This study examined online collegiate instructors’ perceptions of web-conferencing as an online instructional tool and as a tool for creating social presence and teaching presence and their perceptions of barriers discouraging them from using web-conferencing in online instruction. Adopting a quantitative survey research design, this study collected and analyzed survey data from 62 instructors who facilitated online instruction at a major university in northeastern Mississippi. The researcher developed the Assessment of Collegiate Instructors’ Perceptions of the Use of Web-Conferencing for Online Instruction questionnaire and administered the questionnaire via Survey Monkey to collect data of the participants’ demographic information and their perceptions about web-conferencing. Four research questions guided this study. Descriptive statistical analysis using frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, independent samples t-tests, and a Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data to answer the research questions. The results of this study revealed that collegiate instructors who use web-conferencing in their online instruction have a better perception of web-conferencing as an instructional tool and as a tool for creating social and teaching presence than instructors who do not use web-conferencing. This study also shows that online collegiate instructors using web-conferencing have lower perceptions regarding barriers of using web-conferencing than those not using web-conferencing. In addition, the results from the study indicated that gender affects online collegiate instructions’ perceptions of web-conferencing as an instructional tool and as a tool for creating social and teaching presence, with female instructors having better perceptions than male instructors. The findings from this study contribute to the literature of online instruction and web-conferencing research by providing empirical evidence supporting Rogers’ (1995; 2003) innovation diffusion model and pointing out the directions for future efforts to promote online collegiate instructors’ adoption of web-conferencing. Based on the findings, this study made recommendations for future research and for facilitating adoption of web-conferencing by online collegiate instructors.

Background Linkage and exchange refers to processes by which researchers and decisionmakers are engaged in ongoing interaction, collaboration, and the transfer of ideas and are a critical aspect of collaborative research partnerships (CHSRF, 2008). As healthcare groups continue to communicate and collaborate at a distance through linkage and exchange, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has come to play an increasingly important role in supporting such interactions. However, to date, the literature on linkage and exchange appears disconnected from that of ICT. Research on the effects of ICT on linkage and exchange processes is needed for healthcare in general, but, more specifically, within the drug policy domain. This study examines the consequences of ICT on linkage and exchange processes within the drug policy domain. Methodology This study seeks to understand the effects of ICT on linkage and exchange processes. An initial conceptual framework emerged from the research literature of both ICT and linkage and exchange. The framework focused on describing inputs, processes, and outputs involved in linkage and exchange. The inputs were communication media, tasks, group characteristics, context, and culture. The processes included social iv interactions, facilitation, and information exchange. The outputs consisted of participant ratings of the technology-enabled linkage and exchange processes. Three different groups working within the drug policy domain were observed for over two years. Five different types of data were collected in the study: baseline interviews, observations, meeting transcripts, post-interviews, and surveys. Analysis of the study results in the context of the initial conceptual framework led to a more refined conceptual framework. Findings Three linkage and exchange processes were studied: social interaction norms, facilitation, and information exchange. The findings regarding social interaction norms suggest that: 1) groups developed different discussion and participation norms when using different communication media; 2) a rigid web-conferencing communication structure forced group members to introduce other tools for communication; 3) group discussions were perceived as best in face-to-face environments and worst in teleconferencing; 4) teleconferencing provided the most convenient method of participation; 5) web-conferencing was the most effective way to facilitate linkage and exchange for groups that had limited budgets, that were greatly dispersed, and that were highly collaborative; 6) web-conferencing forced group interaction within text. Findings regarding facilitation suggest that: 1) process facilitation skills were essential to the success of the group irrespective of technology; 2) more technological features required more effort from facilitators; 3) facilitator control of a meeting was highest during web-conferencing meetings; 4) disseminating research required little or no process facilitation expertise. v Findings regarding information exchange suggest that: 1) technology and presentation structure had a strong influence on information sharing, but little on evidence sharing; and 2) the research task had the strongest effect on the level of evidence used within the group. Conclusion ICT has a significant effect on linkage and exchange processes. This study discusses the implications of the thesis for both underlying theory and the practical development of technology to support linkage and exchange.

In distance education, lack of face-to-face communication prevents instructors from observing students&rsquo / activities efficiently, especially in crowded sessions, and consequently they fail to effectively assess the performance of distant learners. On the other hand, in spite of being physically distant, instructor should monitor students&rsquo / activities and assess their performance effectively so that learners can be informed as quickly as possible of how well they are doing. This thesis aims to develop an e-learning tool for distance education that integrates asynchronous and synchronous learning environments to offer an enriched e-learning platform. The tool enables instructor to keep track of students&rsquo / activities, assesses learners&rsquo / participation during online synchronous sessions dynamically, and provides asynchronous access to assessment data after the lectures. In this way, it is aimed to monitor performance of distant learners by the instructor more efficiently.

