Renuka Kumar

OMDE 608
Section: 9040
February 22, 2015
Assignment 1

Berge, Z. L. (1995). Facilitating computer conferencing: Recommendations from the

field. Educational Technology, 35(1), 22-30. Retrieved from
http://www.cordonline.net/mntutorial2/module_2/Reading%202-1%20instructor
%20role.pdf
The main message of this journal article is that computer conferencing is a good tool for
communication provided that the instructor has well-designed goals and objectives for the course
that lend to more discussion among the students. The author outlines four categories,
pedagogical, social, managerial and technical, that are very important for successful online
tutoring. The author provides recommendations for all four categories on best practices for an
instructor to use in an online classroom. The article is almost twenty years old, however, it is
well researched and still relevant to instructors who want to use computer conferencing in their
online classrooms.

Blaschke, L. M. (2004). Sustaining online collaboration: Seven lessons for application in the
Volkswagen AutoUni. In U. Bernath & A. Szcs (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd EDEN
Research Workshop Oldenburg, March 4-6, 2004, (pp. 388-394). Retrieved from
Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem der Universitt Oldenburg website:
http://www.c3l.uni-oldenburg. de/cde/eden.pdf
This workshop proceeding paper reviews seven best practices that can be used by an
organization to develop virtual teams. The contention of the author is that in addition to having a
culture which promotes learning it is essential that trust must exist among team members in order
for them to connect with each other and have a positive online dialog. Not only is it important to
have the right technology it is also important to have learning champions who play an important
role in sustaining online collaboration. This paper is focused on an automotive organization,
however, it is relevant to all scholars interested in guidelines for successful online collaboration.
The paper is very well researched and well laid out and would be beneficial to corporations and
institutions interested in creating virtual teams.

Renuka Kumar
OMDE 608
Section: 9040
February 22, 2015
Assignment 1

Brindley, J.E. (1995). Learner services: Theory and practice. In Distansutbildning i itveckling,
Rapport, 11, 23-34. Umea, Sweden: University of Umea. Retrieved from
http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/en/c3l/bachelor-master/master-programmes/mde/asfseries/volume-9/
This journal article discusses various factors such as economic changes which could affect the
choice of a theoretical framework for learner services in open and distance learning (ODL). The
article discusses issues that may arise in the development of interventions to improve retention.
The main contention of the article is to think beyond retention strategies and look at other
effective interventions. The article is almost 20 years old and much has changed in the past few
years with respect to student support services in ODL, however, the article is well researched and
may be of interest to those who are interested in learning about factors that could affect the types
of support offered by an institution.

Jocoy, C. & DiBiase, D. (2006). Plagiarism by adult learners online: A case study in detection
and remediation. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning,
7(1). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl
In this journal article the authors summarize the results of a case study they conducted on their
adult students to study the extent of plagiarism in their online classrooms. The study focuses
primarily on cut-and-paste plagiarism. The authors found that adult learners plagiarize as much
as younger students. The authors hoped that by implementing an expectation management
strategy where students were given clear instruction regarding plagiarism they would see fewer
cases of plagiarism, however, this was not the case. The authors also found that use of software
was more effective at detecting plagiarism. The case study was conducted over a year beginning
in June 2003. The article is very well researched and would be very helpful to other scholars
researching plagiarism by adult learners in distance learning.

Renuka Kumar
OMDE 608
Section: 9040
February 22, 2015
Assignment 1

LaPadula, M. (2003). A comprehensive look at online student support services. American

Journal of Distance Education, 17(2), 119-128. Retrieved from
https://learn.umuc.edu/d2l/le/content/56879/viewContent/2826077/View
This journal article reports the results of a survey conducted at the New York Institute of
Technology to determine whether online students were satisfied with the student services they
were receiving and which services they would like to receive in the future. The article outlines
the method used and the results of the survey. The findings of the survey are that although the
students seem to be satisfied with the existing services there was room for improvement,
especially in the areas of social services, advising and counseling, and technical assistance. This
article is not current as the survey was conducted more than 10 years ago, however, it is well
researched and the methodology of the survey would be useful to those wishing to conduct a
similar survey.

Naidu, S. (2004). Supporting learning with creative instructional designs. In J. E. Brindley, C.

