Learning through personal connections: cogenerative dialogues in synchronous virtual spaces

This study describes the role of cogenerative dialogues in a synchronous virtual classroom. Cogenerative dialogues are a way for students and instructors to reflect upon in-class events and work collaboratively during the course to optimize teaching and learning. In the present study, cogen has been found to be a tool for enhancing connections among graduate students in the class leading to a reported increase of motivation and engagement. Cogenerative dialogues were essential in shifting responsibilities so that students took a more active role in their own learning while supporting each other.     

A comparison of outcomes of virtual school courses offered in synchronous and asynchronous formats

As part of the formative evaluation of Alabama's pilot of its virtual schooling system (the Alabama ACCESS Distance Learning Program), the Alabama State Department of Education examined outcome data from courses offered in the two distance delivery systems: web-based course management and interactive videoconferencing (IVC). In light of Bernard et al's. [Bernard, R., Abrami, P., Lou, Y., Borokhovski, E., Wade, A., Wozney, L., et al. (2004). How does distance learning compare with classroom instruction? A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Review of Educational Research, 74(3), 379–434] recent meta-analysis finding that asynchronous distance environments generally had more positive outcomes than synchronous ones, a comparison of online (asynchronous) and IVC (synchronous) platforms provided an opportunity to explore and shed more light on outcome comparisons between synchronous and asynchronous platforms. Though there were some outcome differences, the dominant finding was of no differences between platforms.     

Teaching in 3D: Pedagogical Affordances and Constraints of 3D Virtual Worlds for Synchronous Distance Learning

Three-dimensional (3D) virtual worlds are a new technology that holds some promise as constructivist learning environments for distance education. This investigation presents an evaluative case study of the pedagogical implications of using one 3D virtual world, Active Worlds, for synchronous distance education. The research design for this qualitative study focuses on the pedagogical affordances and constraints. Methods employed in the data collection include participatory observations, class logs, and formal and informal interviews with the instructor of a synchronous distance learning course offered through Active Worlds University. Findings reveal that although Active Worlds provides tools that support constructivist learning environments, the affordances and constraints of the tools (discourse, experiential, and resource) may, to varying degrees, impact the pragmatic use of this medium. While this initial investigation reveals that this technology supports constructivist learning environments, more research needs to be conducted to fully explore the potential of 3D virtual worlds as both distance and traditional classroom learning environments.     

Blending Synchronous Face-to-face and Computer-Supported Cooperative Learning in a Hybrid Doctoral Seminar

Online education is often assumed to be synonymous with asynchronous instruction, existing apart from or supplementary to face-to-face instruction in traditional bricks-and-mortar classrooms. However, expanding access to computer- mediated communication technologies now make new models possible, including distance learners synchronous online attendance of face-to-face courses. Going beyond traditional uses of videoconferencing (e.g., real-time remote viewing with limited student interaction), this article describes the use of freely available technologies to support synchronous cooperative learning activities involving both face-to-face and hybrid doctoral students. Specifically, we describe the rationale behind pedagogical choices and specify how various technologies were re-purposed to create a virtual classroom space in which all possible combinations of face-to-face and hybrid students worked together in multiple small-groups across single class sessions. Implications for course development, the implementation of cooperative learning activities in online settings, and the use of both synchronous and asynchronous methods of online instruction are discussed.     

Synchronic Tutoring of a Virtual Community

The role of tutors has changed over time, depending on models of learning and on the technology available. This article discusses the evolution of the tutor role and presents a new model concerning the tutoring functions in a synchronous virtual community. The definition of a virtual community starts from a theory of communities of learning and takes the features of the virtual environment into account. A project set in order to verify the tutors' features in a synchronous virtual community with an educational aim will be described in detail. The chats on-line are analyzed combining two analysis systems: (a) a category system describing the tutor's on-line functions; and (b) a discourse analysis exploring the dialogical and interactive dimensions of the tutor interventions. Results gathered from this study highlight typical features of tutoring on-line a virtual community. On-line tutorship appears to be a fluid, situated and dynamic process of meaning negotiation. Tutors are able to take over each others' specific roles and students act as tutors to each other.     

