A Case Study Describing Student Experiences of Learning in a Context of Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication in a Distance Education Environment.

Autor/inn/en	Sorg, Judith J.; McElhinney, James H.
Titel	A Case Study Describing Student Experiences of Learning in a Context of Synchronous Computer-Mediated Communication in a Distance Education Environment.
Quelle	(2000), (21 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Case Studies; College Students; Computer Mediated Communication; Computer Uses in Education; Cooperative Learning; Distance Education; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Higher Education; Interaction; Internet; Interviews; Learning Theories; Qualitative Research; Sociology + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Collegestudent; Computerkonferenz; Computernutzung; Kooperatives Lernen; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Lernumgebung; Pädagogische Umwelt; Schulumwelt; Unterrichtsmedien; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Interaktion; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Learning theory; Lerntheorie; Qualitative Forschung; Soziologie
Abstract	Based on collaborative learning theories, this qualitative study describes seven adult students' experiences of learning in a context of synchronous computer-mediated communication within a distance education environment. The setting was an 8-week, Internet-based undergraduate/graduate sociology course sponsored by Indiana University Purdue University at Fort Wayne. The primary mode of instruction was text-based, synchronous computer conferencing (online discussions). Course requirements included weekly interaction in the chats among small groups of fellow students and the instructor. Data collection focused on a series of four interviews with each study participant and was supplemented by observations of participants' interactions in the synchronous conferences, learning journal entries, and a reflective journal maintained by the researchers. Analysis of the evidence focused on cognitive and affective responses as study participants learned computer competencies, critical thinking skills, and course concepts. As a result of this study, synchronous computer conferencing was validated as a potentially motivational and effective tool for interactive learning with computer-mediated communication in the distance education environment. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/MES)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC