Online Courses as Effective Learning
Environments or "Digital Diploma Mills":
The Importance of Collaborative Learning
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Keynote Address, Telelearning ‘99
Montreal Canada November
Copyright, Starr Roxanne Hiltz
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Two views of Online courses
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A means of cutting the costs of “delivering”
educational materials to students, akin to
previous use of instructional television. Post
materials on the web; collect assignments; can
handle thousands of students.
OR: A means of improving the quality of
learning opportunities, by supporting learning
communities in an anytime/anywhere
environment (Learning Networks “TLN” or
“ALN”)- require small classes mentored by
skilled faculty members
Popular press: negative images of
online courses
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Article title: “Wiring the Ivory Tower:
But will online courses lower
standards?”
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Business Week, August 9, 1999
“No dorms, no sports fields, NO
COSTLY PROFESSORS”
Cites UNext:
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Will spend $1 million a course for
video streamed lectures by “stars”
Use part time instructors to answer
email and grade assignments
NOT what is meant by LN!!
AFT/NEA Commissioned report
on Distance Learning
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Asks, “What’s the difference” between
traditional and distance courses;
argues there is no proof that
distance/online is as good or better
Some Questions about “Differences”
This Talk Will Cover:
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Is online collaborative learning superior
to the mass distribution of materials via
the Web?
How do both models compare to
traditional college level courses, in terms
of process and outcomes?
What are some guidelines for
maximizing the quality of research to
answer these questions?
Background
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Over the last 15 years, NJIT has constructed a
series of computer-mediated communication
systems tailored to support “anytime/
anywhere” interaction among students and
instructors called “Virtual Classroom” [TM]
Used first in a variety of individual courses
and then for full degree programs; and
Developed various evaluation instruments and
approaches.
Virtual Classroom
NJIT
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TM
Project at
1993-1996 produced, delivered and evaluated
26 courses comprising the undergraduate
majors in Information Systems and Computer
Science, with Sloan Foundation support
Continuing: “From Virtual Classroom to
Virtual University” 1997-2000
 Expand the innovation to other schools
and departments and graduate degree
programs
8
Theories for Studying Online Courses
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Pedagogical Theories: Objectivist (passive) vs.
Constructivist (active, collaborative) learning
Media Effect theories (e.g., Media Richness,
Media Synchronicity)
Group Interaction Theories (e.g., Adaptive
Structuration; Poole & DeSanctis)
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…LN’s are a social technology through which a
group may choose to faithfully or unfaithfully
appropriate the structures provided by the
technology, heuristic, environment, etc…
Premises of the NJIT studies:
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Online courses provide unique
opportunities to support
collaborative (group based) learning
Collaborative learning is crucial to
the effectiveness of online learning
environments
Some VARIETIES OF COLLABORATIVE
LEARNING
Seminar: Students as Teachers
 Peer Writing Groups (Constructive
Criticism)
 Group Projects
 Case study discussions
 Web “treasure hunts,” compilations
 Debates
 Construct an exam
 Networked classes
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The Research Process
… a series of interlocking choices in which
we try simultaneously to maximize
several conflicting choices…
Key choices
generalizability with respect to populations
 realism for the participants
 precision in control and measurement of
variables
McGrath, 1982
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Methodological Tradeoffs
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Large sample surveys can maximize generalizability
Laboratory Experiments can maximize precision of
control
Field experiments can maximize realism
Qualitative Methods can maximize depth of
understanding ( the “why”)
“Triangulation” or multiple methods maximize overall
validity of results
Replication of results in different settings provides
generalizability
Questionnaire Data (1993- 1996
completed project)
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Total Responses (sometimes partial):
Virtual Classroom + video: 698
VC + FtF: 463
No VC: 268
Question Form: Please compare online
classes to your previous experiences with
“face to face” college - level courses. To
what extent do you agree with the
following statements...
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Taking Online Classes is More
Convenient (73% agree)
40
37
36
35
Percentage
(%)
30
25
17
20
15
10
7
4
5
0
Strongly A.
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly D.
N = 624
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Having the computerized conferencing system available
provided better access to the professor(s). (65% agree)
Percentage
(%)
42
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
29
17
8
4
Strongly A.
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly D.
