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Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE April 2011 ISSN 1302-6488 Volume: 12 Number: 2 from EditorGreetings Dear readers of TOJDE,TOJDE is appeared on your screen now as Volume 12, Number: 2. In this issue it is published 4 notes for Editor, 14 articles, 1 book review. And this time, 43 authors from 10 different countries are placed. These published articles are from Austrlia, Bangldesh, India, lndonasia, Iran, Malaysia. Pakistan, Serbia, Turkey and USA.The first Notes for editor arrived from USA, written by Kevin YEE and Jace HARGIS. They focused on Google Moderator and Other Clicker Alternatives. In their notes they mentioned that Students register the device on the company Web site, and the instructor synchronizes the database in order to know which students have registered devices, thus creating accountability for “quizzes” in class. During the lecture, students “vote” for multiple choice answers on screen, and real-time results are displayed (anonymously) after the polling is finished, providing instant formative feedback. Another model is for a department or institution to purchase clickers and make available in the classroom. Students pick up the clicker as they enter the room each day and replace when exiting. Using this approach does not allow for direct accountability, unless students are registered to a specific number on the clicker, which is documented and tracked. The second notes for editor is titled as “The Effect Of Virtual Versus Traditional Learning In Achieving Competency-Based Skills” which is written by Leili MOSALANEJAD, Sakine SHAHSAVARI and Mehdi DASTPAK from IRAN. In this quasi-experimental study, 86 freshman nursing students were recruited. Nursing Fundamentals and Skills (including theoretical and practical credits) was decided as the teaching course. The theory and practical contents were taught in one group by conventional method (face to face teaching, demonstration on moulage) and for another by virtual simulation and interactive multimedia. The two groups were the same for the content being taught, the instructor and the final evaluation. Paired t-test and independent sample t-test was used for statistical analysis. “A Framework For Choosing Appropriate Open Source Learning Management System” is the third paper for “Notes for Editor” section of TOJDE’s in this issue. It has written by Ahmad Zamzuri MOHAMAD ALI from, MALAYSIA. This paper intends to propose a framework or guideline in selecting appropriate open source products. The framework was developed based on experience, research and literature review done. This paper will also introduce some potential open source LMSes and its features that might be helpful in identifying the potential open source LMS that suits our learning objectives requirement. The features are identified by exploring the respective LMS’s test site.The fourth notes for Editor written by Zarabian F., Rastegar Pour H, Sarmady M. R, Zandi B, Farajollahi M. on “Web Based E-Learning Program Dictation And Its Impact On Academic Progress Of The Third Grade Students Of Primary School”. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of web based E-learning program instruction on academic progress of third grade students of primary school in dictation .This study is performed in the form of quasi-experiment. Statistical society included 62 third grade girl students of Mahdavi elementary school of region one in Tehran city education. Sampling in this study is done using random sampling method. Samples divided to two equal control and experimental groups. The experimental group was instructed dictation in three months using web based e-Learning program designed by the researcher and approved by the 16 relevant specialists in the ministry of education and universities. Control group was instructed using Traditional classroom method. The first article is from AUSTRALIA, on “Teaching Law to Online Law Students At Rmit University” written by Alperhan BABACAN, Program Director-Juris Doctor Program Graduate School of Business and Law RMIT University, AUSTRALIA. This paper discusses the online Juris Doctor Program (JD Program) at RMIT University. The first part of the paper provides a brief overview of the JD Program, the graduate capabilities of the Program and key principles associated with the teaching of law to online postgraduate students. In line with the literature in the area of online teaching and learning, it is argued that online education needs to facilitate deep learning and needs to be based on principles relating to student engagement and active participation.The second part of the paper showcases some of the courses that are taught on an online basis in the JD Program. A blended approach is adapted to the teaching of the advocacy as well as the Negotiation and Dispute Resolution courses. The Contracts Law course adopts a conversational framework to engage online law students. In discussing the online teaching and assessment practices in this course, the paper demonstrates how the teaching and assessment practices in these courses enhance deep learning and graduate skills and attributes essential for law students through premising the activities on principles relating to active learning and deep learning.The Second article is on “An Inquiry in to Benefits of Reflective Practice in Open And Distance Learning”, written by Muhammad ATHAR HUSSAIN, Azhar MEHMOOD and Munazza SULTANA from, PAKISTAN. This paper inquires into benefits of Reflective Practice in Open and Distance Learning in Pakistan. A questionnaire was administered among 40 