Terry Anderson
Athabasca University, Centre for Distance Education, Faculty Member
Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda offers a systematic overview of the major issues, trends, and areas of priority in online distance education research. In each chapter, an international expert or team of experts... more
Online Distance Education: Towards a Research Agenda offers a systematic overview of the major issues, trends, and areas of priority in online distance education research. In each chapter, an international expert or team of experts provides an overview of one timely issue in online distance education, summarizing major research on the topic, discussing theoretical insights that guide the research, posing questions and directions for future research, and discussing the implications for distance education practice as a whole. Intended as a primary reference and guide for distance educators, researchers, and policymakers, Online Distance Education addresses aspects of distance education practice that have often been marginalized, including issues of cost and economics, concerns surrounding social justice, cultural bias, the need for faculty professional development, and the management and growth of learner communities. At once soundly empirical and thoughtfully reflective, yet also forward-looking and open to new approaches to online and distance teaching, this text is a solid resource for researchers in a rapidly expanding discipline.
This is an OER resource.
This is an OER resource.
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E-Research teaches students how to become both active practitioners and informed consumers of Net-based research, its tools, and its techniques. E-Research takes the learner through the complete research process from problem formulation,... more
E-Research teaches students how to become both active practitioners and informed consumers of Net-based research, its tools, and its techniques. E-Research takes the learner through the complete research process from problem formulation, through literature review, ethics approval, quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis, to dissemination and publication. This text is written in clear, nontechnical language with educational research examples, illustrating how each of these components of the research process changes in a Net-enabled context. Every professional is obliged to understand and, in most cases, master the use of tools of their trade--even when those tools are undergoing rapid evolution. E-Research is not a research methods text. Rather, it begins where standard methdology texts end, by focusing on when and how to use the Internet to enhance the research process.
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Product Description Product Description The professional conference has been, for many years, the primary tool for continuing education and networking in many professions. Now, however, the economic and environmental costs associated with... more
Product Description
Product Description
The professional conference has been, for many years, the primary tool for continuing education and networking in many professions. Now, however, the economic and environmental costs associated with travel, and the opportunity costs associated with absence from the workplace, compel organizers, trainers and executives to weigh the costs versus the benefits of this form of professional development. Online conferences offer an effective alternative that is economical, environmentally friendly and convenient. These factors position online professional conferences as poised to emerge as a mainstream form of lifelong learning in all professions. This book looks at the elements of effective continuing professional education, the affordances of interactive technologies, and the lessons learned by experienced online conference organizers. It is designed to provide guidance and advice to those wishing to coordinate, sponsor or participate effectively in an online professional development conference. The text describes various ways in which a variety of networking technologies are being used to support successful online professional development events. Resources for conference organizers are given in the form of links to commercial and open source software, and companies providing platforms and comprehensive support for the organization of online conferences. The text contains the results of interviews with 12 organizers of the most successful online conferences to date. Finally, a list of best practices, based on the research literature, experiences of the authors and experienced online conference organizers, is presented in the final chapter.
Product Description
The professional conference has been, for many years, the primary tool for continuing education and networking in many professions. Now, however, the economic and environmental costs associated with travel, and the opportunity costs associated with absence from the workplace, compel organizers, trainers and executives to weigh the costs versus the benefits of this form of professional development. Online conferences offer an effective alternative that is economical, environmentally friendly and convenient. These factors position online professional conferences as poised to emerge as a mainstream form of lifelong learning in all professions. This book looks at the elements of effective continuing professional education, the affordances of interactive technologies, and the lessons learned by experienced online conference organizers. It is designed to provide guidance and advice to those wishing to coordinate, sponsor or participate effectively in an online professional development conference. The text describes various ways in which a variety of networking technologies are being used to support successful online professional development events. Resources for conference organizers are given in the form of links to commercial and open source software, and companies providing platforms and comprehensive support for the organization of online conferences. The text contains the results of interviews with 12 organizers of the most successful online conferences to date. Finally, a list of best practices, based on the research literature, experiences of the authors and experienced online conference organizers, is presented in the final chapter.
