learning together online research on asynchronous learning

[...]... delineated in the framework that strongly influence the effectiveness of online courses Part I: Foundations of Research on Learning Networks Chapter 1: What Are Asynchronous Learning Networks? In this introductory chapter, Starr Roxanne Hiltz and Ricki Goldman present definitions and illustrations and a brief history of what is meant by learning networks in general and asynchronous learning networks in particular... is an important part of traditional learning? What factors contribute to the development of presence in online courses? What are the affordances and constraints of asynchronous online media? Chapter 12: Asynchronous Learning Networks: Looking Back and Looking Forward In this chapter, Ricki Goldman and Starr Roxanne Hiltz explore the notion of educational transformation by first looking back to the... conducted by Babson College and the Sloan Consortium, an organization that promotes standards for online learning The college and the consortium e-mailed questionnaires to about 3,000 chief academic officers and university presidents last spring, and received responses from representatives of almost 1,000 public and private institutions One-third of the survey's respondents said that online education... for Learning Networks Research (http://ALNResearch.org) She is co-author of several research papers and book chapters, including those in the Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences and the Association for Information Systems In fall 2004 she will join the faculty of California State University, Fullerton I FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH ON LEARNING NETWORKS This page intentionally... problem solving, computer-assisted instruction, hypermedia design, technology and literacy, and asynchronous online learning Her current research focuses on the latter, and on student learning in technology-rich environments She has also co-edited a book on social learning from broadcast television Dr Swan has authored several hypermedia programs, including Set On Freedom: The American Civil Rights Experience... communication, to be explored in detail in chap 10) An advantage is that every person can think about and compose and revise their contributions at their own optimal speed, before posting them Because more time is spent on refining contributions to a discussion before sharing them, online discussions are generally considered to be "deeper" than are in-classroom discussions Learning and Learning Networks... millions of students are online, not only in the United States but also around the world Growth figures were cited in the Preface to this volume, and similar estimates are given by the marketing research firm Edventures (Barker, 2003): Roughly 915,000 U.S students were taking online courses in 2003-2004 This number swells to 2 million online if one counts students in blended (partially online) courses Online. .. DEFINING ALN What are Asynchronous Learning Networks, one might ask? What distinguishes ALN courses from regular distance education, synchronous learning networks, or e -learning? For that matter, why are ALN courses different from other web-based virtual learning environments (VLEs) or computer-supported collaborative learning environments (CSCLs)? This section provides a complete definition and decomposes... the online student and environment, including: What is the profile of students who choose this mode of instruction, and the profile of those who thrive and succeed in it? What characteristics of students (e.g., gender, learning style, etc.) are related to successful learning in the ALN environment? PREFACE xiii Chapter 8: Faculty Roles and Satisfaction in Asynchronous Learning Networks If online learning. .. are important social aspects of xiv PREFACE learning and the development of learning communities Happily, there is a growing body of research attesting that asynchronous online environments can and do support the development of learning communities Many questions, however, remain; for example: How are learning communities developed online? How is social context developed in the absence of the physical . xvii PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH ON LEARNING 1 NETWORKS 1 What Are Asynchronous Learning Networks? 3 Starr Roxanne Hiltz and Ricki Goldman 2 The Online Interaction Learning Model: . institutions of higher learning offer at least one fully or partially online course, and 34% offer complete online degrees. Institutions that offer online courses project continued. traditional learning? What factors contribute to the development of presence in online courses? What are the affordances and con- straints of asynchronous online media? Chapter 12: Asynchronous