A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Investigation of Contradictions in Open and Distance Higher Education among Alienated Adult Learners in Korea National Open University

Autor/in	Joo, K. P.
Titel	A Cultural-Historical Activity Theory Investigation of Contradictions in Open and Distance Higher Education among Alienated Adult Learners in Korea National Open University
Quelle	In: International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 15 (2014) 1, S.41-61 (21 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1492-3831
Schlagwörter	Distance Education; Alienation; Role; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Educational Opportunities; Teaching Methods; Administrative Organization; Educational Administration; Educational Needs; Adult Students; Efficiency; Educational Quality; Competition; Student Attitudes; Curriculum; Theories; Open Universities; Educational Technology; South Korea + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Entfremdung; Rollen; Ausland; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Bildungsangebot; Bildungschance; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Bildungsverwaltung; Schuladministration; Schulverwaltung; Educational need; Bildungsbedarf; Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Effectiveness; Effektivität; Wirkungsgrad; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Wettkampf; Schülerverhalten; Curricula; Lehrplan; Rahmenplan; Theory; Theorie; Offene Universität; Unterrichtsmedien; Korea; Republik
Abstract	Drawing upon cultural-historical activity theory, this research analyzed the structural contradictions existing in a variety of educational activities among a group of alienated adult students in Korea National Open University (KNOU). Despite KNOU's quantitative development in student enrollment, the contradictions shed light on how the institution's top-down, bureaucratic pedagogical system collided with individual expectations and needs. In particular, the participants' critical viewpoints demonstrate the incompatible social roles that the open and distance higher education institution plays in Korean society. For example, while KNOU contributes to extending higher education opportunities for those who have unmet educational needs, the value of the KNOU degree has not been socially acknowledged since there is little, if any, competition in the entrance process. This study also documents how these contradictions were culturally and historically embedded in the participants' distance higher education activities. Given the persistent contradictions, the research findings illuminate that KNOU's efficiency-oriented model has not effectively facilitated the students' learning as its distance higher education system is inevitably based on a compromise between a competitive, quality curriculum and the efficient extension of audiences. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10