N = 622, Mean= 2.2
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Did use of the system increase the quality of
your education? (58% agree; +22% Same)
30
27
25
22
Percentage
(%)
19
20
15
12
10
7
7
5
5
0
1
2
3
Unsure
5
6
7
Definitely Yes = 1
N = 617
Definitely Not = 7
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“Virtual Classroom Overall”
Index Items included:
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1. VC Increases Quality
2. Better learning
3. Learned More
4. Would not take another VC
5. Would have gotten more from a
traditional class
6. VC increases efficiency of learning
Chronbach’s Alpha = .85
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Correlations with VC Overall
(Pearson’s)
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All significant at least at .01 level;
n= about 523
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Collaboration Index .30
Better Access to Professor .46
Felt more involved in taking active
part .54
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Conclusions based on field trials
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LNs DO tend to increase access to educational
opportunities, efficiency (speed of completion)
of the degree, and quality of educational
experience as subjectively reported
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This is conditional on a number of factors, including active
participation by the student, and communicating/
collaborating with classmates
No Significant Differences in Course Grades
between traditional and LN sections
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Replication: Similar results from
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U. of Illinois, Drexel, SUNY, U. of Central
Florida, etc.
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E.g. Drexel: 95% felt they had better access to
Prof
Vast majority of students report that LN
courses are “better” in terms of access and
learning
Student evaluations strongly correlated with
amount on online interaction with professor
and with other students
BUT:
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In terms of the relationship between
Collaborative Learning and the effectiveness
of LNs, “correlation is not causation”
Triangulation: One course in the project,
Computers and Society, was selected for a field
experiment
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Effects of Computer-Mediated Communication on
Learning, Performance and Satisfaction: A
Comparison of Groups and Individuals Solving
Ethical Scenarios, A thesis by: Raquel Benbunan
TASK SELECTION
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RESEARCH METHODS
Discussion and solution of computer
ethics scenarios
Decision-making task, completed by writing a
report on analysis and recommendations for
action
 Key knowledge in the course and on the final
exam
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EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Distribution of Subjects across Conditions
INDIV.
GROUPS
MANUAL
ONLINE
IM 44 subjects
IOL 42 subjects
GFtF 28 subjects GOL 22 subjects
(5 groups)
(5 groups)
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Mean Final exam scores on ethics,
(GPA as covariant)
Manual On-line
Individuals
71.83
64.64
68.23
Groups
73.97
70.19
72.08
72.90
67.42
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Length of the Reports
Mean Words by
Condition
Manual
Online
Individuals
380
462
421
Groups
390
756
573
386
609
481
Model
Teamwork Effect
Online Effect
Interaction Effect
F
F
F
F
= 8.98
= 11.60
= 21.10
= 10.02
p
p
p
p
=
=
=
=
.0001
.0009
.0001
.002
** = Significant at p < .01; *** = Significant at p<.001
***
***
***
**
Triangulation: Faculty Views
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Semi-Structured Interviews with 20 NJIT Faculty
Those faculty who utilized group/collaborative
learning and obtained active participation in
discussions online tend to perceive that students
learn more online than in the traditional
classroom; those who did not make online
discussions and group work a central course
activity did not
Replication: SUNY faculty- 47% felt online
students learned more; 46% saw no difference;
only a few thought the classroom performed
better
Faculty Workload and Satisfaction- 100
SUNY faculty (1999)
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Preparation time: 43% said “much
more” and 41% said “more” than
traditional classroom
Teaching time: 25% said “much more”
and 39% “more”
Teacher-student interaction: 52% more
or much more; 31% the same
Would they do it again: 99 yes
Summary and Conclusions:
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Each of the three NJIT studies has its
methodological weaknesses, but taken together
they solidly support the conclusions that
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1.L N courses can be as effective or more effective
than traditional classrooms, in terms of access and
learning outcomes.
2. Collaborative learning designs are more
effective for online learning than individuals
working alone with materials posted online.
Data from other universities replicate the findings.
What’s the Difference? It’s the pedagogy,
stupid!!
A Challenge We Share
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Answer the critics with data: Replicate,
Triangulate, INNOVATE
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For More Info:
Roxanne’s home page:
http://eies.njit.edu/~hiltz
WWW.ALN.ORG
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