The virtual world exists as a dimension between concrete physical reality and abstract fictional fantasy. This cyber essence has become a place of commerce, social development, and educational pursuit. To build an understanding of the Kingdom of the Internet, the resulting case study sought to explore the community learning experiences of groups involved in an international online distance education program to create a tale of the process of a system. An assumption in this research was that the program under study was framed within a social learning context. Therefore, the recommendations and findings must be considered within this context and applied within similarly framed learning programs. The method of this study followed an input-process-output model with an added element of outcomes. Participants completed a preliminary technology survey, locus of control instrument, self-regulated learner instrument and a learning styles inventory along with provided background information to form group input profiles. The process of the system was observed through the use of focus groups with the participants, process leaders and instructors as well as transcripts from discussion and chats. The group interaction, the site usage information and technical feedback all served as output information. The outcomes were measured through the use of a group effectiveness measure and instructor rating of final products.

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The aim of this master’s thesis is to examine portraits of married couples from the Italian Renaissance. It is a study of how, and why, men and women are portrayed differently even though they are married to each other and painted by the same artist.The chosen portraits that will be examined and analyzed are:  Federico da Montefeltro and Battista Sforza by Piero della Francesca, Francesco Maria della Rovere and Eleonora Gonzaga della Rovere by Titian, Febo da Brescia and Laura da Pola by Lotto,Cosimo I de’ Medici and Eleonora Toledo Medici by Bronzino.  A historical theoretical perspective is used throughout with focus on Michael Baxandall’s theories of how visual identity was shaped by the society they were created in. How did they experience the paintings and is it different from how we see them today?Previous research has shown that the significance of many details in Renaissance portraits have become unknown for the modern viewer. This master’s thesis expresses that to unlock the entire meaning of Renaissance portraits, the viewer needs to acquire a considerable amount of information regarding the context the paintings were created in since we do not have the same cultural references today as the viewers of the artwork did during the Renaissance.  My analysis shows that when placing these portrait pairs in their socio-historical context it is possible to gather information hidden in the details and therefor understand the paintings more completely. The underlying meaning of fashion, jewelry, poses and gestures become evident when we study the portraits with the same perspective as during the Italian Renaissance.  By visually reuniting these pairs in art and marriage, it is possible to see the similarities in how they chose to portray themselves. The historical perspective gives clues as to why they have chosen all the details.

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The purpose of this study was to determine the obstacles and motivators Evelyn Thompson Lawrence addressed in her thirst for lifelong learning and desire to share that learning through her life stories. The researcher also sought to understand how everyday events played a role in the outcome of Lawrence's life. More than just observing major events, the researcher considered ways the smallest moments made an impact on Lawrence's continued desire for learning. This study evolved through Lawrence's accounts. By allowing this African American woman, who was a lifelong Appalachian, to explore her past and present, a wide array of experiences emerged that would provide a more holistic view of a lifelong learner. The interviews with Lawrence were both video- and audio-taped to ensure proper acquirement of Lawrence's life stories told in narrative form. In addition to the interviews, Lawrence provided numerous primary documents such as awards, photographs, news clippings, and books to add a deeper dimension to the portraiture. To verify the information Lawrence provided, three subjects who had connections with Lawrence in specific areas of her life were interviewed. The interviews from this qualitative research with Lawrence and the secondary subjects were transcribed, coded, and considered for emergent themes. Three distinct areas appeared as the portrait of Lawrence's life was painted through her life stories: her connections to her family, her profession and academics, and her community. Through this research the researcher recognized that history was a factor in motivating Lawrence to become a lifelong learner, and there was a connection between research results on the characteristics of lifelong learners and the characteristics exhibited by Lawrence. Her desire to acquire knowledge, both formal and informal, continues to this day. Future studies might include provisions for the needs of the lifelong learner and the importance of looking at the individual's life in its entirety as a means for determining how best to nurture a love of learning as an adult. Throughout this research it became apparent that the adult could find meaning from the past and motivation for the future through life stories.