高校同步互动课堂实现与应用研究

高等教育优质教学资源流通不畅加剧了教育不公平的问题,同步课堂可以实现资源互通,但在高等教育中应用较少,缺乏可参考的教学模式与案例。在分析当前同步课堂的不足后,结合高校教师和学生特点,提出适用于高校的同步课堂教学模式。在此基础上,阐明高校同步互动课堂中的互动形式,并从课堂支持环境建构和教师团队协同工作两方面实现互动机制。在C语言程序设计课程中展开高校同步互动课堂实践,实践班级在考试难度增加的情况下,成绩优秀人数占比由45.08%提升至56.04%,不及格人数占比由30.05%下降至12.79%。高校同步互动课堂有较强的可操作性,有助于优质教学资源流通和师生、学生间的互动交流,具有一定的推广价值。     

Contradictions between the virtual and physical high school classroom: A third‐generation Activity Theory perspective

This paper uses a third‐generation Activity Theory perspective to gain insight into the contradictions between the activity systems of the physical and virtual high school classroom from the perspective of teachers who had transitioned from one system to the other. Data collection relied on semi‐structured interviews conducted with e‐teachers as well as management/support personnel of an organisation charged with delivering web‐based high school courses in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Contradictions related to time and workload, physical presence, interaction and rapport building, and use of direct messaging and email. The contradictions can be explained by a difference between the mediating tools in each activity system. The absence in the virtual classroom of body language and visual presence as mediators requires e‐teachers to find new ways of interacting and building rapport and necessitates a shift from a practice of controlling to engaging students’ attention.     

智慧课堂建设提升高校思政课传播能力研究

高校思政课的智慧课堂建设是采用现代教育技术进行的高校思政课教学改革。通过高校思政课智慧课堂建设的技术媒介理论研究,探索智慧课堂建设对于高校思政课的名师示范教学、扩大课程受众范围、分教学场所远程直播互动交流、同步保存教学视频资料供学生重复学习以及教学资源共享与传播等方面具有突出的优势。文章从坚持高校思政课智慧课堂建设的指导思想、夯实高校思政课智慧课堂建设的理论功底、构建高校思政课智慧课堂建设的话语体系、助推高校思政课传播能力提升的动力机制、提升高校思政课传播能力的智慧课堂建设等五个方面探讨教育信息化背景下,智慧课堂提升高校思政课传播能力的对策路径,推进马克思主义中国化时代化大众化,建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态,使全体人民在理想信念、价值理念、道德观念上紧紧团结在一起。     

基于GBS的虚拟教室系统设计研究

GBS是一种典型的"情境学习"模式,需要设计故事情节、构建真实场景。但是在传统教室中有些情节或场景很难出现,而利用虚拟现实技术就可以实现场景再造。该文通过设计虚拟教室系统的开发框架和方案,探讨了Creator与Vega Prime软件在虚拟教室系统开发中的关键技术运用,构建了具有友好交互功能的虚拟教室系统。文章还介绍了利用虚拟教室系统开展GBS教学的教学案例。     

基于MATLAB的自动控制原理虚拟实验仿真平台

本文将MATLAB软件引入自动控制原理课程的教学和实验中,通过MATLAB软件提供的控制系统工具箱,可以对线性系统进行模型建立、时域分析、频域分析和根轨迹分析;同时该软件也可以对离散系统时间响应进行分析。通过教学实践表明,基于MATLAB的自动控制原理虚拟实验仿真平台的建立和应用,改革了自动控制原理课程实验教学的形式和内容,培养了学生的兴趣和实践能力,提高了课堂教学的效率。     

基于LabVIEW和Simulink的过程控制工程虚拟实验平台开发

设计了针对典型过程控制系统进行的虚拟仿真控制平台,利用虚拟仪器软件LabVIEW和仿真工具Simulink进行平台的开发,通过Simulation Interface Toolkit(SIT)实现两者通信。该平台的系统开发选取过程控制工程课程中的典型控制环节,平台的功能包括:典型控制系统的流程图动画界面显示,后台控制器设计,以及实时参数和控制效果显示等。最后还设计了平台选择程序,实现程序的封装。该系统能作为过程控制工程的辅助教学软件,达到将实验环节引入课堂的良好效果。     

Providing online course opportunities for learners who are deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing

For more than 20 years, two courses, History, Education, and Guidance of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Introduction to Instructional Methods for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, have been taught at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania using a traditional lecture format. A state grant provided funding to explore the use of technology to teach online courses to college-age learners who are deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing. Saba Centra software was used as the online tool for the synchronous presentation of course content, which included PowerPoint lecture material, text chat opportunities, sign language-interpreted video, and other forms of class participation (e.g., signaling for questions raised, responding in a "yes/no" format). The present article covers recent successes and challenges in offering online courses in a "virtual classroom" format to deaf and hard of hearing learners, as well as hearing learners, from a qualitative research perspective.     

Sense of community in a higher education television-based distance education program

The purpose of this study was to measure sense of classroom community in a television-based higher education distance education course and in the same course taught by the same instructor in a traditional face-to-face learning environment, in order to determine if differences existed and if so to identify the nature of these differences. Participants for this study consisted of 120 adult learners who were enrolled in either of two sections of a semester-long undergraduate educational technology course offered by an urban state university. One section was taught tradiationally and the other section was taught to a small studio audience and at a distance to 24 remote classroom sites using synchronous one-way television and two-way audio technologies. Study results revealed a significantly lower sense of classroom community among learners in the distance education course, to include the studio audience.     

