Online learning discussion formats provide an opportunity for learners to share their experiences, negotiate meaning, and take ownership of the subject matter. Chat rooms also provide learners with anyplace and real-time ways to participate in academic discussions. Shared understanding occurs when individual experience mediated through group…

What students believe about the nature and role of mathematics is critical to their learning of mathematics, as negative beliefs stunt children's curiosity about mathematics and cause student motivations to learn mathematics to be based on grades and other extrinsic motivators (Howley et al., 2005). For meaningful learning to take place, students…

There are differences in the benefits that are afforded by the two extremes of face-to-face and distance education. University campus courses are based on the assumption that the student community and interaction between learners and an expert teacher in the same physical location is essential to the learning process. In comparison, distance…