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Evaluating online solutions for experiential support of distance learning by teachers in China
Author(s) -
Gu X.,
Zhang B.,
Lin X.,
Song X.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of computer assisted learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.583
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2729
pISSN - 0266-4909
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2008.00291.x
Subject(s) - experiential learning , psychology , educational technology , mathematics education , online learning , distance education , pedagogy , multimedia , computer science
This paper describes and assesses the development of an online solution for the experiential support of distance learning by teachers. Three hundred and forty‐eight randomly selected K‐12 teachers participated in this pilot study using the online learning environment designed in this research. Teachers' products, surveys, and interviews were collected and analysed. Results showed that the teacher‐learners could learn as well as in face‐to‐face learning in an earlier implementation of the course. The learning support system as designed fits teacher‐learners' needs. They benefited from learning communities formed online as well as face‐to‐face. More support for online discussion and example cases are needed to support experiential learning. Suggestions are made to improve the design of the learning support system and the pedagogy for experiential teacher learning.