两类虚拟教室整合技术与应用的研究

虚拟教室是远程教学的重要技术平台之一。文章介绍了对基于天气预报视频会商及会议系统和基于互联网的两类虚拟教室进行整合的方法。通过对系统、教学资源、教学应用等进行互联、融合,构建跨平台的复合型虚拟教室系统,实现功能互补和提升。本文还介绍了利用复合型虚拟教室开展具有气象特色的面向预报员的"绩效导向型课程"的教学案例。     

Is distance teaching more work or less work?

Abstract

This article presents data collected in a year‐long study in which the author and his assistants kept detailed records of their time spent teaching and maintaining two comparable university courses. One course was offered online to adult professionals away from campus, the other offered to undergraduates in traditional classrooms on campus. The courses had similar learning objectives, similar student activities, and equally favorable ratings by students. Both were mature courses that required only routine maintenance and revision. The data do not support the widely held belief that teaching an asynchronous online course requires more effort than teaching a comparable synchronous classroom course. Although the distance course required more frequent attention, the total teaching and maintenance time spent per student was less than that required to teach and maintain the classroom course. Categories of teaching tasks are also compared.     

应用Kinect构建英语课堂虚拟教学情境研究

语言习得在真实的情境中发生才更有效,英语课堂教学的出发点应该是情境.针对当前英语课堂的去情境化或弱情境化教学现状,提出利用Kinect体感交互技术构建课堂虚拟教学情境来增强语言沉浸.以情境认知学习理论为指导,对大学英语课堂虚拟教学情境要素进行分析与设计,实现了Kinect虚拟情境创设系统.大学英语课堂教学应用案例表明,该系统在创设情境、体验情境、演绎情境和反思评价等教学环节中具有积极辅助作用.     

Learning the methods and the skills of global product realization in an academic virtual enterprise

This paper reports on and draws conclusions about the international course called European Global Product Realization. It was organized to provide university students with knowledge about distributed product development in virtual enterprises. The philosophy of the course is discussed together with its structure, contents, organization, infrastructure, deliverables and the experiences. Necessitated by globalization, the principles of operation of virtual enterprises were used in organizing the course. The knowledge accumulated in global product realization by the participating companies and academic sections provided the basis for the course and for the student projects. The organizers put the students of three European universities into the position of evolving young professionals who act as both knowledge producers and knowledge consumers. The design and engineering students took part in academic lectures and industrial case studies in a virtual classroom and practised collaborative product development in the emulated virtual enterprise. The academic virtual enterprise framework has been confirmed to be a solution for opening the conventional educational institutions. Our future work will concentrate on how to exploit disciplinary and operational research as the engine behind academic learning and teaching.     

虚拟课堂与教师的能动性研究

虚拟课堂是在互联网条件下采用实时性、交互性的多功能网上授课平台.虚拟课堂的出现必然会导致传统教育体系的进一步革新.虚拟课堂具有自身的特点和优越性,与现实课堂相比,在教学场所、学生来源、授课时间、互动方式等方面,存在巨大差异.然而,以网络技术为代表的虚拟课堂代表着现代教育生产力的发展方向.教师在虚拟课堂中的作用、地位不是被削弱,而是应该得到加强.教师的能动性体现在与学生的平等互动之中,使阅读、表达、讨论、交流、质疑、争辩、赞同、支持、查考、创作,成为虚拟课堂改变教师和学生日常学习生活的基本方式.虚拟课堂与现实课程的整合,不仅改变着学生的学习状态,也使教师的能动性地位得到不同形式的体现和发展.     

生本教育理念下实施探究式教学的探讨

生本教育体系下的生态课堂教学模式基本流程一般为领受、领悟和提升,新课程改革中突出强调的探究式教学模式分为情景创设、质疑、探究和创新四个环节.生态课堂教学与探究式教学之间有着紧密的内在联系,它们是相辅相成的.利用生本教育理念进行探究式教学更能彰显学生的个性,更有利于学生的全面发展.     

互联网时代创新文化构建的混合学习模式

本文通过利用互联网信息资源对地质工程专业的课程进行辅助教学设计,以期在传统教学模式下激发学生自主学习能力,并有效整合课堂教学、网络信息资源,多因素共同构建大学生创新文化的混合学习模式。通过教学实践,这种混合式学习模式目标明确,顺应时代潮流,可操作性强,将有利于互联网时代大学生专业学习过程中创新文化的形成与发展。