scholarly journals Discursive evaluation in a distributed learning community

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Distributed Learning ◽  
Discussion Board ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Project ◽  
Threaded Discussion ◽  
Shared Norms

This paper describes a distance education project where a threaded discussion board was used for interaction amongst students and teachers. The experiences from the first year of the project shows that such a forum can be an important complement to other evaluative resources in order to monitor student's expectations and experiences. Furthermore, it is argued that discursive evaluations can establish a learning community with shared norms and forms of communication and collaboration. Vital properties of the discussion board are that it is continuous, online, public, asynchronous and auto-structuring.

An exploration of the factors that contribute to learning satisfaction of first-year anatomy and physiology students

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saramarie Eagleton
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Community Support ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Effectiveness ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Learning Satisfaction ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Teaching Anatomy ◽  
Physiology Students

Lecturers have reverted to using a “blended” approach when teaching anatomy and physiology. Student responses as to how this contributes to their learning satisfaction were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions that were based on three determinants of learning satisfaction: perceived course learnability, learning community support, and perceived learning effectiveness. Regarding course learnability, students responded positively on questions regarding the relevance of the subject for their future careers. However, students identified a number of distractions that prevented them from paying full attention to their studies. As far as learning community support was concerned, respondents indicated that they were more comfortable asking a peer for support if they were unsure of concepts than approaching the lecturing staff. Most of the students study in their second language, and this was identified as a stumbling block for success. There was a difference in opinion among students regarding the use of technology for teaching and learning of anatomy and physiology. From students' perceptions regarding learning effectiveness, it became clear that students' expectations of anatomy and physiology were unrealistic; they did not expect the module to be so comprehensive. Many of the students were also “grade oriented” rather than “learning oriented” as they indicated that they were more concerned about results than “owning” the content of the module. Asking students to evaluate aspects of the teaching and learning process have provided valuable information to improve future offerings of anatomy and physiology.

scholarly journals Componentes Afetivo-atitudinais na Prática de Tutores em um Curso a Distância para Professores de Matemática

EAD em FOCO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnaldo da Conceição Esquincalha ◽  
Celina Aparecida Almeida Pereira Abar
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Mathematics Teachers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Tutor Training ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Types Of Knowledge

Neste artigo, objetiva-se investigar os conhecimentos revelados por tutores de um curso de formação continuada para professores de Matemática na modalidade a distância. Inicialmente, acompanhou-se o trabalho de 32 tutores ao longo de um ano, a fim de tipificar suas intervenções realizadas em fóruns de discussão junto aos cursistas. A partir dos resultados, em um segundo momento da pesquisa foi oferecida formação específica a um novo grupo de tutores, com o intuito de promover melhoria nas ações consideradas aquém do esperado no primeiro ano. Seis dos novos tutores se voluntariaram para ter seu trabalho acompanhando por um ano, caracterizando-se como os sujeitos desta pesquisa. Sua formação foi fundamental no quadro teórico TPACK e em autores que discutem a importância de componentes afetivo-atitudinais para a formação de professores. A pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, fez uso da observação do trabalho dos tutores, que foi analisado por meio das tipologias discursivas encontradas nas intervenções realizadas pelos tutores nos fóruns de discussão do curso. As análises indicaram que componentes afetivo-atitudinais têm papel fundamental no exercício da tutoria nesse contexto, sobressaindo-se em relação a outros tipos de conhecimento. Palavras-chave: Tutoria em Educação a Distância; Formação de tutores; Componentes afetivo-atitudinais; TPACK. Affective and Attitudinal Components in the Practice of Tutors in a Distance Learning Course for Mathematics Teachers AbstractThis paper aims to investigate the knowledge revealed by tutors in a continuing education course for mathematics teachers at distance. Initially, it followed up the work of 32 tutors over a year, in order to typify its interventions in discussion forums, with course participants. From the results, in a second phase of research, specific training was offered to a new group of tutors in order to promote improvement in actions considered below expectations in the first year. Six of the new tutors volunteered to have their work following by a year, they are characterized as the subjects of this research. His training was based on TPACK theoretical framework and in authors who discuss the importance of affective and attitudinal components for teacher training. The research, qualitative, made use of the observation of the work of the tutors, which was analyzed by discursive typologies found in interventions by tutors in discussion forums. Analyses indicated that affective and attitudinal components play a key role in the exercise of tutoring in this context, with more emphasis than other types of knowledge. Keywords: Tutoring in Distance Education; Tutor Training; Affective and Attitudinal Components; TPACK.

Distance Education and ‘Discovery Learning’ in First-year Journalism: A Case in Subject Improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Ames
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Discovery Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Education Environment ◽  
Education Model ◽  
Assessment Requirements ◽  
Social Constructivist Approach

This article examines the implications of adopting a discovery learning education model for distance education students in a first-year undergraduate journalism subject. It reviews subject enhancement strategies against learning theory and analyzes the ways students are engaged with subject content and assessment. Results of subject redesign included increased student satisfaction, greater retention and higher grades despite the increase in overall assessment requirements. It demonstrates that discovery learning based on group work and social engagement can be adopted in a distance education environment with positive outcomes. This article maps how a subject designed initially to align with a cognitivist/behaviourist model progressed to adopting a social constructivist approach. It concludes with a discussion of the issues associated with that transition.

E-Learning at Politecnico di Torino

2013 ◽  
pp. 690-702
Author(s):  
Salvatore Barbagallo ◽  
Roberto Bertonasco ◽  
Fulvio Corno ◽  
Laura Farinetti ◽  
Marco Mezzalama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
First Year ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Large Scale System ◽  
Part Time ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Real Challenge

Politecnico di Torino has been actively experimenting distance education scenarios since 1992, through the development of innovative methodologies and tools. The real challenge today, however, is to move from small settings to a large-scale system able to suit the needs of a broad number of users belonging to different categories, from traditional students to part-time or full-time workers, from students living far from Torino to people with participation restriction due to disability. The emphasis then, is not only on the innovation of methodologies and technologies, but on their effective and economically sustainable use in a complex and multi-faceted setting. This chapter describes the services introduced in this direction and gives a preliminary evaluation after the first year of delivery.

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