The development of collaborative learning practices in an online language course
The success or failure of a course is, to a great extent, dependent on the level of motivation and commitment of the learners. Such motivation and commitment are, however, difficult to establish and maintain, especially in an on-line course. Social relations within a class, and the willingness of learners to collaborate with each other, have an important role to play, but the constraints of time and distance are obstacles to fostering such social relations among students enrolled in on-line courses. It is not easy to encourage students to be collaborative when they are accessing the course at different times, from different locations. This thesis, however, seeks to demonstrate that the variety and complexity of the technologies used to deliver an on-line learning experience can help to overcome these challenges. When introduced and used in appropriate ways, the software, internet tools, even the data collection program used for statistical analysis can actually encourage and enhance participants' motivation to interact and learn in collaborative ways. This thesis is concerned with an on-line course created and delivered by the researcher, the aim of which was to foster a collaborative learning environment
Chang, Hee-Jin
The development of collaborative learning practices in an online language course. The success or failure of a course is, to a great extent, dependent on the level of motivation and commitment of the learners. Such motivation and commitment are, however, difficult to establish and maintain, especially in an on-line course. Social relations within a class, and the willingness of learners to collaborate with each other, have an important role to play, but the constraints of time and distance are obstacles to fostering such social relations among students enrolled in on-line courses. It is not easy to encourage students to be collaborative when they are accessing the course at different times, from different locations. This thesis, however, seeks to demonstrate that the variety and complexity of the technologies used to deliver an on-line learning experience can help to overcome these challenges. When introduced and used in appropriate ways, the software, internet tools, even the data collection program used for statistical analysis can actually encourage and enhance participants' motivation to interact and learn in collaborative ways. This thesis is concerned with an on-line course created and delivered by the researcher, the aim of which was to foster a collaborative learning environment
development collaborative learning practice online language course success_failure course great_extent dependent level motivation commitment learner motivation commitment however difficult_establish maintain especially line course social_relation within class willingness learner collaborate important_role play constraint time distance obstacle foster social_relation among student line course easy encourage student collaborative access course different time different location however seek variety complexity technology_use deliver line learn experience help overcome challenge introduce used appropriate_way software internet tool even data_collection program use_statistical analysis actually encourage enhance participant motivation interact learn collaborative way concerned line course create delivered researcher aim foster collaborative learning_environment