Orientadora: Professora Dra. Silvia Cristina Dotta / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Humanas e Sociais, 2016. / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar a ocorrência da aprendizagem dialógica no ambiente de webconferência multimodal e multimídia, já que as TICs se fazem cada vez mais presentes no contexto educacional. Além disso, uma preocupação com aulas virtuais que promovam a aprendizagem efetiva através da interação entre os envolvidos é latente a este trabalho. A partir de corpus constituído por aulas síncronas realizadas na disciplina EaD e Novas Tecnologias da ofertada às licenciaturas da Universidade Federal do ABC durante o ano de 2012, investigamos, através de análise do discurso crítica, se a linguagem da multimodalidade expressa via áudio/chat nesta tecnologia possibilita maior interação discursiva na sala de aula e, consequentemente, a aprendizagem dialógica entre os sujeitos, tornando as aulas ministradas no ambiente mais colaborativas e interativas na construção do conhecimento. / This MA thesis aims at analyzing dialogic learning in a multimodal and multimedia web conferencing environment, as ICT is often present in contemporary educational contexts. A great concern with virtual learning practices that promote effective learning through interaction between those involved in it underlies this work. Data is based on synchronous classes recorded from an undergraduate course for future teachers at Universidade Federal do ABC in 2012. The course is entitled: Distance learning and new technologies. By using discourse analysis as a method, this work questions whether multimodal speech delivered via audio/chat is a possibility for greater discursive interaction in classes bringing out dialogic learning as an outcome.

I den här studien undersöktes användandet av webbkonferenssystem i nätbaserad undervisning på universitet. Det gjordes med hjälp av en litteraturstudie, en enkätundersökning med studenter, två intervjuer med lärare och några tester av programvara relaterat till webbkonferenssystem. Studien visade att det är många aspekter att ta hänsyn till för att tekniken ska kunna gynna bättre studieresultat. Det handlar dels om att skapa en god social miljö där deltagarna trivs och känner gemenskap. Det handlar även om att tekniska hinder ska överkommas för att det ska gå att kommunicera på ett enkelt sätt på distans. I studien gjordes testinstallationer av två webbkonferenssystem. Ett enklare test av ljudfördröjning gjordes på två datorer samt ett test för att se ifall ljud eller bild prioriterades högre av webbkonferenssystemen. / This study examined the use of web conferencing systems for education purposes in universities. It was done through a literature study, a survey with students, two interviews with university teachers and a few software tests related to web conferencing systems. Before the technology can be used to improve study results there are many aspects  to be considered. It's important to provide a good social environment for the students. It's also important to find technological solutions to enable communication in a way that is suitable for distance learning. Two web conferencing systems were tested in this study. One simple test was made to measure the sound delay on the two systems and another test was made to see if sound or video was prioritized differently.

A mainstream course has several components that deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students must reconcile. In class, components can include the instructor, projection display, whiteboard, interpreting, and real-time captioning. Outside the classroom, components can include materials from the instructor, notes generated by a note-taker, and a lecture transcript generated via real-time captioning. Web conferencing software can be harnessed to create inclusive experiences for DHH students. Such software can place all components of a class session on a single screen to create a composite screen solution that can be viewed by students in real-time and recorded for later, self-paced review. A composite screen solution may increase performance and comprehension of DHH students in mainstream courses, along with their hearing counterparts. This mixed-methods study focused on the implementation of web conferencing software in a mainstream, college course to explore utilization of a composite screen solution by students inside the classroom. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed to determine impact on student performance. Qualitative data were also collected and analyzed to investigate participant perceptions about the intervention. There was no significant impact on student performance found based on student self-selected usage of the composite screen solution throughout the term. Hearing students utilized the composite screen solution significantly more than DHH students to compensate for obstructed views due to the design of a classroom and to make follow-along demonstrations easier. Alternatively, DHH students had unobstructed views with the projection screen and ASL interpreter in their field of vision. Overall, the live stream of the composite screen solution was not widely utilized by the intended target audience, DHH students, as anticipated. Instead, the results illustrate the importance of design and how a solution has the potential to help an unintended audience with unanticipated issues. The generalizability of the results, as they pertain to DHH students, are limited given the number of DHH participants.

