An Investigation of Active Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Amongst Vietnamese Students in Higher Education
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Abstract
The interactive nature of Web-based learning has afforded learners greater opportunities to fully and actively participate in the learning process. However, there is some concern over whether virtual learning processes are also able to foster this type of active learning amongst Vietnamese students. This study aims to explore the potential of virtual learning to enhance active learning amongst Vietnamese students studying at a large Australian University. The study comprised two groups of Vietnamese students who were studying Master of Education and Master of Science and Technology courses. A mixed method approach was used to collect data. The findings indicate that students within this study tended to hold positive attitudes towards the potential of ‘virtuality’ to promote their active involvement in the learning process. The findings also suggest that prior learning style makes it more difficult to become an active participant in their learning for Vietnamese students. Further study is required to investigate how different Virtual Learning Environments such as Second Life; or newer Web 2.0 technology coupled with appropriate online teaching style and instruction might enhance active learning amongst students in different faculties or universities in Vietnamese educational context.
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LUONG, T. H. G., & WRIGHT , P. (2009). An Investigation of Active Learning in a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Amongst Vietnamese Students in Higher Education . Asian Journal of Distance Education, 7(1), 54-70. Retrieved from http://asianjde.com/ojs/index.php/AsianJDE/article/view/142
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References
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from http://www.jaltpublications.org/tlt/articles/2002/01/an Oliver, R. L., Rust, R. T., & Varki, S. (1997). Customer Delight: Foundations, Findings and Managerial Insight. Journal of Retailing, 73, 3136. Peltier, J. W., Drago, W., & Schibrowsky, J. A. (2003). Virtual Communities and the Assessment of Online Marketing Education. Journal of Marketing Education, 25(3), 260-276. Philips, J. M. (2005). Strategies for Active Learning in Online Continuing Education. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 36(2), 77-83. Piaget, J. (1973). To Understand is to Invent: The Future of Education. Grossman, New York. Prince, M. (2004). Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231. Ragoonaden, K., & Bordeleau, P. (2000). Collaborative Learning via the Internet. Educational Technology & Society, 3(3), 1-15. Rahm, D., & Reed, B, J. (1997). Going remote: The Use of Distance Learning, The World Wide Web and the Internet in Graduate Programs of Public Affairs and Administration. Public Productivity and Management Review, 20(4), 459-471. Rubin, L., & Hebert, C. (1998). Model for Active Learning. College Teaching, 46(1), 26-30. Salmon, G. (2000). E-Moderating: The Key to Teaching and Learning Online. London: Sterling Publishing. Seng, L. C., & Al-Hawamdeh, S. (2001). New Mode of Course Delivery for Virtual Classroom. Aslib Proceedings, 53(6), 238-242. Sherry, A. C., Fulford, C. P., & Zhang, S. (1998). Assessing Distance Learners’ Satisfaction with Instruction: a Quantitative and a Qualitative Measure. The American Journal of Distance Education, 12(3), 4-7. Sonner, B. S. (1999). Success in Capstone Business Course: Assessing the Effectiveness of Distance Learning.
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Journal of Education for Business, 74, 243-247. Spiceland, J. D., & Hawkins, C. P. (2002). The Impact on Learning of an Asynchronous Active Learning Course Format. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 6(1), 2-9. Stacey, E. (1999). Collaborative Learning in an On-line Environment. Journal of Distance Education. Sweeney, J. C., & Ingram, D. (2001). A Comparison of Traditional and Webbased Tutorials in Marketing Education: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Marketing Education, 23, 55-62. Thomas, A. (1998). The Interactive, Virtual Management Information Systems Classroom: Creating an Active Learning Environment on the Internet. WebNet 98 World Conference of the WWW, Internet,
and Intranet Proceedings, 1-7. Tran, H.H. (1999). The Challenges for Vietnamese Students Living and Studying in Australia. Retreived 28/5/2006 from http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/hanoi_ proceedings/thhanh.htm Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society, the Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Warren, R. G. (1996). Carpe diem: A Student Guide To Active Learning. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. Widodo, A., Duit, R., & Muller, C. (2002). Constructivist Views of Teaching and Learning in Practice: Teachers’ views and classroom behavior. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, New Orleans (DRAFT).