students doing masters in Education, autumn 2009, at Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. Collected data were analyzed by calculating percentage and Mean scores of each item. An interview was conducted to validate the quantitative data. Findings showed that Reflective Practice helped learner in solving their learning problems and learners were able to cope with problems with their conscious effort. The respondents were agreed that consultation with friends and discussion with senior colleagues benefited them in solving problems involved in their learning. The respondents acceded that counseling for selection of subjects and institution, their past experiences and self-reports were useful in teaching-learning process and solving their learning problems. The respondents were of the opinion that reflective practice helps in solving learning problems and in bringing improvement in their behavior. The findings also indicated that lack of counseling, time and resources caused problems in becoming reflective and committed person. Keeping the findings in view, it is recommended that reflective practice might be promoted among students with the help of counselors, teachers, senior students, books and journals. Extensive counseling be provided to students at postgraduate level and curricula should be made innovative.The third articles are from, Turkey. The third one is on “Fuzzy Logic In Legal Education”, conducted by Z. Gonul BALKIR, Umit ALNIACIK, and Eylem APAYDIN, Kocaeli University, TURKEY. In their paper they mentioned that The methods and principles of fuzzy logic can be benefited in examination of the methodological problems of law, especially in the applications of filling the legal loopholes arising from the ambiguities and interpretation problems in order to understand the legal rules in a more comprehensible and applicable way and the efficiency of legal implications. On the other hand, fuzzy logic can be used as a technical legal method in legal education and especially in legal case studies and legal practice applications in order to provide the perception of law as a value and the more comprehensive and more quality perception and interpretation of value of justice, which is the core value of law. In the perception of what happened as it has happened in legal relationships and formations, the understanding of social reality and sociological legal rules with multi valued sense perspective and the their applications in accordance with the fuzzy logic’s methods could create more equivalent and just results. It can be useful for the young lawyers and law students as a facilitating legal method especially in the materialization of the perception and interpretation of multi valued and variables. Using methods and principles of fuzzy logic in legal education, more quality and just legal interpretations can be achieved by synchronously dealing with non-contradicting different perspectives of legal realities. The 4th article arrived from USA again which is prepared on “Using Wikis as A Support And Assessment Tool In Collaborative Digital Game-Based Learning Environments ritten by Yavuz SAMUR, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, USA. In this sudy indicated that i computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments, there are many researches done on collaborative learning activities; however, in game-based learning environments, more research and literature on collaborative learning activities are required. Actually, both game-based learning environments and wikis enable us to use new chances for learning, especially in collaborative learning activities. Therefore, in this paper, related literature on wikis and how game & instructional designers can leverage from wikis in game-based learning settings for enhancing students’ collaborative learning activities are examined. Based on the reviewed literature, two main suggestions are given in this paper with their underlying reasons. First, using wikis as a support tool for enhancing collaboration in digital game-based learning (DGBL) environments, and second using wikis as an assessment tool in DGBL are suggested.The fifth article which is entitled as “Teachers Training Through Distance Mode in Allama Iqbal Open University (Aiou) Pakistan: A Case Study”, written by Nabi Bux JUMANI, Fazalur RAHMAN, Saeedul Hasan CHISHTI and Samina MALIKI, Islamabad, PAKISTA. This case study discusses the practices of delivery at AIOU.The sixth article on A More Effective Way To Advertise The Distance Education Programmes: Mobile Marketing Approach” written by Ayda SABUNCUOGLU AYBAR and Ebru GOKALILER, from Yaşar University, Faculty of Communication, Izmir, TURKEY. They metion in their artile that Nowadays organizations strive to find the ways to communicate with their target audiences by using varied advertising mediums because of the developments on the information communication technologies and the globalization. In this context, like the other institutions, the distance education institutions has to execute communication activities by using different advertising mediums to create a positive position in their consumers minds. In this sense, the increase on the ownership of mobile phones and the new specialties of mobile phone technologies like accessing to the internet made mobile marketing efforts important on the advertising investments of distance education institutions. Especially with the mobile marketing, distance education institutions can create personalized informative and promotion messages for their target audiences. Mobile marketing approach has lots of advantages for the