The work deals with the issues of webinar organizing and synchronous online learning in a virtual classroom. The thesis is divided into two parts, a theoretical and a practical part. The theoretical part particularly pays attention to ICT and e-learning in the area of adult education and to modern trends in online communication and cooperation. The practical part is focused on the area of synchronous live learning in a virtual classroom and it evaluates the supply situation and the use of webinars in the Czech republic. The practical part also presents author's survey among the teachers in Liberec region. Lastly, it provides the webinar case study and subsequently it discusses and evaluates its progress. The diploma thesis responds to innovation in ICT and contributes to current development and the use of webinars in adult education.

本研究旨在探討各種不同種類網路閱讀活動對不同程度學生的回應，進而研究受試者對不同種類網路學習活動對於英文閱讀能力的實際影響。 本研究的實驗對象是十七位台北市信義區一所職業學校的高一學生。在研究初期，研究者以北市職校全民英檢考題之閱讀能力部分測試學生並將他們分出高、中、低三種程度，繼而讓學生接受為期將近四個月不同種類網路閱讀活動訓練。實驗過程中，每項活動後均以各種不同簡單的讀後測驗、練習、筆記或作業來檢視學生利用網路培養閱讀能力之可行性。在學期近結束前，再以另一份北市職校全民英檢考題之閱讀能力測驗題作為本實驗的後測。研究是藉由背景問卷調查以及回饋問卷調查中瞭解不同種類網路閱讀活動對於學生之影響。 本研究採用質與量的分析方法。質的分析涵蓋：（一）實驗對象對於不同種類網路閱讀活動的回應﹔（二）實驗對象應用網路學習對於英文閱讀及網路技巧的影響。量的分析根據SPSS來統計：前後測數值的差異。 根據以上的研究結果發現：（一）學生對於本研究所採用的四種網路閱讀活動（兒童英語學習、網路字彙查詢、網路資料搜尋與設計—WebQuest、教學式的網路會議）感到有趣，尤其是教學式的網路會議﹔（二）網路閱讀活動引起學生主動使用各種不同網路工具來解讀文章內容及找尋有益的英語學習網站﹔（三）經過訓練後，教學成效方面，以高等程度學生進步最多，中等學生次之，低程度學生幾乎看不出進 步。最後，本研究提出一些英文教學上之建議：（一）應選擇有趣、有幫助的網路閱讀活動提升學生的閱讀興趣與閱讀理解能力﹔（二）應藉由網路字典所提供的快速搜尋功能輔助學生找回閱讀英文的信心﹔（三）應盡量利用課後網路閱讀活動，如改良式的網路會議，以提升同儕及師生間的互動並培養自學習慣。希望本研究能提供目前台灣職業學校教師及學生在閱讀教學與學習方面一些啟示與方向。 / This research aims mainly at the effect of different types of web-based reading tasks on different levels of students’ English reading comprehension ability, reading attitude, and motivation. Seventeen vocational high school students were involved in this research. All the participants were given the TVHSGEPT (Taipei Vocational High School General English Proficiency Test) as a pre-test in the beginning of the first semester of the 2005 school year. The participants were then categorized into three proficiency levels—high, middle, and low—based on the scores of the test result. A less than four-month Web-based reading program was then introduced to the participants. During this process, every task was examined through tests, exercises, note taking, or homework to understand the practicality of using web-based tasks to cultivate students’ reading ability. At the end of the semester, another TVHSGEPT was given to the participants as a post-test. However, the research chiefly used background and feedback questionnaires to understand the effects of different web-based reading tasks on the participants. This research adopted both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The qualitative analysis consisted of (1) the students’ responses to different types of web-based reading tasks and (2) the improvement of the participants’ English learning and computer and Web-use skills. By executing SPSS program, the quantitative analysis included the difference of statistical values between the pre-test and post-test. According to the findings, first, the students were interested in the four types of web-based reading tasks (online children’s reading websites, online dictionaries, WebQuest, and modified web conferencing). Second, the web-based reading tasks helped the students to actively find different web-based tools to comprehend reading content and search for new and helpful English-learning websites automatically. Third, high-proficiency students gained the most, then middle-proficiency students; the low-achievers showed very little obvious progress. This research offers some suggestions: first, teachers may select interesting and helpful web-based reading tasks to enhance students’ interest and reading comprehension. Second, through the use of online dictionaries with their quick search functions, students can regain their confidence in learning English. Third, after-school web-based reading tasks such as modified web-conferencing are a good motivator; they also help in cultivating cooperation and relationships among peers and between the teacher and students. In conclusion, this research offers pedagogical implications for vocational high school English teachers who are considering using web-based reading tasks and effective teaching strategies.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Information and Communication Sciences, Computing Department, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 503-514. / This study investigated learning design in a web-conferencing environment based on three semesters of lessons conducted as part of an introductory programming subject. As well as characterizing the nature of discourse and interaction, the study focused on how the design of the interface, activity and task type affected collaboration and learning. Engeström's (1987) Activity Theory based upon a socio-constructivist view of learning was used to frame the analysis. --Interface designs incorporated theory relating to graphical user interface design, multimedia learning, and findings from the cognitive sciences. Activity designs were differentiated based on the degree of student ownership, from teacher-centred (transmissive) approaches, to teacher-led (guided interaction) approaches, to student-centred (collaborative group-work) designs. Types of tasks were considered on the basis of their level of knowledge (declarative, procedural and conceptual), their character (authenticity, situatedness) and their domain specific