66
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Exploratory Study of Class Discussion Patterns and Student Learning In an Asynchronous Internet-Based MBA Course. Journal of Management Education, 24(2), 213-233. Arbaugh, J. B. (2002). Managing the OnLine Classroom: A Study of Technological and Behavioral Characteristics of Web-Based MBA Courses. Journal of High Technology Management Research, 13, 203-223. Arkoudis, J. (2007). Teaching International Students: Strategies to Enhance Learning. The Centre for the Studying of Higher Education. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved on 15/08/2007from http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/pdfs/i nternational.pdf Becta. (2004). What the Research Says About Virtual Learning Environments In Teaching and Learning. Becta ICT Research. Retrieved on 20/9/2006 from http://www.becta.org.uk/research Billson, J. M. (1994). Group Process in the College Classroom: Building Relationships For Learning. Collaborative Learning: a Sourcebook for Higher Education, 2, 21-42. University Park, PA: National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning & Assessments. Bonwell, C. C., & Eison, J. A. (1991). Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report No. 1. Washington, D. C: George Washington University. Braxton, J. M., Milem, J. F., & Sullivan, A. S. (2000). The Influence of Active Learning on the College Student Departure Process. The Journal of Higher Education, 71(5), 569-580. Britain, S., & Liber. (2000). A Framework for Pedagogical Evaluation of Virtual Learning Environments. Report 41, JISC Technologies Application (JTAP) Programme. Retrieved on 23/8/2006 from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name =project_pedagogical_vle Bruner, J. S. (1996). The Culture of Education. Harvard University Press: Cambridge.
Champa, J. K., Hewagamage, P & Hirakawa, M. (2001). Personalization Tools for Active Learning in Digital Libraries. The Journal of Academic Media Librarianship, 8(1). Coakes, S. J. (2006). SPSS Version 13.0 for Windows: Analysis Without Anguish. Milton, Qld.: John Wiley & Sons Australia. Dewey, J. (1916). Democracy and Education. New York: Macmillan. Dillenbourg, P. (2000). Virtual learning environments. Proceedings of EUN Conference 2000, Learning in the New Millennium: Building New Education Strategies for Schools. Workshop on Virtual Learning Environments. Geneva. Driscoll, M. (1998). Web-Based Training: Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences. Sanfrancisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer. Dumont, R. A. (1996). Teaching and Learning in Cyberspace. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 39(4), 192-204. Hamilton, D. (1996). Learning about Education: an Unfinished Curriculum. Open University Press: Bristol. Harasim, L., Starr, R. H., Teles, L., &Turnoff, M. (1997). Learning Networks: A Field Guide to Teaching and Learning Online. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hughes, J. A. (2004). Supporting the Online Learners. In Anderson, T. & Elloumi, F. (Eds.). Theory and Practice of Online Learning (pp.3-31). Athabasca University. Ingraham, B., Watson, B., McDowell, L., Brockett, A., & Fitzpatrick, S. (2002). Evaluating and implementing learning environments: A United Kingdom experience. Educational Technology Review, 10(2), 28-51. Jensen, E. (1998). Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Alexandra, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Joint Information Systems Committee. (2000). Managed Learning Environments and Virtual Learning
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Environments explained, 1, 2. Retrieved on 01/ 2007 from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_docu ments/bp1.pdf Jonassen, D. H. (1994). Thinking Technology: Toward a Constructivist Design Model. Educational Technology, 34-37. Retrieved 31/8/2006 from http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl= en&lr=&q=cache:HNFPf0ImIxoJ:fcis. oise.utoronto.ca/~ewoodruff/papers/jo hansontext.pdf Kemshal-Bell, G. (2001). The On-line Teacher, Final report prepared for the Project Steering Committee of the VET Teacher and on-line Learning Project, ITAM, ESD, TAFENSW. Retrieved on 