Perceptions Of Experienced And Novice Online Learners

There are many characteristics for online learners. My characteristics are scared, overwhelmed, and excited all in the same breath. However there are three main characteristics found in every person, entry characteristics, participation behaviors, and course outcomes. Such characteristics can be broken down into age, race, gender, and employment status. Although these are the main characteristics found in this article, I think there are much more to the characteristics to online learners then meet the eye. (British Journal of Education Vol 44

(1) What is the article about? This article is about student’s experiences with the online courses based on interviews, online groups and observations. The Author talks about the negative and positive aspects of online courses. What teachers can do to improve the teaching of online courses? He also talks about what students’ perception

This is because it is an on-going observation and interview that will lead to interpretive analysis through themes, patterns and narrative synthesis among others. The method will lead to inductive findings through creative and critical reflection of the researcher. The situation therefore, requires an ongoing process so that the researcher may understand the situation through the changes that he or she observes in the course of time. This method is a journey in which experiences are built on the previous ones.

All three articles focus on the doctoral journey and the importance of creating a program that assists the doctoral student in finding their identity as a researcher or educator in their field. The third article examines critical thinking and its importance to the doctoral program. The common theme centers on the development of a doctoral program that meets faculty and student

In order to provide guidance for doctoral students, it is important to understand the experiences and related challenges that contribute to the establishment of academic doctoral students (Baker & Pifer, 2011). There is not one common trend that contributes solely to academic success, rather, a myriad of areas: key experiences, support, identity, relationships, challenges and goals all contribute to the student’s academic success (Baker & Pifer, 2011).

Boyd, D. (2004). The characteristics of successful online students. New Horizons in Distance Education, 18(2), 31-39.

The aim is the concern about doctoral student not fully prepared for reality as these affect their effectiveness in the graduate program which raises concern on improving the program most especially on how to develop their academic professional identity. (Austin and McDaniels 2006) argues in their finding that graduate education is a socialization experience that engages 'perspective faculty in thinking about the role and responsibilities they will assume, and the traditions in which they will participate. This is a true statement because of the knowledge they will acquire during the program and dedication towards the achievement of the program along with the level of their critical thinking and this is the point where socialization differentiates itself in forms of values, norms and ethics therefore, the bottom-line is about doctoral student developing self professionalism and acquiring his/her own knowledge, experience and norms in his field of expertise to assume his/her own scholarly

There are a number of different qualitative research approaches available to researchers which can provide a framework for their study to be conducted under. Many modern methods like interpretive and postmodern have followed in the footsteps of more traditional methods such as phenomenology. Historically, phenomenology as a research method has existed and evolved over the last two centuries, with Edmund Husserl being considered as the father of the research method and modern philosophy (Østergaard, Dahlin & Hugo 2008). The phenomenological movement emerged into the academic domain as a descriptive philosophical view which challenged analytical and deductive philosophies (Sanders 1982).

This subjectivity statement is presented to acknowledge the researcher’s related perspectives and experiences. This statement is intended to allow the reader to further consider the credibility of the study, while situating the researcher and the study in a particular context. In the tradition of constructivist grounded theory, the researcher’s perspectives and experiences as relating to the topic under study are an important, inextricable aspect of the research process (Charmaz, 2014).

Online college courses are almost becoming traditional for students. Some may perceive that a student does not receive an equal education when taking an online class. People tend to think that if a teacher is not directly giving the information about the subject, the course learning experience is different or unjust. This assumption is wrong according to the perception of many online course takers. Online college courses offer students the advantage to learn on their own time. The skills that a student learns in self-discipline, scheduling to complete graded assignments, and advantages learned with technology gives online classes equal education experience compared to classes on campus.

Charmaz (2014) highlighted the importance of recognizing the researcher as a inquiry instrument, given that the “researcher’s position, privileges, perspective, and interactions” are “an inherent part of the research reality” (p. 12). Second, prior to beginning the interview, participants completed a demographic questionnaire (Appendix B). This questionnaire asked for information on their classification in college, age, gender, major, self-identification of race/ethnicity, birthplace, parents’ level of educational attainment, and the number of their siblings who have entered higher education.

When utilizing a qualitative approach, the task becomes one of determining the qualitative method to be used. Additionally, Stake (2010) used purpose, research design, and methodical data techniques as a way of classifying types of qualitative research. Similarly, Cresswell & Cresswell (2007) spoke of five practices of qualitative research. These five practices consist of biography, phenomenological study, grounded theory study, ethnography, and case study. This researcher chose a phenomenological study for this research project.

Technology is changing every aspect in our lives, even the way we learn. Online classes are a rapidly growing trend it today’s society. Online classes are a cost-effective substitute for traditional courses and more convenient for many, so more schools and universities are offering this option. Due to the increase in online course enrollment, people are questioning if students truly learn something from online classes because it’s not a traditional learning environment. Online classes are just, if not more, effective as traditional classes because grades have increased and online discussions provide students with the chance to interact through networking while earning a degree for less than what it would cost to enroll at the same university.

This project will use interpretive phenomenological psychologist’s method because it provides more powerful tool for understanding human nature and it recognise the reflexive role of the researcher in the production of knowledge. This perspective will focus on the meaningfulness of experience itself because this perspective believes that individuals are actively involved in meaning making (intentionality). In phenomenology epistemonology is the study of knowledge; its conditions, its boundaries and its possibilities. While ontology is the study of existence and nature of being (project booklet,2012). This project looks at how participants experienced and how they interpret those experiences by focusing on understanding what is going on in terms of structure of the life worlds (temporality, spatiality, intersubjectivity and embodiment). (project booklet,2012)

Although the application of online learning has increased rapidly, little is known about students ' perspectives and preferences. Students, as participants in the educational process, play an important part in the learning environment and have a good vantage point that should be given adequate attention (Fraser, 1998; Houston & Bettencourt, 1999). As the data shown in the research carried by