E-mail based communication is gradually making its way into the distant collaborative learning environment. But, compared with traditional lecture cum discussion learning environment in e-mail-based collaborative discussion, it is difficult to know the latest statuses of the learners for providing immediate feedback effectively due to limited information resources. The authors propose an inform...

IThis chapter describes a pilot program at W a k e Forest University's 2. Smith Reynolds Library that was designed to revitalize our information literacy instruction through the introduction of Library 2.0 concepts. B e pilot explored new methods and technologies that can be used to engage students in a collaborative environment. 'The goal was to produce a class that is more relevant to how stu...

Group work, projects and discussions are important components of teacher education courses whether they are face-toface, blended or exclusively online formats. This paper examines the varieties of tasks and challenges with this learning format in a face to face class teacher education class providing specific examples of both failure and success from both the student and instructor perspective....

Online discussion has been well established as a fundamental tool for collaborative e-learning and by extension for organizational knowledge management. Yet, in its current generation its effectiveness is limited by the enabling technology on which it is based. Applying Media Synchronicity Theory, potential benefits are envisioned, particularly in the case of collaborative learning environments...

In large-scale e-learning environment, it is very difficult or even impossible for the tutors to give “one-to-one” instruction to the distributed learners. In this paper, we first presented a multi-agent framework to group e-learners into communities with similar learning status. Then through an integrated visualization platform, we enabled the tutors to gain insight to the characteristics of e...

Œis is a very interesting and provocative paper on an important topic. Growth in advanced economies of the world have seŠled into a tepid pace of 1%-2% a year associated with a decline in total factor and labor productivity over the past decade. It is imperative to understand the sources of low productivity growth and to evaluate what policies can rejuvenate growth. Œe potential growth rate of ...

This paper describes the E-xcellence methodology for the quality assurance of e-learning. It outlines the E-xcellence process, and describes the main supporting resources: a set of 35 benchmarks, a quality manual and the ‘Quickscan’ self-assessment tool. The manual expands on the 35 benchmark statements, offering performance indicators and supporting discussion. The Quickscan is available onlin...

This paper describes the E-xcellence methodology for the quality assurance of e-learning. It outlines the E-xcellence process, and describes the main supporting resources: a set of 35 benchmarks, a quality manual and the ‘Quickscan’ self-assessment tool. The manual expands on the 35 benchmark statements, offering performance indicators and supporting discussion. The Quickscan is available onlin...

Does collaborative learning in asynchronous discussion groups result in enhancing academic discourse and knowledge construction? This general research question has been researched in a study involving 300 students, working during six months in 38 electronic discussion groups. The transcripts of the discussions were coded and analysed to test hypotheses related to the impact on knowledge constru...