tomasson a qualitative inquiry into the existing research on learner's needs in online learning

Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative inquiry is to analyze the literature on the topic of learner needs in distance learning from the perspective of the student. All research studies, surveys, and case studies were considered as long as they satisfied the following two conditions: a) they were published in a peer-reviewed professional journal and b) they reported on findings obtained from student feedback. Attention was given to those scholarly publications that reported on American community college students or undergraduate students’ feedback of their needs in e-learning. The theoretical foundation underlying the inquiry came from Malcolm Knowles’s (1977) Principles of Andragogy and the social constructivist theory. The examined research papers and studies confirm that Knowles’s principles of adult learning remain to be a valid theoretical approach in online environments as well. Finally, learner feedbacks point to the validity of the principles of social constructivist theory as the most likely approach to online learning

https://repository.unm.edu/dspace/bitstream/1928/3641/1/Tomasson,%20J%20lit%20review.doc

mijn notes

• ziet er niet uit als een hoogwaardige bron
• knowles principles of andragogy:
• 1. His [adults] self-concept moves from one of being a dependent personality toward one of being a self-directed human being.
  2. He accumulates a growing reservoir of experience that becomes an increasing resource for learning.
  3. His readiness to learn becomes oriented increasingly to the development tasks of his social roles.
  4. His time perspective changes from one of postponed application of knowledge to immediacy of application, and accordingly his orientation toward learning shifts from one of subject-centeredness to one of problem-centeredness (p. 39).
• three themes emerged as key components of learner needs in online courses: 1 importance of self-directed learning skills, 2 online interaction that supports learning, 3 motivating students. All three are important components of Knowles's principles of adult learning.
• importance of self-directed learning skills: the students' feedback revealed that self-management, self -efficiacy and the ability to direct own's onw learning are keys to learner succes in online environments. students choose to take online courses because they need the flexibility that online learning provides (and not because they want e-learning). students who are dependent neeed a high level of feedback and interaction and might struggle with an online course. it is important to teach students to be more self-directed
• online interaction that supports learning. social presence is crucial. learners appreciate beging part of a community. getting timely responses from peers and the instructor as conducive to learning. toprated was also communicating effectively and showing concern for student learning.
• motivating students. students need additional motivation in e-settings. metacognitive feedback can induce students to become self-regulated learners.