Group items tagged

In order to respond to learners' need for more flexible speaking opportunities and to overcome the geographical challenge of students spread over the United Kingdom and continental Western Europe, the Open University recently introduced Internet-based, real-time audio conferencing, thus making a groundbreaking move in the distance learning and teaching of languages. Since February 2002, online tutorials for language courses have been offered using Lyceum, an Internet-based audio-graphics conferencing tool developed in house. Our research is based on the first Open University course ever to deliver tutorials solely online, a level 2 German course, and this article considers some of the challenges of implementing online tuition. As a starting point, we present the pedagogical rationale underpinning the virtual learning and teaching environment. Then we examine the process of development and implementation of online tuition in terms of activity design, tutor training, and student support. A number of methodological tools such as logbooks, questionnaires, and observations were used to gather data. The findings of this paper highlight the complexity of the organisational as well as the pedagogical framework that contributes to the effective use of online tuition via audio conferencing systems in a distance education setting.

Based on a framework emphasizing the social nature of learning, this research examines a model of how social constructs affect satisfaction within online learning.

Complete version available in the journal "Internet and Higher Education" from the EBSCO database. The complete version is by Garrison and Arbaugh. The Internet version is only by Garrison.

math concept coverage on TIMSS 2007

Moodle's philosophical educational framework

American psychological Association (APA) (1997). Learner-centered psychological priniciples: A framework for school reform and redesign. Retrieved from online at: http://www.apa.org/ed/governance/bea/learner-centered.pdf

nicely done! francia!

One model that has gained a good deal of attention is the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework developed by Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000). The CoI framework is a process model that provides a comprehensive theoretical model that can inform both research on online learning and the practice of online instruction. The CoI model views the online learning experience as a function of the relationship between three elements: social presence, teaching presence and cognitive presence.

In psychology and education, learning is commonly defined as a process that brings together cognitive, emotional, and environmental influences and experiences for acquiring, enhancing, or making changes in one's knowledge, skills, values, and world views (Illeris, 2000; Ormorod, 1995). Learning as a process focuses on what happens when the learning takes place. Explanations of what happens constitute learning theories. A learning theory is an attempt to describe how people and animals learn, thereby helping us understand the inherently complex process of learning. Learning theories have two chief values according to Hill (2002). One is in providing us with vocabulary and a conceptual framework for interpreting the examples of learning that we observe. The other is in suggesting where to look for solutions to practical problems. The theories do not give us solutions, but they do direct our attention to those variables that are crucial in finding solutions. There are three main categories or philosophical frameworks under which learning theories fall: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning. Cognitive theories look beyond behavior to explain brain-based learning. And constructivism views learning as a process in which the learner actively constructs or builds new ideas or concepts.

Discusses some of the basic theories behind ffective online course design, give some examples as to how to apply these theories and justifications for the framework provided.

Since the 1970s, cognitive psychological perspectives have dominated pedagogical frameworks and models for designing technology-mediated teaching and learning environments. More recently, social learning perspectives have received attention as viable or even desirable frames for research and practice related to teaching and learning, particularly in Web-based learning environments (WBLEs). In this article, the authors analyze these social learning perspectives and how they can be used in the design and implementation of online learning.

Benefits to interdisciplinary teaching

This article suggests a combination of traditional learning theories can be adapted to form good practice for online learning.

This article goes into the background of andragogy and implications for distance learning

Proposes the framework of the 4 R's for learner centered practices: Responsibility Relevance Relationships Rewards

Constructivist strategies promote critical thinking.