Although I've read quite a few articles by one or more of these three authors, and seen this particular article cited numerous times, this may be the first time I've read this exact article.  I looked at it primarily as an example of a theoretical framework paper, but nearing the middle, realized I must not … Continue reading Garrison, Anderson & Archer: CoI + Conversation

I've reread one of the articles by Holmberg, looking at it as an example of a theoretical framework paper. Here are essentially the steps to the structure of this article: First, Holmberg defines theory and distance education, the context in which his theory will operate. Then he presents his own theory of conversation and empathy, … Continue reading Second Look at Holmberg: Theoretical Framework

A few days ago I met with Dr. Graham and, upon his advice as well as my own inclination, agreed to focus on writing a theory paper this semester rather then a research paper.  I'm still new to the field, and haven't yet taken the IPT courses about research or statistics.  Instead of spending much … Continue reading Two Theoretical Framework Articles

I spent a lot of time reading these articles, and then didn't finish the blog I'd begun on them! I am now teaching a course at BYU, Introduction to Middle Eastern Studies (MESA 201).  As I read the two articles below, I thought of several questions that I might ask the class in the categories … Continue reading Garrison and Community of Inquiry

Either I'm especially tired tonight (and tired of battling a cold), or this article does not do the best job of helping the reader follow the issues of group development. The authors want to review and overview group development models.  In doing so they discuss multiple models, but I don't feel like I'm coming away … Continue reading Carabajal, Lapointe & Gunawardena on Online Learning Groups

I just finished an older article by Garrison in which he argues that distance education has primarily followed an industrial approach thus far, but with the use of computer conferencing tools can transform to a post-industrial one.  According to Garrison, the dominant industrial model focuses on mass communication and mass production, with learners engaged in … Continue reading Garrison on Computer Conferencing

Note: I wrote this last month, but neglected to post it to this blog. We all want to know what it takes to excel.  Perhaps there is not a single domain that we passionately wish to dominate, but we admire excellence and are astounded by the feats of those great performers in history.  We wonder, … Continue reading Lit Review: Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

Today in Charles Graham's course we discussed Terry Anderson's article alongside two by Michael Moore.  Anderson combines theories of learning with the context of online education to suggest some outlines for a theory of online learning.  I was a little unsatisfied when I finished the article, perhaps because I wanted a full-blown theory, not just … Continue reading Anderson: Towards a Theory of Online Learning

For Dr. Graham's class this week, we read two articles by Michael Moore, one of the pioneers and leaders in the field of distance education, and currently the editor of the American Journal of Distance Education.  In one article, from 1989, Moore discusses three types of interaction in distance education: learner-content interaction (without which there … Continue reading Moore on Interaction & Transactional Distance

Note: I wrote this last month, but neglected to post it to my blog. We all love stories.  Bedtime stories, stories around the water cooler, aviation stories told by President Uchtdorf in General Conference.  Abraham Lincoln was loved by many (and scorned by not a few) because of his propensity to respond to any situation … Continue reading Lit Review: Tell Me A Story by Roger Schank