e autonomia, apresentadas na Teoria da Distância Transacional e a propor possíveis intervenções que possam minimizar o índice de evasão do curso. A metodologia da pesquisa baseia-se em uma abordagem qualitativa, buscando não apenas levantar os dados, mas também interpretá-los e dar-lhes significado em seu próprio contexto. Quanto à tipologia, é um estudo de caso. Utiliza, como coleta de dados, a aplicação de questionário on-line a ex-alunos e de entrevista semiestruturada a duas tutoras do curso. Para análise dos dados, utiliza a metodologia da análise temática de conteúdo. O resultado da pesquisa acaba por negar as hipóteses iniciais ao concluir que os motivos de evasão externos ao curso foram majoritários sobre os motivos internos e, assim, não estavam relacionados às variáveis da distância transacional

This study investigated a synchronous web-based course system (SWBCS) as a supplement todistance learning courses. Although challenges exist (such as the complex interface and potentialtechnological problems); these systems hold the potential to enhance the distance learning experiencethrough increased interaction, immediacy, social presence, group work, and collaboration. Using a rigorous blend of research methods, the study investigated the following questions: (1) what types of pedagogical strategies do instructors implement, (2) how do instructors utilize the tools, (3) which tools do instructors choose to use, (4) why do instructors use the tools and strategies that they choose, and (5) what perceptions do students and instructors have about using a SWBCS? A total of five unique cases were examined using surveys, interviews, focus groups, analysis of archival documents and extensive classroom observations. The classrooms observations were essential to answering the research questions; a comprehensive observation instrument was developed and validated during this research. Results show instructors implemented familiar strategies based on their teaching styles. The most successful strategies were: (1) mini lectures with interactive exercises, (2) structured group work and collaborative exercises, and (3) case study discussions. Each instructor used the tools in the synchronous system to solve a problem or address an issue, such as lack of immediacy or the need to guide the assimilation of information. Most instructors used a wide variety of the tools, including: (1) VOIP, (2) textual chat, (3) white board, (4) hand raising and emoticons, and (5) breakout rooms. Although some tried many tools, most chose to use tools based on training, experience, the teaching strategies selected and student needs. Both instructor and student perceptions were positive and all of the instructors planned to continue to use a SWBCS in the future. Overall, the SWBCS was found to supplement existing distance courses, allowing educators to build connections with and among students more efficiently and increase the potential for interaction in the online classroom. In addition, this research provided the initial framework for the development of a set of guidelines to support the planning and use of SWBCS in higher education instruction.

This study is about the comparison of distance and conventional education programs at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. It is assessed in terms of access, delivery modes and output. The purpose is to investigate and to compare the impact of distance and conventional education on the performances of learners in a postgraduate degree program (B.Ed. (Hons) with specialization in Education Management, assessed in terms of access, delivery and output. It explored documents that were both at the macro (Government Policy documents) and macro (University’s / Faculty documents) with the aim of answering the main research question, with other identified sub-research questions that have been raised.: What is the comparison between the impact of distance and conventional education on the performances of learners in a postgraduate BEd (Hons) degree program with specialization in Education Management, when assessed in terms of access, delivery mode and output? A review of relevant literature exposed and compared the essence of both modes of delivery. Data were collected from identified key role players on the program, which included administrators, module coordinators, course presenters, and tutors, some of the students on the program, and some of those that had discontinued their studies with the university. These were done using one-on-one semi-structured and focus group interviews, telephone interviews and questionnaires in order to obtain qualitative and quantitative data. A sample of 127 distance education students, 45 conventional students, 6 module coordinators, 10 course presenters, 4 tutors, 4 administrators, 1 instructional designer and 10 students that had discontinued their studies participated in the investigation. The data collected were analysed through the use descriptive and inferential statistics, and tabulation for the quantitative data, while the computer assisted qualitative data analysis software [CAQDAS] (Atlas.ti) was employed for the analysis of the transcribed interviews. From the data obtained, it was confirmed that there is a myriad of possible factors that may be responsible for the divergences in the performances, throughput and output rates of enrolled students on the BEd (Hons) Education Management, Law and Policy at the University of Pretoria. It was further revealed that South Africa has identified distance education as a tool of redressing past inequalities in higher education, a process, which the university was involved in by starting relevant programs to this end. However, even though equal access is the focus of the country, but it appeared as if little is being said about financially supporting distance education as for instance, there was no financial assistance to distance education students on the program. Due to the incursion of the university into areas, where the impact of university education had not previously being felt, its choice of the mode of delivery was limited to the print, the first generation, which was expected to bring all students on the program at par since all would have access to it. However, despite the efforts made by the university, it was discovered that there existed some gaps between the qualities of the learning experiences, which students from both modes were exposed to. Examples of those identified were lack of designated counseling unit for distance education students, and inadequate number of administrative staff to meet the needs of the ever increasing number of distance education students. However, it appeared that there were no prominent discrepancies that could be found between the two modes, and one could assume that both modes were guided by a similar underpinning philosophy, which drove the ethos of the programs that impacted on the instructional design. It was also found that there were challenges faced by the academic staff involved in the program under investigation, who felt that there might be the need for the institution to demarcate between academe interested in distance education, and those that were not, and the need for the institution to review its stand on rewards and incentives systems for staff involved in distance education. It was believed by them that this would be the way out of the dearth of research presently facing the university on this delivery mode. The study suggests that quality issues especially in relation to an African setting should be looked into, since a large percentage of the students involved in the program were from the rural areas. Finally, the study identified various limitations, and made suggestions for further research, and recommendations for improvement and immediate action. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted