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eLearning is rapidly spreading into the high school learning environment. This research attempts to find desirable and workable features of an eLearning resource that would sustain high school learning communities. The basis of the instrumental case study was the Cambridge International Examination course offered by an eLearning institution over a period of two and a half years. Data was gathered by means of various questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and quantitative analysis of computer log files of activity. Content analysis was performed by comparing research data with information (such as various eLearning models) obtained from the literature review. Similarities and differences were found in the way eLearning is used by high school learners and teachers versus university students and lecturers. Desirable and workable features were identified and the reasons for these explored. A number of suggestions are made that would contribute to sustaining eLearning for high school learners. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Information Science / unrestricted

Quando o tema é educação, frequentemente colocam-se empecilhos e justificativas para manutenção do formato tradicional, e, quando mudanças ocorrem, estas se fazem freqüentemente em equipamentos e não em procedimentos e atitude. Devemos incorporar um novo paradigma de ensino, no qual o professor passa de transmissor de informações para facilitador do aprendizado, o aluno de absorvedor passivo de informações para responsável pelo aprendizado e o processo de aprendizado de coletivo e periódico para individualizado e permanente. Com o objetivo de incorporar este paradigma, utilizando estratégias de educação a distância via Web, desenvolvemos uma disciplina on-line de Clínica Cirúrgica de Pequenos Animais, complementar à presencial. Esta disciplina foi desenvolvida por dois anos, utilizando dois diferentes ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem: no primeiro experimento foi utilizado o ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Col 3.1, utilizando a estratégia da aprendizagem por meio de material, comunicação pessoal, com a ajuda de meios audiovisuais; e no segundo utilizamos o TecnoEduModdle, com ênfase na participação e discussão, principalmente por meio de casos clínicos. Em ambos, a efetividade da disciplina e o ganho de conhecimento dos alunos foram avaliados por meio de um questionário, utilizando uma escala de um a cinco (Likert). A disciplina on-line obteve altos índices de funcionalidade, aceitação e efetividade. Em ambos experimentos, os estudantes que participaram da disciplina virtual obtiveram médias maiores em todas avaliações da disciplina presencial, no entanto somente obteve valores com diferença estatisticamente significante, na avaliação prática (P<0,01) e na média final (P<0,05) do primeiro experimento. O segundo experimento demonstrou ser mais efetivo e apreciado pelos alunos. Este estudo indica que o ensino com auxílio da Web pode ser realizado com êxito e incorporado ao currículo médico veterinário, adequando este as tendências da educação contemporânea. / When changes in the educational methodology are the main subject, obstacles and justifications are raised in order to maintain the traditional way. And when changes take place they lay mainly on equipments but not on the procedures and attitude of the educator. A new paradigm must be incorporated, which the professor must change his/hers posture from information transmitter to learn facilitator, the student from passive to active learn responsible agent, and the learning process from general and periodical to an individual and continuous fashion. In this context, we proposed Small Animal Surgery for veterinary medicine undergraduate students in order to assess if the changes in the traditional educational system have a positive impact to the usage of Web-based course complementary and simultaneous to the regular discipline of on learning process of the students in this discipline. The Web-based course was applied for two consecutive years. In the first year, we used the Learning Management System Col 3.1, with required readings, pictures, videos, and group work to solve proposed questions. In the second year, we used the TecnoEduModdle, with emphasis on participation and discussion, mainly using clinical cases to introduce each topic. To support our study, we evaluated the discipline effectiveness and acquired knowledge by the students using a five points scale (Likert scale) questionnaire, also by the comparison of the regular discipline grades between the group of students who took and the ones who did not take the Web-based course. The students who attended the on-line discipline had higher grades then the ones who did not in all exams in both years. However, the grades from the two groups were statistically differences only in the practicum exam and final grade (p<0, 01 and p<0, 05 respectively) of the first year. The questionnaire results demonstrated high levels of discipline functionality, acceptance and effectiveness of the on-line course, although, the second experiment was considered more effective and appreciated by the students. This research indicated that Web-learning could be performed with success, using appropriate strategies, and be incorporated into the veterinary curriculum, adjusting this to the trends of the contemporary education.

Online or web-based courses have become prolific in our educational environment over the past several years. The development of these courses can be guided by systematic design models to ensure quality instructional design. Transactional distance, the theory that claims the distance an online student feels is more of a pedagogical distance than a geographic one, consists of three factors: structure, dialogue, and learner autonomy. Accurate measurement of these three factors is needed in order to substantiate its claims and to best determine the delivery implications. This study produced an instrument that measures the structure component of the transactional distance theory as it pertains to the online environment. A total of 20 online courses were evaluated using the Structure Component Evaluation Tool (SCET). Experts in the field validated the instrument and reliability was determined by calculating Cronbachs alpha as well as examining inter-rater reliability. The SCET also excelled in a comparison to other instruments in the field in terms of its ability to produce rich, valid information about the structure of online courses.

Quando o tema é educação, frequentemente colocam-se empecilhos e justificativas para manutenção do formato tradicional, e, quando mudanças ocorrem, estas se fazem freqüentemente em equipamentos e não em procedimentos e atitude. Devemos incorporar um novo paradigma de ensino, no qual o professor passa de transmissor de informações para facilitador do aprendizado, o aluno de absorvedor passivo de informações para responsável pelo aprendizado e o processo de aprendizado de coletivo e periódico para individualizado e permanente. Com o objetivo de incorporar este paradigma, utilizando estratégias de educação a distância via Web, desenvolvemos uma disciplina on-line de Clínica Cirúrgica de Pequenos Animais, complementar à presencial. Esta disciplina foi desenvolvida por dois anos, utilizando dois diferentes ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem: no primeiro experimento foi utilizado o ambiente virtual de aprendizagem Col 3.1, utilizando a estratégia da aprendizagem por meio de material, comunicação pessoal, com a ajuda de meios audiovisuais; e no segundo utilizamos o TecnoEduModdle, com ênfase na participação e discussão, principalmente por meio de casos clínicos. Em ambos, a efetividade da disciplina e o ganho de conhecimento dos alunos foram avaliados por meio de um questionário, utilizando uma escala de um a cinco (Likert). A disciplina on-line obteve altos índices de funcionalidade, aceitação e efetividade. Em ambos experimentos, os estudantes que participaram da disciplina virtual obtiveram médias maiores em todas avaliações da disciplina presencial, no entanto somente obteve valores com diferença estatisticamente significante, na avaliação prática (P<0,01) e na média final (P<0,05) do primeiro experimento. O segundo experimento demonstrou ser mais efetivo e apreciado pelos alunos. Este estudo indica que o ensino com auxílio da Web pode ser realizado com êxito e incorporado ao currículo médico veterinário, adequando este as tendências da educação contemporânea. / When changes in the educational methodology are the main subject, obstacles and justifications are raised in order to maintain the traditional way. And when changes take place they lay mainly on equipments but not on the procedures and attitude of the educator. A new paradigm must be incorporated, which the professor must change his/hers posture from information transmitter to learn facilitator, the student from passive to active learn responsible agent, and the learning process from general and periodical to an individual and continuous fashion. In this context, we proposed Small Animal Surgery for veterinary medicine undergraduate students in order to assess if the changes in the traditional educational system have a positive impact to the usage of Web-based course complementary and simultaneous to the regular discipline of on learning process of the students in this discipline. The Web-based course was applied for two consecutive years. In the first year, we used the Learning Management System Col 3.1, with required readings, pictures, videos, and group work to solve proposed questions. In the second year, we used the TecnoEduModdle, with emphasis on participation and discussion, mainly using clinical cases to introduce each topic. To support our study, we evaluated the discipline effectiveness and acquired knowledge by the students using a five points scale (Likert scale) questionnaire, also by the comparison of the regular discipline grades between the group of students who took and the ones who did not take the Web-based course. The students who attended the on-line discipline had higher grades then the ones who did not in all exams in both years. However, the grades from the two groups were statistically differences only in the practicum exam and final grade (p<0, 01 and p<0, 05 respectively) of the first year. The questionnaire results demonstrated high levels of discipline functionality, acceptance and effectiveness of the on-line course, although, the second experiment was considered more effective and appreciated by the students. This research indicated that Web-learning could be performed with success, using appropriate strategies, and be incorporated into the veterinary curriculum, adjusting this to the trends of the contemporary education.

This dissertation describes research which investigated the use of communication tools in a WebCT learning environment. The instrumental case study investigated the level and frequency of use of the web-based communication tools during a full-fledged course delivery at a university that enrols only full-time students. The unit of analysis was the case and the instruments included group interviews, observation anecdotal notes, communication diaries, focus group and a journal/logbook. A mixed qualitative and quantitative research method was used in this research. The study evaluated how the interactivity and not how either the lesson or the WebCT function. The conceptual framework focused on interactivity, features of communication tools that promote interactivity, as well as the domains such as cognition, motivation and learner interface as aspects that influence the use of communication tools. Various web-based tools were used by a sample consisting of a selected small group of IT students who participated in the study. Those communication tools were used to facilitate learning in WebCT. The results showed a total of 145 interactions for the duration of ten sessions. The WebCT communication tools supported either synchronous or asynchronous communication. Communication tools were used to retrieve information and send text-based messages to lecturers and students. Interaction at different levels was evident between student and student, student and lecturer, lecturer and student, lecturer and lecturer, as well as, student and content. In addition to the WebCT communication tools, students used extra web-based communication tools, to facilitate their learning. It was concluded that with continuous advances in information and communication technology and with ever increasing student numbers at resident universities, more tertiary institutions should offer on-line courses. More communication tools should be considered on WebCT to facilitate more interactive learning. / Dissertation (MEd (Curriculum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

我們認為，在網路教育的中的Amazon.com尚未成形之際，有關教育網站的任何分析與研究，其實就是嚐試對於一連串「什麼是教育網站？」的問題，給予較具體及系統性的回答；據此，本研究從整理「網路教育」的定義開始，歸納包括Michael G. Moore及Bill Gates等學者專家對網路教育的觀察及想法，推導出教育網站幾個可能的「想像空間 (構面)」[第2-1節]；並且，整合相關的「教育理念」、「網站經營邏輯」與「網路科技」到各構面中作為觀察 (或比較) 各網站差異的指標 [第2-3節]；此外，環顧實際的競爭環境，文中在構面要素的選擇上，也絕大部份以能夠直接從介面進行觀察為主要考量。最後，為了滿足網路經濟□「一夕數變」的動態需要，我們進一步推演構面間的邏輯關係、分析方法及觀察程序，使「構面」及「構面要素」更能輔助作為網站經營長、短期的決策依據 [第3章]。 研究發現，由歸納定義形成「構面」及「構面要素」的網站分析方法，可以系統性地整理出網站經營要素，協助經營者適度界定營運範疇 並妥善分配資源比重。以「教育網站」為例，本研究所採用的分析方法，可以有效幫助經營者脫離空泛的想像，更具體地將經營重心縮小到「結構」、「對話」、「社群」、「軌跡」四個構面及其相對應的構面要素上。 我們也發現，不僅「教育網站」四個「網路經營」構面間有嚴謹的演化邏輯 (Ch.2-3-5.3)，構面背後的「教育理論」更同時存在相同的邏輯基礎 (Ch.2-3-5.7 )。這使得本研究可據之以推論104人力網站為「教育網站」再合適不過的「定位型」聯盟 (Ch.3-1-2)；推論亞卓市形成「幽靈課程」及「幽靈學生」 的原因 (Ch.3-1-3)；並決定研究中的各變數關係如何構築一個完整的研究架構(Ch.3-3)。 根據上述邏輯基礎，我們另外發現，一個同時滿足「網路經營」、「網路科技」、「教育及學習理論」的「網路教學情境」設計 (Ch.2-3-5.6)，如何模擬出「真正的」教育網站風貌。同時，在此情境下的網路學習方式，也讓吾人有機會重新思考如何增進教育網站「忠誠度」：在「個人」先備知識與「社群」分類知識游走間摧化；一種有別於其它非教育性質網站的獨特作法 (Ch2-3-5.6；Ch.3-1-2)。 我們還發現，妥善設計一個觀察程序，可以組合本研究中的部份結果成為進行網站比較時的觀察標準；如此可以協助經營者在面對不同型式同樣標榜教育功能的各式「教育網站」時，有能力更深入也更完整探討其間的差異所在 (Ch3-4-1)。 我們更發現，由於「構面」及「構面要素」除了能夠動態組合、方便賦予權重指標，同時還能因應變動的競爭環境，靈活增刪構面要素而不影響決策系統；整個研究因此提供了「決策系統可程式化」的機會 (Ch3-2-1；Ch3-2-2；Ch3-3)。