Articles
Design and implementation of a blogging model in a school class
Jaden Mckay, Deborah Kroger
Abstract:
In this study, we presented a model for the integrative level of weblog use in teaching writing to schoolchildren and a case of the use of weblogs under a Weblog Text-image Transmission Model (WTTM) in a Taiwan third grade class. A detailed description of the WTTM was provided to illustrate the theoretical framework guiding the design and implementation of using blogs in a writing class for schoolchildren. Findings from the study revealed themes that illustrated the characteristics of the use of weblogs under WTTM framework. Those themes included association activation, the pros and cons of word processing, copy-revise phenomenon and collective wisdom.
Teaching Presence and Critical Thinking Empirical Study in Asyncro Forums
Denny Simon , Jaden Crosby
Abstract:
The discussion forum is a significant component of online courses. Instructors and students rely on these asynchronous forums to engage one another in ways that potentially promote critical thinking.
This research investigates the relationships between critical thinking and teaching presence in an asynchronous discussion environment through quasi-experiment, pre-test-post-test design. The results demonstrate that when teaching presence was increased in the discussion forum there was a significant increase in learners’ level of critical thinking.
Student Exploration for a Global Link: Future program Recommendations
Raylee Richardson
Abstract:
In many universities within and outside of the USA, globalization has become a pervasive idea that has developed into an integral part of the educational agenda in the 21st century. Pressure on higher education to prepare students for global readiness and citizenship has promoted a shift of internationalization strategies, policies, and activities from a marginal to the “mainstreaming of internationalization” (Hahn, 2004, p. 123) in higher education. Purposes of this study were: a) present the essential steps used to develop “global link” and b) present the experiences of the students who participated in the global link. The global link was incorporated into one graduate distance education course through four stages: a) establishing partnership, b) pre-planning steps for global link, and c) activating global link, and d) assessing student experiences. Student responses were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Students characterized their experiences related to the benefits as themes of Newness of Virtual Mobility, and Beginning of International Awareness. The challenges of the experiences emerged as the themes Innate Factors and “Technology is great when it works”. This study also provides strategies and suggestions for developing effective global links in higher education.
College development and collaboration between teachers through email exchanges: case study from Algeria
Raylee Richardson
Abstract:
This article presents a study of the effects of using email exchanges to develop collegiality and collaboration among teachers of English in a Teacher Training College in Algeria. A content analysis of the email exchanges the author, being head of the English department, had with her colleagues showed that Allport’s Contact Hypothesis leads to promoting teachers’ collegiality and professional development. When teachers were encouraged to use email exchanges with each other, they ended up bringing new ideas and propositions to the English Department where they were working. Fostering contact among English teachers via email exchanges served (1) breaking the ice between teachers, (2) generating reflective thinking, and (3) generating deeper analysis of the problems encountered.
Usage of Wiki in Academic Partenariats
Ali Robbins
Abstract:
The development of new technologies is giving rise to new models of collaboration. One of these models is “Mass Collaboration” that is based on Web 2.0 technologies and services. Within this context, wikis offer new possibilities to exploit in a more effective way the entire potential of the collaborative work coming from the active participation of all the individuals that are present in dispersed locations. This research study wants to contribute to the current debate on the cultural shift that the introduction of this tool in academic partnerships with even the less developed countries is able to produce.