Walti, & O. Zawacki-Richter (Eds.), Learner support in open, distance and online
learning environments (pp. 109-116). Retrieved from Bibliotheks- und
Informationssystem der Universitt Oldenburg website: http://www.unioldenburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/c3l/master/mde/download/asfvolume9_ebook.pdf
In this chapter edited by Brindley, Walti and Zawacki-Richter the author emphasizes that good
course design in essential in maximizing an online students learning experience, however,
facilitation by a teacher is also needed to provide interaction in order to give the student a
meaningful learning experience. The author discusses several instructional designs such as
story-centered learning, problem-based learning, critical incident-based learning, design-based
learning and role play-based learning that an instructor can use in the online classroom to create
an environment that encourages engagement by students. The chapter is well researched and will
be helpful to instructional designers, administrators as well as teachers of a distance education
institution.

Renuka Kumar
OMDE 608
Section: 9040
February 22, 2015
Assignment 1

Rekkedal, T. (2004). Internet based e-learning, pedagogy and support systems. In J. E. Brindley,
C. Walti, & O. Zawacki-Richter (Eds.), Learner support in open, distance and online
learning environments (pp. 71-93). [Adobe Digital Edition]. Retrieved from Bibliotheksund Informationssystem der Universitt Oldenburg website: http://www.unioldenburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/c3l/master/mde/download/asfvolume9_ebook.pdf
This chapter in the book by Brindley, Walti and Zawacki-Richter discusses Internet e-learning.
After differentiating between online education and e-learning the chapter reviews pedagogical
theories by Moore, Peters, Holmberg, and Garrison and how they define student support systems
for online education. The chapter also reviews Tintoss and Bajtelsmits and Kembers models of
drop out from distance education and the author summarizes the various reasons for student drop
out. The author concludes the chapter with an overview of Aoki and Pogroszewskis The Virtual
University Reference Model for student support services for online distance students. The author
emphasizes that it is important to have a pedagogically correct model for supporting the needs of
a large variety of e-learning students. The article was written about ten years ago, however, it is
very well researched with thirty six references. It is useful for scholars interested in the role of
pedagogical theories in creating support systems of distance learners.

Shea, P., & Armitage, S. (2003). Beyond the administrative core: Creating web-based student
services for online learners, resources, guidelines (Research Report: 11627). Retrieved
from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education website:
http://www.wiche.edu/pub/11627
This website provides a guide for institutions who want to create online services for their
students. These guidelines are the outcome of the three year Beyond the Administrative Core:
Creating Web-based Student Services for Online Learners project which concluded in 2002. The
authors of the guide state that institutions should minimize offline services and that most services
to students, both online and traditional, should be online. The guide outlines motivating factors
for putting most services online and also suggests future stages of updates for online services.
The guide concludes with a discussion of which services should be online and whether
traditional and online students have different needs for services. This guide would be a good
resource for administrators of institutions who wish to create online support services.

Renuka Kumar
OMDE 608
Section: 9040
February 22, 2015
Assignment 1

Simpson, O. (2004). Retention and course choice in distance learning. In U. Bernath & A. Szcs
(Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd EDEN Research Workshop Oldenburg, March 4-6, 2004,
(pp. 381-387). [Adobe Digital Edition]. Retrieved from Bibliotheks- und
Informationssystem der Universitt Oldenburg website: http://www.c3l.uni-oldenburg.
de/cde/eden.pdf
This workshop proceeding paper looks at factors that affect choices that students make regarding
which courses to take. Students may decide to take a certain course based on the course title and
the course description. Students may also make course decisions based on peer reviews or
taster packs, a preview of the course. The author states that none of these methods are
satisfactory as there are cost limitations or these methods do not adequately describe the course.
Decisions by students as to which course they take may affect the retention or dropout rates of an
institution. The author also states that a student who is in the wrong class based either on content
or level is more likely to drop out. The article is well researched and would be beneficial to
administrators who are trying to increase enrollment in their institutions.
Walti, C. (2004). Implementing web-based portfolios and learning journals as learner support
tools: An illustration. In J. E. Brindley,C. Walti, & O. Zawacki-Richter (Eds.), Learner
support in open, distance and online learning environments (pp. 157-168). [Adobe
Digital Edition]. Retrieved from Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem der Universitt
Oldenburg website: http://www.unioldenburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/c3l/master/mde/download/asfvolume9_ebook.pdf
This chapter in the book by Brindley, Walti and Zawacki-Richter discusses the importance of
web-based portfolios and learning journals as learning tools in distance education. The author
makes the case that these tools help to build self-confidence in students which in turn leads to
developing independent and self-directed learners, traits that are very important for a successful
student in distance education. The author looks at the rationale of using these tools as well as the
advantages and disadvantages of each of the tools. The article is very well researched and would
be essential reading for instructors who wish to use e-portfolios and learning journals in their
online classrooms.