What's technology got to do With IT? A Dephi study on collaborative learning in distance educatio
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Date
2009Author
O'Neill, Susan
Scott, Murray
Conboy, Kieran
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Recommended Citation
O'Neill S, Scott M, Conboy K (2009) A Delphi study on collaborative learning in distance education. In 17th European Conference on Information Systems (Newell S, Whitley EA, Pouloudi N, Wareham J, Mathiassen L eds.), 454-465, Verona, Italy.
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Abstract
Collaborative Learning (CL) is increasingly being used in Distance Education (DE), as it has been
identified as an effective solution to known weaknesses such as high average rates of dropout and low
quality of learning attainment. Information Technology is a core component of this type of learning as
it not only provides the means to collaborate over distance but also has the potential to enable higher
learning outcomes. There are a rapidly growing number of technologies in use today and the
importance of these to collaborative learning initiatives, and the role they play, is an area of active
research in the Information Systems (IS) community. IS educators and practitioners face an
increasing challenge therefore to successfully implement CL in DE, precipitated not only from
technical advances but also from wider social and organisational concerns. Using a Delphi study,
this research is the first to investigate the factors that influence collaborative learning in distance
education by surveying the opinions of an expert panel in this area. The aim was to produce an
integrated list of the most important implementation factors and to investigate the role technology is
perceived to contribute. The findings identified seventeen of the most important factors. These factors
cover a range of themes including course rationale and design, instructor characteristics, training,
group dynamics, the development of a learning community and technology. The potential of
technology however does not seem to be fully realised and newer technologies such as multi-user
environments would seem to be of limited use in practice, according to the expert panel.