nature (in the field of computer science education). The effects of the different interface, activity and task designs on collaboration and mental model formation were explored. --A mixed method approach to analysis was adopted, incorporating a design-based research study and a multimodal discourse analysis. The design-based research allowed a broader, more interpretivistic and process focused analysis to be conducted, based on the strategic redesigns that occurred between iterations of the subject. The multimodal discourse analysis enabled more detailed, objective and outcomes based measurements of the subject of discourse, the nature of interactions and the types of modalities used to mediate learning. Triangulating data from the design-based research study and the multimodal discourse analysis provided a more complete description of phenomena and promoted greater reliability. --Results include the way in which different modalities afforded different possibilities for representing, and how combinations of those modalities could be effectively integrated by applying multimedia learning principles. Student-centred learning designs increased student involvement, allowing them to take greater ownership over the content and to more fully share their mental models. Authentic, meaningful problem solving tasks promoted greater student engagement. The capacity to dynamically redesign the interface based on the collaborative and cognitive requirements of the learning episode supported more effective implementation of conversational (Laurillard, 2002) approaches to learning. --More effective interaction and collaboration resulted from prescribing patterns of engagement, managing activity and technology so that student discourse could focus on content, and providing guidance regarding semiotic representational forms so that students could concentrate on applying those representations rather than inventing them. Teacher and student virtual classroom competencies critically influenced collaboration and learning. --Based on the findings in this study, a framework of nine pedagogical patterns for teaching and learning in web-conferencing environments is proposed. The framework provides an integrated approach to learning design that relates the interface design with the activity design and the level of knowledge (task type). / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / vii, 514 p. ill. (some col.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if a proposed technology-mediated intervention is a viable alternative to traditional study abroad for those who are unable to travel. While technology cannot reproduce the same experience of traveling abroad, the primary objective of this study was to determine if there is value in using Web conferencing technology to provide students with access to the same opportunity to interact with international experts in the field as their counterparts who were able to travel. This formative evaluation is the first in a series of iterative studies aimed at developing a viable, sustainable, technology-based solution through design-based research (Reeves, 2006). Methodology/Design: Two guiding questions drove the focus of this formative evaluation: Did the program accomplish what was intended and was it implemented effectively? These generated a set of evaluation questions using the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Quality Framework, which were used to evaluate the quality of a joint study abroad program in Brazil with students and instructors from the University of Central Florida and the University of Scranton. While studying global health management in Brazil, the group in the field broadcasted their site visits live to online participants back in the United States. Web conferencing tools allowed the online attendees to see and hear the group in Brazil and interact in real time through the audio or text chat. Evaluation data was compiled from multiple sources including an anonymous student survey, instructor interviews, session recordings, financial budgets, and online facilitator observations in order to triangulate and evaluate the effectiveness of this Web-based intervention. Findings: Web conferencing technology appears to be a viable alternative that is not necessarily as immersive as traveling abroad, but it does provide its own set of benefits to higher education students. This formative evaluation revealed clear areas for improvement, including technical and procedural elements, but instructors and online participants did find value in the experience. Was it perfect? No. Was it successful? Yes. Was it encouraging? Definitely. Exploration of the evaluation questions under each of the five pillars of the OLC Quality Framework revealed both success factors and areas for improvement in each of the following categories: learning effectiveness, scale (commitment & cost), access, faculty satisfaction, and student satisfaction. Implications: Overall, this was a successful proof of concept that justifies future improvements and subsequent further evaluation in an iterative design-based research program. In addition to repeating this study with the joint global health management course in Brazil, this intervention could also be implemented and evaluated in other contexts, disciplines, and countries around the world. This formative evaluation produced a set of recommendations for the next study based on the success factors as well as the areas for improvement identified in this initial implementation in addition to a list of suggestions for future research.