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This paper updates earlier work in which we defined three generations of distance education pedagogy. We then describe emerging technologies that are most conducive to instructional designs that evolve with each generation. Finally we... more
This paper updates earlier work in which we defined three generations of distance education pedagogy. We then describe emerging technologies that are most conducive to instructional designs that evolve with each generation. Finally we discuss matching the pedagogies with learning outcomes. Keywords: distance education pedagogy, distance education technology, generational change, cognitivebehaviourist pedagogy, constructivist models, connectivist pedagogy
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Technology has been viewed as a means to improve the quality of education for children globally, particularly in remote and marginal communities. This study examines the comparative advantages of the use of appropriate technology... more
Technology has been viewed as a means to improve the quality of education for children globally, particularly in remote and marginal communities. This study examines the comparative advantages of the use of appropriate technology (off-line servers with digital libraries connected to a classroom set of laptops) in ten intervention schools in Indigenous communities in Guatemala for one school year. The study was too short (due to pandemic restrictions) to demonstrate statistically significant differences for learning outcomes. However, using an instructional core model as a framework, qualitative findings supported four previously identified comparative advantages, and identified four additional ones relevant to remote Indigenous communities. The intervention validated the ability of technology to improve standardized instruction, differentiated instruction, opportunities for practice, and learner engagement. Newly identified advantages are: access to high-quality educational resource...
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Likely the most significant and life changing technologies of the 21st Century is the adoption of social media as major components of commercial, entertainment and educational activities. In this article, I overview the supposed benefits... more
Likely the most significant and life changing technologies of the 21st Century is the adoption of social media as major components of commercial, entertainment and educational activities. In this article, I overview the supposed benefits of the application of these tools within formal higher education programs. I then discuss the disadvantages and challenges, with a focus on the paradox that accompanies convenience and value in use, with loss of data control. It is likely that we will continue to see both authorized and unauthorized use of data that we have created for both personal and institutional use. I conclude by examining some of the solutions proposed and tested to resolve this challenge. I then overview two possible solutions - the first focused on institutions creating and managing their own social media and the second an emergent technical solution whereby users keep control of their data, while sharing and growing in multiple social contexts.
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In this research paper, the authors analyse the collected data output during a 36 week cMOOC. Six-week data streams from blogs, Twitter, a Facebook group, and video conferences were tracked from the daily newsletter and the MOOCs’ hashtag... more
In this research paper, the authors analyse the collected data output during a 36 week cMOOC. Six-week data streams from blogs, Twitter, a Facebook group, and video conferences were tracked from the daily newsletter and the MOOCs’ hashtag (#Change 11). This data was analysed using content analysis and social network analysis within an interpretative research paradigm. The content analysis was used to examine the technology learners used to support their learning while the social network analysis focused on the participant in different spaces and their participation patterns in connectivist learning.The findings from this research include: 1) A variety of technologies were used by learners to support their learning in this course; 2) Four types of participation patterns were reveled, including unconnected floaters, connected lurkers, connected participants, and active contributors. The participation of learners displays the participation inequality typical of social media, but the ra...
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Design-based research is proposed as a strategy to address the need for innovation in educational contexts. The article argues the case for increased and more effective research and development in education, and then presents a discussion... more
Design-based research is proposed as a strategy to address the need for innovation in educational contexts. The article argues the case for increased and more effective research and development in education, and then presents a discussion of design-based research as a methodological set of tools to address this need. The four phases of design-based research (Bannan-Ritland, 2003) are explicated and an example, in which design-based methods are used to develop and assess a call centre innovation at Athabasca University, is presented.
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In higher education institutions around the world, educators and administrators are actively engaged in sometimes lively discussions about immersive environments and their application for learning. Innovative educators are excited about... more
In higher education institutions around the world, educators and administrators are actively engaged in sometimes lively discussions about immersive environments and their application for learning. Innovative educators are excited about the possibilities of learning collaboratively in a virtual place without loss of visual cues and the enhanced sense of presence that this new media affords. Like every new technology, immersive environment's application to learning must be evaluated and tested before it earns a place in the often crowded technological tool chest of both distance, campus and blended educators. To aide in the evaluation of these tools, the paper describes the initial development of an immersive environment education evaluation tool based on the well regarded community of inquiry model of online learning. After a brief overview of both immersive environments for learning and the community of inquiry model, the following research questions are addressed: Is the Commu...
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In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the use of social networking tools (e.g., Facebook) and social media in general, mainly for social purposes (Smith, Salaway & Caruso 2009). Many educators, including ourselves, believe... more
In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the use of social networking tools (e.g., Facebook) and social media in general, mainly for social purposes (Smith, Salaway & Caruso 2009). Many educators, including ourselves, believe that these tools offer new educational affordances and avenues for students to interact with each other and with their teachers or tutors. Considering the traditional drop-out rate problem documented in distance courses (Rovai, 2003; Woodley, 2004), these tools may be of special interest for distance education institutions as they have potential to assist in the critical “social integration” associated with persistence (Sweet, 1986; Tinto, 1975). However, as distance students are typically older than regular on-campus students, (Bean & Metzner, 1985; Rovai, 2003) little is known about their expertise with social media or their interest in harnessing these tools for informal learning or collaborating with peers. To investigate these issues, an online qu...
Research Interests: Psychology, Technology, Informal Learning, Educational Technology, Social Networks, and 15 moreDistance Education, Collaboration, Network Analysis, Social Media, Social Presence, Social Software, Distance Learning, Medicine, Individual Differences, Gender Difference, Education Systems, Social Integration, Questionnaires, Open Distance Learning, and Social Network
Research Interests: Computer Science, Teaching and Learning, Distance Education, Higher Education, Computer Mediated Communication, and 11 moreGroup communication, Online Learning, Communication System, Case Study, Graduate Student, Education Systems, Case Based Learning, Open Distance Learning, Open, Collaboration Software, and Athabasca University
Research Interests: Psychology, Social Networks, Distance Education, Community, Online Learning Communities, and 12 moreLearning Community, Cooperative Learning, Interviews, Models, Teaching Methods, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Online Collaborative Learning, Learner, Internet, Learner-paced learning, Australasian Philosophy, and Athabasca University
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As increasing numbers of higher education students take online courses, there is a corresponding need for additional instructors to teach these students. The research literature indicates that there are different instructor roles,... more
As increasing numbers of higher education students take online courses, there is a corresponding need for additional instructors to teach these students. The research literature indicates that there are different instructor roles, competencies, and attitudes that are required for teaching effectively online than for teaching in campus-based classrooms. These changes in teaching roles result in a need to provide instructor training that is focused on teaching in online contexts. With the new majority of higher education instructors in the United States being adjunct faculty, training programs are required that are accessible and useful for part-time instructors who may teach at more than one institution. This paper reports the findings of a research study focused on an interinstitutional training course that was designed particularly for adjunct faculty who were preparing to teaching online. The study found that not only the target group of adjunct faculty with no online teaching exp...
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This chapter examines the potential for voice activities to enhance online learning. Although research related to online writing tools (such as e-mail, discussion threads, blogs, and wikis) is growing and the use of synchronous and... more
This chapter examines the potential for voice activities to enhance online learning. Although research related to online writing tools (such as e-mail, discussion threads, blogs, and wikis) is growing and the use of synchronous and asynchronous voice tools (such as internet phone, VoiceThread and multimodal web conferencing) has developed rapidly, little is known about the effects of systematically implementing these voice tools in formal educational settings (Millard, 2010). This chapter first provides a brief overview of the ...
Randy Garrison is a long-time teacher, collaborator, supervisor and friend of mine. Thus, I approach my critique of his recent article in the Journal of Distance Education (Garrison, 2009) with some considerable unease. I am however re... more
Randy Garrison is a long-time teacher, collaborator, supervisor and friend of mine. Thus, I approach my critique of his recent article in the Journal of Distance Education (Garrison, 2009) with some considerable unease. I am however re assu red from many discussions, that he likes a good argument. His recent article seems to have missed many important developments relating to distance education and obscures the evolution of distance education in its use of online technologies. The central focus of my concern is that ...