institutions and the most important advantages that helps the institutions are; the formats of the approach are forming according to the newest technological developments and it gives chance to create messages for specific target audiences. But mobile marketing has also disadvantages like; the target audience’s mobile phones can be incompatible with the messages and the target audience can ignore these messages. However much the approach has some disadvantages, the distance education institutions- which are based on the technological developments also like the mobile marketing approach- has to invest on mobile marketing according to send personalized and effective advertising messages about their programs’ contents, benefits etc. The seventh article titled as “Cost-Effective, Equitable And Flexible Higher Education Through Open And Distance Learning In Bangladesh written by Tofazzal ISLAM Department of Biotechnology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, BANGLADESH. This paper examines how this mega-university offers increasing access to cost-effective, equitable and flexible higher education by analyzing data from primary and secondary sources, identifies challenges impacting the continued growth of enrollment in distance education, and outlines opportunities for increasing access to higher education through scaling of distance initiatives. For pedagogic delivery, BOU uses both the conventional face-to-face tutorial system based on print module and electronic learning technologies such as CD, audiovisual cassettes, and radio and TV broadcasts. It revealed that BOU education is flexible, cost-effective, and insensitive to gender and geography and of standard comparable to that of the conventional universities. The reasons behind the success and cost-effectiveness of BOU programs were; BOU has access to any government and non-government infrastructures and resources without any cost or with nominal costs and can engage specialists from any institution for tutoring with a small honorarium; it broadcasts program free of cost through government-owned radio and TV channels; the demand for higher education is very high due to seat limitations only 4-5% of students get the chance to enroll in public universities after their HSC; and the degree/diploma/certificate of BOU is accepted by all as equivalent to those of conventional public universities. Survey of opinions from students of different programs identified the problems in the current system and proposed alternatives to mitigate them by applying some innovative interactive and flexible learning technologies including mobile phone. Considering the success of BOU and to accommodate the huge demand of higher education, conventional universities should also open their doors for ICT-mediated cost-effective and flexing learning to make the vision of knowledge-based ‘digital Bangladesh’ a reality by the year 2021.The eight article is come from again pakistan. Titled article is on “Key Factors For Determining Student Satisfaction In Distance Learning Courses: A Study Of Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan”, , written by Afzaal ALI, Muhammad I. RAMAY and Mudasar SHAHZAD from International Islamic University, Islamabad, PAKISTA. They mentioned that the primary objective of the research team was to find out the relationship between student satisfaction and the following variables of the distance learning environment: instructors' performance, course evaluation and student-instructor interaction. The sample consisted of 245 students of Allama Iqbal Open University of Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to address the most recent problem of AIOU students relevant to their distance learning. The problem was that most of the people in Pakistan perceived distance learning as poorer quality. Therefore, the researchers conducted this study to find out whether it's only people perception or there is any thing in reality about the poorer outcome of the distance learning students as compare to traditional students. The 9th article is arrived to us from India and written by M. RAJESH, Regional Director of IGNOU Regional Centre, INDIA. on Student Retention In An Era Of Globalization: A Case Study Of IGNOU Regional Centre, Mumbai. This current paper is an attempt to study the effectiveness of student support services in an era of globalization in distance education institutions, with special reference to IGNOU Regional Centre, Mumbai. It is strongly felt that the results of this study will have a strong bearing on the way support services at conducted at Distance Education institutions. Mathematical complexity has been purposively avoided to make the contents of this paper intelligible to a wider audience. The article is which numbered as 10, again from Turkey. Article is entitled as “A New Tv Practice In Distance Education In Turkey” writen by Ufuk KUCUKCAN, Department of Cinema and Television in Communication Science Faculty and Anadolu University Educational TV Coordinator in Open Education Faculty, His paper attempts to reveal possible answers to that question and also to come up with answers to what stages there should be in such process considering the “strategic plan”, which is one of the outcomes of this search conference. The eleventh article arrived from Universitas Terbuka, INDONESIAAbstrak, which is written Maya MARIA, Aminudin ZUHAIRI, Kurnia Endah RIANA and Ginta GINTING which is on “Students' Behaviour In Decision Making Process To Attend Distance Learning Programs At Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia” Tujuan dari peneletian perilaku mahasiswa