The purpose of this study is to investigate facilitation in an online learning environment. The types of facilitation are examined using distance course students as subjects. Students' characteristics such as prior experience in distance courses, demographic attributes such as age, gender, and grades are incorporated as variables to explore their…

The main purpose of this Naturalistic inquiry study is to explore four ethically diverse Web-based Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) students' perceptions of and experiences in knowledge construction and group collaboration. Findings suggest that individual and group successes are interconnected and rely on successful negotiation…

Recent issues of training, computer, and management magazines all suggest that Web-based training (WBT) is the best way to reach geographically dispersed employees quickly and at low costs. The purpose of this paper is to explore the many unique characteristics of WBT and to discuss important issues related to the use of WBT in a corporate…

This volume is designed to accomplish three primary purposes: (1) illustrate a variety of qualitative methods that researchers have used to study teaching and teacher education; (2) assess the affordances and constraints of these methods and the ways that they focus and shape explorations of teaching; and (3) illuminate representative questions…

The rapid advancement of communication technologies is resulting in a wide array of design and development choices for distance learning projects. The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, is developing a prototype distance learning project designed to serve geographically separated learner populations. Project staff…

This paper outlines assumptions and principles related to computer mediated learning (CML) and suggests instructional design and classroom strategies for CML planning and practice. The pedagogy of control is contrasted with the pedagogy of choice and the latter constructivist viewpoint is recommended as the basis of CML. Assumptions about learning…

Issues associated with differentiation of learner needs and instruction in second language teaching are discussed. Differentiation is distinguished from mixed-ability teaching in that the former places emphasis on the requirements of individual learners, while the latter concerns pupil management for teaching purposes. An introductory section…

The Web-based Catalyst Initiative was created at the University of Washington (UW) to support innovation in teaching through technology. The approach utilizes participatory design techniques in the development of next generation technologies in order to scale beyond early to second wave adopters. Catalyst is the product of a support strategy that…

With technology changing rapidly, instruction on its use must change rapidly as well. Instructional designers are thus increasingly dependent on the use of rapid application development (RAD) procedures for producing timely instruction related to technology use. In recent years, the use of self-paced instruction in the educational environment has…

Successful implementation of a Collaborative Learning (CL) strategy is much like planning for a journey. The more people are talked to and the more background research is done about the journey, the more successful it will be. Teachers who want to start using CL techniques should observe a teacher or teachers who are experienced and proficient in…

This book outlines an approach to putting course content on the Web. It explains how to make current course materials Web-ready and describes Web-enabled teaching tools that educators may not currently use but that they might wish to incorporate into the teaching approach. The book explains how to combine these materials and tools to create a…

This paper reports on the design strategies and technical solutions that the authors have adopted to increase interaction in a World Wide Web-Based Instruction (WBI) system aimed at supporting new didactic approaches to the subjects of urban planning and architecture through the activation of online modules at the university level. Specifically,…

The purpose of this paper is threefold: (1) to discuss issues related to the design of interaction on the World Wide Web using models of interaction developed for distance education; (2) to examine several techniques for the analysis of interactions and the quality of the learning experience in a computer-mediated group conference; and (3) to…

This study compared the relationship between learning style preferences and learner success of students in an online graduate level instructional design course with an equivalent face-to-face course. Comparisons included motivation maintenance, task engagement, and cognitive controls. Results revealed significant relationships between preferences…

At the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston (Texas), the faculty and administrators made a conscious effort to take a broad, extensive approach to designing and implementing a fully online masters program. This approach was entered in a comprehensive needs assessment model and sought input from…