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Abstract: Contact North is a provincially funded distance education network designed to increase access to educational opportunities for residents of northern Ontario, Canada. Educational needs of this region include basic education and... more
Abstract: Contact North is a provincially funded distance education network designed to increase access to educational opportunities for residents of northern Ontario, Canada. Educational needs of this region include basic education and skills, management education for Native communities assuming self-government, and skills and access to communication and information tools that promote community empowerment and self-development. At one level, Contact North operates as an electronically based delivery system for credit and ...
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Attempting to build on the model developed by open source software developers, educators are learning to collaboratively develop educational content and make that content freely available for use in their own as well as the programming of... more
Attempting to build on the model developed by open source software developers, educators are learning to collaboratively develop educational content and make that content freely available for use in their own as well as the programming of others. Initially led by MIT's Open Courseware project, the Open Courseware Consortium now lists 116 member universities nearly half of which are from developing countries who are making content available anywhere/anytime. However early studies (Atkins, Brown& Hammond, 2007) ...
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The purpose of this study was to solicit educators' perceptions of a high speed, broadband network being built in the Canadian province of Alberta, the Alberta SuperNet. We interviewed eight administrators, teachers, and technical... more
The purpose of this study was to solicit educators' perceptions of a high speed, broadband network being built in the Canadian province of Alberta, the Alberta SuperNet. We interviewed eight administrators, teachers, and technical support personnel in six Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 (K-12) schools that concentrate at teaching at a distance. They perceive the coming network with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. They anticipate enhancing teaching and learning opportunities with multimedia learning objects and ...
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Despite the rapid increase in both participation and expenditure in various forms of e-learning, there has been very little sustained research that successfully informs practice in this area. This chapter examines the current problems... more
Despite the rapid increase in both participation and expenditure in various forms of e-learning, there has been very little sustained research that successfully informs practice in this area. This chapter examines the current problems related to funding and support for this research. It then examines the two major research methodological paradigms–qualitative and quantitative–and notes the problems each has in producing research results that really effect e-learning student support practice. The chapter concludes with a description and a ...
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The development and connection of the world's major electronic~ etworks into the'Intemef provides unprecedented opportunity for distance educators to develop new modes of program delivery, Equally importan~ the Intemet provides... more
The development and connection of the world's major electronic~ etworks into the'Intemef provides unprecedented opportunity for distance educators to develop new modes of program delivery, Equally importan~ the Intemet provides a vehicle for the development of personal and professional competence through collaborative learning projects and discussion with other distance educators. f> s with any communication medium, electronic communication carries with it a'worldvlew'(Mandvlwalla, 1994) which opens new ...
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This paper examines the key issues regarding The Interaction Equivalency Theorem posited by Anderson (2003a), which consists of the three interaction elements found in formal education courses among teacher, student, and content. It first... more
This paper examines the key issues regarding The Interaction Equivalency Theorem posited by Anderson (2003a), which consists of the three interaction elements found in formal education courses among teacher, student, and content. It first examines the core concepts of the theorem and argues that two theses of different dimensions can be articulated in the theorem, namely, value and amount (or quality and quantity). Prior studies in distance education and blended learning that have tested the validity of the theorem concepts are ...
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Research Interests: Education, Blogs, Distance Education, Online Education, Social Presence, and 13 moreInformation and Communication technology, RSS, Web, Community of Inquiry, Information and Communication Technologies, Weblogs, Computer conferencing, Cognitive Presence, Teaching Presence, Community of Inquiry Model, ICT´s, E Learning, and Educational Blogging
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This is chapter I wrote on theory for Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning: Foundations and Applications Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning Edited by George Veletsianos. The other chapters and complete book is available... more
This is chapter I wrote on theory for Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning: Foundations and Applications Emergence and Innovation in Digital Learning Edited by George Veletsianos.
The other chapters and complete book is available as Open Access from Athabasca University Press aupress.ca
The other chapters and complete book is available as Open Access from Athabasca University Press aupress.ca
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The purpose of this study is to provide conceptual order and a tool for the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and computer conferencing in supporting an educational experience. Central to the study introduced here is a model of... more
The purpose of this study is to provide conceptual order and a tool for the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) and computer conferencing in supporting an educational experience. Central to the study introduced here is a model of community inquiry that constitutes three elements essential to an educational transaction—cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence. Indicators (key words/phrases) for each of the three elements emerged from the analysis of computer-conferencing transcripts. The indicators described represent a template or tool for researchers to analyze written transcripts, as well as a guide to educators for the optimal use of computer conferencing as a medium to facilitate an educational transaction. This research would suggest that computer conferencing has considerable potential to create a community of inquiry for educational purposes.
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Abstract In the mid 1980s education researchers began exploring the use of the Internet within teaching and learning practices, now commonly referred to as e-learning. At the same time, many e-learning researchers were discovering that... more
Abstract In the mid 1980s education researchers began exploring the use of the Internet within teaching and learning practices, now commonly referred to as e-learning. At the same time, many e-learning researchers were discovering that the application of existing ethical guidelines for qualitative research was resulting in confusion and uncertainty among both researchers and ethics review board members. Two decades later we continue to be plagued by these same ethical issues.
Abstract The Bangkok Project, which recently linked educational computer networks world wide, was a successful application of the new international electronic mail and computer conferencing networks to support professional development and... more
Abstract The Bangkok Project, which recently linked educational computer networks world wide, was a successful application of the new international electronic mail and computer conferencing networks to support professional development and reflection by members of the distance education community. This article discusses the Project's rationale and operational details.
Page 1. Open Scholarship Terry Anderson, Canada Research Chair in Distance Education Athabasca University Page 2. Introduction Terry Anderson's CV in Wordle Tag Cloud Introduction Page 3. Values • We can (and must) continuously improve... more
Page 1. Open Scholarship Terry Anderson, Canada Research Chair in Distance Education Athabasca University Page 2. Introduction Terry Anderson's CV in Wordle Tag Cloud Introduction Page 3. Values • We can (and must) continuously improve the quality, effectiveness, appeal, cost and time efficiency of the learning experience. • Student control and freedom is integral to 21 st Century life-long education and learning. • Education for elites is not sufficient for planetary survival Page 4.
Abstract Open access (OA) publication has emerged, with disruptive effects, as a major outlet for scholarly publication. OA publication is usually associated with on-line distribution and provides access to scholarly publications to... more
Abstract Open access (OA) publication has emerged, with disruptive effects, as a major outlet for scholarly publication. OA publication is usually associated with on-line distribution and provides access to scholarly publications to anyone, anywhere–regardless of their ability to pay subscription fees or their association with an educational institution. The article overviews the growth and impact of OA publication in Canada and elsewhere.
Abstract In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the use of social networking tools (eg, Facebook) and social media in general, mainly for social purposes (Smith, Salaway & Caruso 2009). Many educators, including ourselves,... more
Abstract In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in the use of social networking tools (eg, Facebook) and social media in general, mainly for social purposes (Smith, Salaway & Caruso 2009). Many educators, including ourselves, believe that these tools offer new educational affordances and avenues for students to interact with each other and with their teachers or tutors.
This paper aims to overview the Interaction Equivalency Theorem posited by Terry Anderson (2003). It clarifies the position of the theorem in distance education and provides a definition that includes its essential composites. Two... more
This paper aims to overview the Interaction Equivalency Theorem posited by Terry Anderson (2003). It clarifies the position of the theorem in distance education and provides a definition that includes its essential composites. Two research studies are introduced: a meta-analysis on the theorem to show its validity and an empirical research study using the theorem to demonstrate an application of the theorem in teaching and designing.
Design-based research is proposed as a strategy to address the need for innovation in educational contexts. The article argues the case for increased and more effective research and development in education, and then presents a discussion... more
Design-based research is proposed as a strategy to address the need for innovation in educational contexts. The article argues the case for increased and more effective research and development in education, and then presents a discussion of design-based research as a methodological set of tools to address this need.
ABSTRACT This paper examines the learning outcomes associated with implementing discussion forums and blog writings using pseudonyms in blended learning. Although anonymity or masking one's identity has been used as a teaching strategy... more
ABSTRACT This paper examines the learning outcomes associated with implementing discussion forums and blog writings using pseudonyms in blended learning. Although anonymity or masking one's identity has been used as a teaching strategy designed to induce higher writing production and lowering anxiety in face-to-face writing instruction, little research has been reported investigating whether this strategy enhances learning outcomes in blended learning.
•“An analysis of these 80 derived modules revealed that 88%(70) of them involved author users manipulating their own content. The remaining 12%(10) of the derived modules were published by authors who were not the original authors…” this... more
•“An analysis of these 80 derived modules revealed that 88%(70) of them involved author users manipulating their own content. The remaining 12%(10) of the derived modules were published by authors who were not the original authors…” this suggests a hesitancy to reuse other's content, Petrides, Nguyen, Cynthia, &
In this chapter, I reflect on my experiences in the early days of online learning. I hope this more personal style will result in an appreciation for the diverse means by which innovations occur, synergies happen, and the capacity for... more
In this chapter, I reflect on my experiences in the early days of online learning. I hope this more personal style will result in an appreciation for the diverse means by which innovations occur, synergies happen, and the capacity for ordinary persons (like myself) to make contributions to the exciting world of teaching and learning in a networked society. The chapter begins with a personal account of my first experiences being online and using these tools for educational activity.
ABSTRACT Online conferences (OCs) offer a compelling set of economic, and pedagogical benefits for teaching, learning, personal, and professional development. In this chapter, we provide examples and a model to guide development of this... more
ABSTRACT Online conferences (OCs) offer a compelling set of economic, and pedagogical benefits for teaching, learning, personal, and professional development. In this chapter, we provide examples and a model to guide development of this professional development application of e-learning. The cost-effectiveness of OCs, coupled with the capacity to provide time-flexible participation on a. global scale, convinces us that OCs will c. ontiniie to play a vital and increasing role in quality professional development activities.
This paper examines the effectiveness of three different online writing activities in formal university education: forums, blogs, and wikis. Constructivism–reflective and collaborative learning fostered by scaffolding–provides a main... more
This paper examines the effectiveness of three different online writing activities in formal university education: forums, blogs, and wikis. Constructivism–reflective and collaborative learning fostered by scaffolding–provides a main support for their use in education. Prior research regarding the use of blogs and wikis, especially in language education, is reviewed.
Abstract The purpose of this study was to solicit educators' perceptions of a high speed, broadband network being built in the Canadian province of Alberta, the Alberta SuperNet. We interviewed eight administrators, teachers, and... more
Abstract The purpose of this study was to solicit educators' perceptions of a high speed, broadband network being built in the Canadian province of Alberta, the Alberta SuperNet. We interviewed eight administrators, teachers, and technical support personnel in six Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 (K-12) distance education schools. They perceive the coming network with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
This paper reports the results of an investigation into the use of interactive distance education to meet the need for continuing professional education. Using a mixed-method research design, the study evaluated students' perceptions of... more
This paper reports the results of an investigation into the use of interactive distance education to meet the need for continuing professional education. Using a mixed-method research design, the study evaluated students' perceptions of learning in distance education courses delivered via interactive audio teleconferencing technology. The investigation revealed that interactive distance education is perceived, by enrolled students, as supporting the development of a community of inquiry and critical thinking skills.
Weblogs or blogs are being heralded as the “next big thing” in education. In this article we examine the advantages and disadvantages of this form of Internet-based interaction using the Community of Inquiry model with its focus on... more
Weblogs or blogs are being heralded as the “next big thing” in education. In this article we examine the advantages and disadvantages of this form of Internet-based interaction using the Community of Inquiry model with its focus on social, cognitive and teaching presences. We conclude that blogging has distinct advantages over more common threaded discussion in its support of style, ownership and identity, and its public nature may enhance resolution phases of cognitive presence.
Abstract This paper updates earlier work in which we defined three generations of distance education pedagogy. We then describe emerging technologies that are most conducive to instructional designs that evolve with each generation.... more
Abstract This paper updates earlier work in which we defined three generations of distance education pedagogy. We then describe emerging technologies that are most conducive to instructional designs that evolve with each generation. Finally we discuss matching the pedagogies with learning outcomes.
Online learning, or e-learning, represents the most current onslaught of new education and training programming, delivered by media, that is grounded in a mantra of expanding access.