Online learning examined from every angle, thanks to collaborative research
Published on 26 October, 2011
Online environments offer an educational domain unique in their potential for interaction, participation and collaboration and have been acknowledged to represent one of the fastest growing contexts for adult learning.
Now CQUniversity is helping to examine the interactions behind the scenes of online learning, thanks to being part of a consortium of distance education universities called DE Hub (also including Uni of New England, Charles Sturt Uni, and Uni of Southern Queensland).
Our Learning & Teaching Education Research Centre recently hosted members of a project team focused on 'learning interactions' between learner-learner, learner-teacher and learner-content in online contexts.
This cross-institutional multi-disciplinary analysis involves project team members: Dr Dolene Rossi (CQUni), Associate Professor Bobby Harreveld (CQUni), Colin Beer (CQUni) Damien Clark (CQUni) Professor Patrick Danaher (USQ) and Dr Henriette van Rensburg (USQ).
"Although the question of how learners interact in computer-mediated environments has received increasing research attention, little is known about the dynamics and processes of learner interaction and how these relate to learning in online courses," says Dr Rossi.
"This project will draw from and build on two different studies conducted by members of the project team within the lead institution (CQUniversity). In one of these studies researchers utilised academic analytics to examine the adoption of learning management system (LMS) features and staff and student engagement within online courses.
"In spite of the research's limitations, findings suggested that the analysis of LMS data in conjunction with student results could be used to provide the institution with benchmark information and an indicator of student engagement within online courses.
"In the other study, the researcher examined the processes of and relationship between learner-learner interaction and knowledge construction within an online communication course. Within this investigation, the researcher constructed a substantive theory about the development of learning relationships among learners as a consequence of learner-learner interaction in an online undergraduate course.
"In the proposed study, researchers from CQU and the University of Southern Queensland will utilise a collective case study approach to reach cross-institution, multidisciplinary understandings of the patterns, processes and consequences of learner-content, learner-learner and learner-teacher interaction in online courses.
"The study's results will make a significant contribution to educational and institutional knowledge about the nature and effects of learner interaction in online courses.
"Based on the results of the research a model will be constructed to explain the relationship among course design, interaction and learning in online courses and the patterns, processes and consequences of different types of interaction in online learning contexts.
"From this model a set of guidelines which identify conditions conducive to interaction and effective learning in online courses will be produced.
"Together these tools may be used by the institutional partners to enhance the design of online courses, the learning and teaching experience of students and educators and the outcomes of online, distance education. Dissemination of the results will enable the wider educational community to benefit from the research.
"It is anticipated that the relationships formed during this collaborative venture will provide further opportunities for sharing and constructing knowledge within this field of education."