Assignment 1: Critical analysis of published research paper:
I had choosen to analyse this research article published on Journal of Interactive Online Learning.
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/PDF/4.1.1.pdf
The Importance of Interaction in Web-Based Education:
A Program-level Case Study of Online MBA Courses
Bude Su
Curtis J. Bonk
Richard J. Magjuka
Xiaojing Liu
Seung-hee Lee
Indiana University
Abstract
Though interaction is often billed as a significant component of successful online learning, empirical evidence of its importance as well as practical guidance or specific interaction techniques continue to be lacking. In response, this study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative data to investigate how instructors and students perceive the importance of online interaction and which instructional techniques enhance those interactions. Results show that instructors perceive the learner-instructor and learnerlearner interactions as key factors in high quality online programs. While online students generally perceive interaction as an effective means of learning, they vary with regard to having more interaction in online courses. Such variations seem to be associated with differences in personality or learning style. The present study also shows that instructors tend to use technologies and instructional activities that they are familiar with or have relied on in traditional classroom settings. When it comes to learning more sophisticated technologies or techniques, instructors vary significantly in their usage of new approaches.
Assignment 2: Research planning and preparing a research proposal
I was working at Desan as a part time employee. Therefore within that reach and context I designed following research proposal as a part of Assignment II
1. Introduction:
Research proposal about the impact of EPSS (Electronic processing support system) tool for the user of IT (Interview Technology) software Application in DESAN market research organization.
2. Background of the research proposal:
Desan, a market research organization and other such organization has many users of Interview Technology (IT) software application. The users are from the data entry operators to researchers who design the questionnaire for survey, conduct interview and analyze the report using the application. As a producer of this application Desan also has to provide all kinds of sufficient help and support to its users. Another aspect is that providing mush more effective help and support expose the potential and popularity of it IT application. Though the users are generally skilled with using computers and software still it has been recognized that they feel quite difficult to get used to and comfortably use all provisions in application because of several complex terms and steps they have to proceed through while using it. The help and support plain text available in the application is not much engaging, motivating and interesting. Lot of inquiries, guidance and support are been asked at the initial stage or at any mode of the use of application by the users. In this context it has been realized by the management of the Desan to develop a just in time support and guidance tool to the users which can help or support the need of users difficulty. The need is to simplify the task of the user at the very moment. This tool can be taken as a initiation or introduction of Electronic performance support system (EPSS). So it has been decided to design and develop a support or a guidance prototype tool for the IT Manager part of application which will support the researcher to design the questionnaires.
RM- Research Plan Proposal - full text of this research proposal:
