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The nature of technology‐mediated interaction in globalized distance education
Author(s) -
Vrasidas Charalambos,
Zembylas Michalinos
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of training and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.558
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1468-2419
pISSN - 1360-3736
DOI - 10.1046/j.1360-3736.2003.00186.x
Subject(s) - immediacy , distance education , context (archaeology) , argument (complex analysis) , computer mediated communication , sociology , information and communications technology , pedagogy , computer science , geography , epistemology , world wide web , the internet , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , archaeology
The purpose of this paper is to discuss technology‐mediated communication and interaction in globalized distance education. We will briefly present the context, methods, findings, and implications of a research and development program we have been running for the last five years at Western Illinois University in collaboration with other institutions in the US, Mexico, and Cyprus (Intercollege). The emphasis will be on discussing the differences between face‐to‐face (F2F) and technology‐mediated interaction. Online interaction may be slower and ‘lacking’ in continuity, richness, and immediacy, when compared to F2F interaction; however, in some ways online interaction may be as good as or even superior to F2F interaction. We will use selected findings from our work to theorize the nature of interaction in online distance education in a globalized world. Our argument is that despite differences between F2F and online distance education, the latter should not be considered as second best, because there are significant qualities of online education that are often ignored.