Factors Affecting Interaction in a Distance Education via Video Conferencing

Year 2015, Volume: 4 Issue: 1 - EIGHTH ISSUE, - , 02.07.2015

Yiğit Turgut Hasan Karal

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the factors affecting the interaction between instructor and students in a distance education process via video conferencing. In the study, case study, one of the qualitative research patterns, has been adopted and contrary case sampling, one of the purposive sampling methods, has been used. The data, which was collected through interviews and observations, have been analyzed with the method of content analysis method in the study. The findings are in the direction that the methods and techniques of the instructor with his supportive behaviors for interaction have a big impact on the interaction. In addition, the properties of students such as prior knowledge and self-confidence have been seen to affect the interaction. It has been concluded that other factors which affect the interaction were technical problems such as muting and disconnection, and communication difficulties such as the inability for eye contact and misfiring of gestures and mimics.

Keywords: video-conferencing, distance education, interaction

Keywords

video-conferencing, distance education, interaction

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• Appendix A. Interaction Observation Form
• INTERACTION OBSERVATION FORM DATE:
• Type of Interaction I-C I-S S-I S-S Social Procedural Expository Explanatory Cognitive
• The following explanations have been made in the study of Oliver and McLoughlin (1997) as for the types of
• interaction in the form of interaction observation form.
• Appendix B.Interaction Observation Form Type of Interaction Example Social
• Teacher-student talk establishing and developing rapport
• T: HelloSally, how areyou?
• S: Verywellthankyou.
• T: Great tohearfromyou; whatareyougoingto do for us? Procedural
• Teacher-student dialogue involving
• information exchange on course
• requirements and procedures
• S: Mr. Gray, can youtell me how
• manypagesyouwant us towrite?
• T: I’m lookingforabout 2 pages in total.
• S: Can weuse a topic of ourownchoice? Expository
• Student or teacher demonstrating knowledge
• or skill in response to a direct request from another
• T: Can anyonetell me how we say, “Today it is warm”? S: Samuidesu?
• T: Not quite, it is… Explanatory
• Teacher using student responses to explain
• knowledge and develop content
• T: This is how we ask thatquestion in Japanese…
• Sally, can younow ask yourquestion?
• S: Sallyasks her question…
• T: Great Sally, but didyourememberto… John,
• willyouplease ask yourquestion? Cognitive
• Teacher providing constructive feedback to a
• student to reflect and to consider an
• alternative perspective/reality
• T: Can youtell me whatyouthinkwasthe main
• reasonfor his actions?
• S: He wasangryandwantedtogeteven.
• T: But wasthatall_ Whatabout his wishtoimprove
• his positionandstanding?
• S: I suppose he did but I thoughtthat he
• wouldhavedone it differently.