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Full-Text Articles in Education

Social And Cultural Diversity In Distance Education, Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Deborah Lapointe Jan 2008

Social And Cultural Diversity In Distance Education, Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Deborah Lapointe

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

With the expansion of global telecommunication networks and the worldwide demand for higher education, distance education has the potential to reach out internationally to enhance learning for diverse learners and increase intercultural awareness and communication. By definition, distance education is borderless (Latchem, 2005), although differences in sociocultural contexts, values and expectations of diverse educational systems and learners may prove to be its greatest challenge (Hanna, 2000). While distance education programs proclaim an international focus with international content and learners, instructional design and methods frequently carry Eurocentric Western bias. Distance educators need to be sensitive to social, cultural and educational differences, …


Technology-Mediated Instruction In Distance Education And Teacher Preparation In Special Education, Lyndal M. Bullock, Robert A. Gable, J. Darrell Mohr Jan 2008

Technology-Mediated Instruction In Distance Education And Teacher Preparation In Special Education, Lyndal M. Bullock, Robert A. Gable, J. Darrell Mohr

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

In this article, the authors examine the literature on distance education and offer a brief chronology of its past-to-present development, with special attention to the evolution of technology-mediated instruction. They document some of the major trends related to both theoretical and practical aspects of distance education. In particular, they look at the significance of the design of instruction and the importance of preserving faculty-student communication. Next, they look at the challenges as well as opportunities that distance education affords students, faculty, and institutions of higher education. Finally, the authors summarize what they believe to be major issues to be resolved …


Measuring Students Perceptions Of Blackboard Using The Technology Acceptance Model: A Pls Approach, Leila Halawi, Richard Mccarthy Jan 2008

Measuring Students Perceptions Of Blackboard Using The Technology Acceptance Model: A Pls Approach, Leila Halawi, Richard Mccarthy

Publications

In this study, partial least square approach (PLS) is applied to investigate the determinants of students’ perceived usage results in the framework of university online or hybrid courses. A total of 134 valid responses from students who have finished or are currently enrolled in at least one online or hybrid course at two universities were employed to inspect the structural model. Using a structure that is in theory grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM) and tested through TAM, the analysis of results suggest that separate factors guide the students’ usage choice.