Oh, dear, more reading! The latest edition of the journal, Distance Education, the official journal of the Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia, is now available.
This one is also difficult to review as it is not a theme based issue, although some common factors emerge across some of the articles.
However, it’s worth getting just for Jon Baggaley’s hilarious article on ‘Flexible Learning: A Luddite View’. In this article the case for ‘inflexible learning’ is strongly made. If you don’t get irony, don’t read it, but it’s probably the funniest article you’ll ever read in a serious academic journal. And like all good jokes, there’s a serious message inside.
Som Naidu, the editor, provides a useful overview of the articles in the editorial. The main themes are
- assessment of learning,
- learner engagement,
- adventure learning,
- cultural guides
Articles
Miller, C. (2011) Aesthetics and e-assessment: the interplay of emotional design and learner performance
Koseoglu, S. and Doering, A. (2011) Understanding complex ecologies: an investigation of student experiences in adventure learning programs
Stewart, A., Harlo, D. and DeBacco, K. (2011) Students’ experience of synchronous learning in distributed environments
Wade, C., Cameron, B., Morgan, K. and Williams, K. (2011) Are interpersonal relationships necessary for developing trust in online group projects?
Murphy, L., Shelley, M., White, C., and Baumann, U (2011) Tutor and student perceptions of what makes an effective distance language teacher
Baran, E., Correia, A-P., and Thompson, A. (2011) Transforming online teaching practice: critical analysis of the literature on the role and competencies of online teachers
Zawacki-Richter, O. and Anderson, T. (2011) The geography of distance education – bibliographic characteristics of a journal network
Baggaley, J. (2011) Flexible learning: a Luddite view
Again, when I’ve had a chance to read the articles more closely, I’ll try and comment on them in more detail.
Dr. Tony Bates is the author of eleven books in the field of online learning and distance education. He has provided consulting services specializing in training in the planning and management of online learning and distance education, working with over 40 organizations in 25 countries. Tony is a Research Associate with Contact North | Contact Nord, Ontario’s Distance Education & Training Network.
Yes. The pricing also makes it difficult to review, and read.