Monday, December 15, 2008

The Distance learning in Athabasca University
In the Athabasca University in Canada there are many ways of interaction. For example: learner-learner interaction and learner-teacher interaction. A learning community has existed in this university. Through this community, the learner can interact with other learners whether they are registered in the same courses or not. Also, he/she can interact with the tutors, professionals, former students, family members, informal lifelong learners and mentors.

In this learning community several software tools and learning objects are used to help in the interaction process. Students can participate in online discussion boards. There are also some enabling software help in the interaction process. These are:
1. “Introducer systems” (MeetUp, Udate, Ryze, Tribe) connect a broad spectrum of web users.
2. WIKIs and systems such as LiveJournal allow the informal creation and ongoing development of group diaries, commentaries and other documentation of individual and group activities.
3. Chat rooms are already in use by the AUSA (The Athabasca University Students’ Association) but more elaborate text, such as those facilitated by MOOs (MUD object oriented) which is a text-based online virtual reality system to which multiple users (players) are connected at the same time and MUDS (Multi-User Dungeon, Domain or Dimension) that is a multi-player computer game that combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash style computer games and social chat rooms.
4. Graphic virtual worlds (e.g. http://www.there.com/) could also be usefully employed to facilitate real time interaction. The university also has already implemented several types of services including a “Study Buddy” service, regional coffee groups, mentoring contacts, and various “birds of a feather” groups such as one for students who are single mothers. Also, the learner-teacher interaction in this university can be done through frequently asked questions, library tutorials and responses to Call Center queries.
One of the software used in interaction in Athabsca University is THERE. This software is free and you can install it on your desktop. You have to register to log in this software. This is the interface of this software.

There are many tools of communication in this software such as Voice Chat, Mail, Activity Flags, My profile, Eye Monitor and other tools.
Also there is a forum to discuss any topic you want with others.
Reference:
Anderson, T., Annand, D., Wark, N. (2004, October). Interaction in Learner-Paced Learning. Retrieved on17/09/2008 fromhttp://cider.athabascau.ca/research/researchCurrent/Interaction

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