30/10/2006 from http://cyberteacheronestop.net/finalper cent20report.pdf. Kyriacou, C., & Marshall, S. (1989). The Nature of Active Learning in Secondary Schools. Evaluation and Research in Education, 3 (1), 1-5. Lockwood, F. (2000). Editor's foreword. In T. Evans, & Nation, D (Ed.), Changing University Teaching: Reflections On Creating Educational Technologies. London: Kogan Page. Lorenzen, M. (2001). Active Learning and Library Instruction. Illinois Libraries, 83(2), 19-24. McManus, D. A. (2001). The Two Paradigms of Education and the Peer Review of Teaching. Journal of Geosciences Education, 49(5), 423434. Meyers, C & Jones, T. B. (1993). Promoting Active Learning: Strategies for the College Classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Mintu-Wimsatt, A. (2001). Traditional Versus Technology Mediated Learning: A Comparison of Students' Course Evaluations. Marketing Education Review, 11(2), 63-72. Nguyen, H. A. (2002). Cultural Effects on Learning and Teaching English in Vietnam. Studies of South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Retrieved 11/10/2005
from http://www.jaltpublications.org/tlt/articles/2002/01/an Oliver, R. L., Rust, R. T., & Varki, S. (1997). Customer Delight: Foundations, Findings and Managerial Insight. Journal of Retailing, 73, 3136. Peltier, J. W., Drago, W., & Schibrowsky, J. A. (2003). Virtual Communities and the Assessment of Online Marketing Education. Journal of Marketing Education, 25(3), 260-276. Philips, J. M. (2005). Strategies for Active Learning in Online Continuing Education. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 36(2), 77-83. Piaget, J. (1973). To Understand is to Invent: The Future of Education. Grossman, New York. Prince, M. (2004). Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231. Ragoonaden, K., & Bordeleau, P. (2000). Collaborative Learning via the Internet. Educational Technology & Society, 3(3), 1-15. Rahm, D., & Reed, B, J. (1997). Going remote: The Use of Distance Learning, The World Wide Web and the Internet in Graduate Programs of Public Affairs and Administration. Public Productivity and Management Review, 20(4), 459-471. Rubin, L., & Hebert, C. (1998). Model for Active Learning. College Teaching, 46(1), 26-30. Salmon, G. (2000). E-Moderating: The Key to Teaching and Learning Online. London: Sterling Publishing. Seng, L. C., & Al-Hawamdeh, S. (2001). New Mode of Course Delivery for Virtual Classroom. Aslib Proceedings, 53(6), 238-242. Sherry, A. C., Fulford, C. P., & Zhang, S. (1998). Assessing Distance Learners’ Satisfaction with Instruction: a Quantitative and a Qualitative Measure. The American Journal of Distance Education, 12(3), 4-7. Sonner, B. S. (1999). Success in Capstone Business Course: Assessing the Effectiveness of Distance Learning.
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Journal of Education for Business, 74, 243-247. Spiceland, J. D., & Hawkins, C. P. (2002). The Impact on Learning of an Asynchronous Active Learning Course Format. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 6(1), 2-9. Stacey, E. (1999). Collaborative Learning in an On-line Environment. Journal of Distance Education. Sweeney, J. C., & Ingram, D. (2001). A Comparison of Traditional and Webbased Tutorials in Marketing Education: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Marketing Education, 23, 55-62. Thomas, A. (1998). The Interactive, Virtual Management Information Systems Classroom: Creating an Active Learning Environment on the Internet. WebNet 98 World Conference of the WWW, Internet,
and Intranet Proceedings, 1-7. Tran, H.H. (1999). The Challenges for Vietnamese Students Living and Studying in Australia. Retreived 28/5/2006 from http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/hanoi_ proceedings/thhanh.htm Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society, the Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Warren, R. G. (1996). Carpe diem: A Student Guide To Active Learning. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. Widodo, A., Duit, R., & Muller, C. (2002). Constructivist Views of Teaching and Learning in Practice: Teachers’ views and classroom behavior. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, New Orleans (DRAFT).