dalam memilih perguruan tinggi-studi pada Universitas Terbuka adalah menganalisis perilaku mahasiswa memilih kuliah di UT berdasarkan pendekatan Theory of Planned Behavior. Metodologi penelitian ini menggunakan model Theory of Planned Behaviour dari Fishbein dan Ajzen sebagai kerangka teoriThe purpose of the research was to analyse students’ behaviour in choosing a distance learning program at Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia, using the theory of planned behavior model developed by Fishbein and Ajzen (1975).Total responden sebanyak 102 mahasiswa UT dari 3 UPBJJ-UT terpilih yang mewakili 3 wilayah dengan skala besar, sedang dan kecil yaitu Jakarta, Malang dan Kupang. The respondents of the research were 102 students from 3 Regional Offices of Jakarta, Malang and Kupang, representing different area and size. Structural Equation Model digunakan untuk menguji model dan hipotesis dalam penelitian. Temuan dalam penelitian menunjukkan norma subyektif berpengaruh signifikan terhadap niat memilih UT dan niat untuk memilih UT secara signifikan berpengaruh terhadap perilaku pemilihan UT.The structural equation model was used to test models and hypotheses in the study. The findings of the study show significant influence of subjective norm on the students’ intentional behavior to choose distance learning programs. Hal penting yang juga ditemukan dalam penelitian ini adalah norma keperilakuan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap perilaku pemilihan UT.Another important finding of this research is that behavioral norms significantly influence the students’ decision making behavior in choosing distance learning programs. Temuan penting dalam penelitian ini dapat menjadi masukan penting bagi UT untuk terus meningkatkan pelayanan sehingga dapat memberikan informasi yang baik tentang UT kepada masyarakat. Selain itu pihak UT perlu terus meningkatkan pembentukan komunitas melalui pokjar agar dapat menjadi sarana word of mouth agar rekomendasi mengenai UT dapat terjadi melalui aspek norma subyektif. The 12th article titled as “THE IT GENDER GAP: Experience, Motivation and Differences in Undergraduate Studies of Computer Science” written by Ivanović MIRJANA, Putnik ZORAN, Šišarica ANJA , Budimac ZORAN from Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad Novi Sad, SERBIA.The 13th article is written on “Synchronic Distance Education From The Perspective of A Handicapped Person” By Hasan KARAL, Ayca CEBI and Yigit Emrah TURGUT from, Karadeniz Technical University, Fatih Faculty of Education, Trabzon, TURKEY”. . In this study, because it was intended to present a handicapped person’s thoughts related to distance education, semi-structured interview, one of qualitative data collection techniques was thought to be the most appropriate data collection instrument. The sampling of the research included the handicapped student receiving courses by synchrony distance education in Karadeniz Technical University, two friends of the student following the same course and the assistant in the course environment. The interviews were recorded with a video camera, a transcript of each of the interviews was prepared and the data was analyzed scientifically. In the light of the research findings, it was decided that the synchrony distance education environment helped handicapped person feel more secure and relaxed and for his handicap not to be noticed by others. The last but not least article is written on “The Effects Of Distance Education Materials On The Traditional Accounting Course”, Dr. Mehmet Sinan BOZOK. In this study, under the assumption of the distance education materials used in a traditional accounting course as supporting tools, the effect on the student success is investigated. Results show us positive effect on the student success according to the grades. It is not only beneficial to the students but also to the instructors. One book is reviewed in this issue. In this rewiev indicated that the monograph is consisted of 85 pages covering an introduction followed by six articles. The coordinator, Dr. David Castillo-Merino holds a position as Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Economics and Business of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Among the contributors of the monograph are leading scholars and faculty members particularly in the area of economics and business administration, pedagogical consultants and graduate students proficient in different aspects regarding the economics of e-learning and ICT integration. Findings of the project have potential to offer policy implications and help e-learning designers, learners and decision makers to improve their unique e-learning endeavors. Dear readers, you can reach us online either directly at http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr or by visiting Anadolu University homepage at http://www.anadolu.edu.tr from English version, clicking on Scientific Research button and than goes to the Referred Journals. To receive further information and to send your recommendations and remarks, or to submit articles for consideration, please contact TOJDE Secretariat at the below address or e-mail us to tojde@anadolu.edu.tr Hope to stay in touch and meeting in our next Issue, 1st of July 2011 Cordially,Prof. Dr. Ugur Demiray Editor-in-Chief Anadolu University Yunusemre Campus 26470-Eskisehir TURKEY Tel: +90 222 335 0581 ext. 2521 or 2522GSM: +90 542 232 21 167 Fax: +90 222 320 4520 or Emails: udemiray@anadolu.edu.tr or udemiray33@gmail.comURL: http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr |
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