BibTex RIS Cite

The Development Of Virtual Educational Environments To Support Inter-School Collaboration

Year 2007, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 29 - 37, 01.06.2007

Abstract

The introduction of inter-school electronic networks has added a new dimension to education in Canada that has many implications for students who attend schools in rural communities. Collaborative internet-based teaching and learning and the creation of virtual classes within regional intranets now complement traditional on-site instruction in many schools that are located beyond major centres of population. Five stages in the advent of virtual educational environments can be identified starting with the introduction of computers in schools as a foundation for the development of collaborative teaching and learning environments. Inter-school collaboration in rural Canada and the extension of curriculum options for senior students has, in turn, provided a basis for the integration of virtual classes and traditional face to face instruction. Instruction in classes that are electronically-linked to other classes requires different skills from traditional face to face teaching and the development of new strategies and protocols. The implications of open and flexible teaching and learning for the future organization of classes, the preparation of teachers, articulation with higher education and in particular, regional economic development are now significant educational policy issues. The linking of virtual and face to face classes through cybercells is a possible next step in the development of virtual educational environments.

References

  • Ben-Jacob, MG, Levin, DS and Ben-Jacob, TK (2000). The Learning Environment of the 21st Century, Educational Technology Review, No.13, pp: 8-12.
  • Cavanaugh, C, (2001) The Effectiveness of Interactive Distance Education Technologies in K-12 Learning: A Meta-Analysis, International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, 7, (1), 73-88.
  • Ertl, H. and Plante, J. (2004). Connectivity and Learning in Canada’s Schools, Ottawa, Statistics Canada, Government of Canada.
  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (2000) Supporting Learning: Report on the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom, St John’s, NL, Department of Education.
  • Hawkes, M. and Halverson, P. (2002). Technology Facilitation in the Rural School: An Analysis of Options, Journal of Research in Rural Education, 17 (3), 162-170.
  • Healey D and Stevens K (2002) Student Access to Information Technology and Perceptions of Future Opportunities in Two Small Labrador Communities Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology / La Revue Canadienne de l’Apprentissage et de la Technologie, Vol. 28, No. 1, Winter, pp: 7-18.
  • Information Highway Advisory Council (1997) Preparing Canada for a Digital World, Ottawa, Industry Canada.
  • Joyce, R. (2003) A Third Way at Blacksmith’s Elbow, in: G. Adams (ed) Survival of the Fastest, Auckland, Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand
  • Lowther, D., Ross, S. & Morrison, G. (2003). When Each Has One: The Influences on Teaching Strategies and Student Achievement of Using Laptops in the Classroom, Educational Technology Research and Development 51 (3), 23-44.
  • Mathiasen, H. (2004). Expectations of Technology: When the Intensive Application of IT in Teaching Becomes a Possibility, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36, (3), 273-294.
  • Stevens, K.J. (2005a) The Integration of Virtual and Actual Classes in Sparsely Populated Regions, In: Kinshuk, Demetrios G Sampson & Pedro Isaias (eds) Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age, IADIS Press, Lisbon, p: 517-520
  • Stevens, K. and Stewart, D. (2005b) Cybercells-Learning in Actual and Virtual Groups, Melbourne, Thomson-Dunmore Press
  • Stevens, K. (2002) Minnkandi heimur -Rafrænt net smárra skóla- Óvænt tengsl Íslenska menntanetsins við Nýja Sjáland og Kanada, (Making the World Smaller -The Electronic Networking of Small Schools – Some Unseen Connections of the Icelandic Educational Network in New Zealand and Canada), Skólavarðan Vol. 2, No. 2, pp: 22- 24 [Icelandic translation by Karl Erlendsson]
  • Stevens, K (2001) The Development of Digital Intranets for the Enhancement of Education in Rural Communities, Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, Vol. 13, No. 3, Winter, pp: 19 - 24
  • Stevens, K J (1999a) A New Model for Teaching in Rural Communities–The Electronic Organisation of Classes As Intranets, Prism – Journal of The Newfoundland and
  • Labrador Teachers’ Association, Winter, Vol. 6, No 1, pp: 23–26
  • Stevens, K. J. (1999b) Telecommunications Technologies, TeleLearning and the Development of Virtual Classes for Rural New Zealanders, Open Praxis (1).
  • Stevens, K, Sandalov A., Sukhareva N., Barry M. and Piper T.(1999) The Development of Open Models for Teaching Physics to Schools in Dispersed Locations in Russia and Canada, In: Valerio Grementieri, Andras Szucs and Vladimir I. Trukhin (eds) Information and Communication Technologies and Human Resources Development: New Opportunities for European Co-operation, European Distance Education Network, Budapest, Hungary, October 1999, pp: 148 – 154.
  • Stevens, K.J. 1998. The Management of Intranets: Some Pedagogical Issues in the Development of TeleLearning, In: A. Higgins (ed) Best Practice, Research and Diversity in Open and Distance Learning, Distance Education Association of New Zealand, Rotorua, New Zealand, pp: 279 – 286.
  • Tella S (1995) Virtual School in a Networking Learning Environment, Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education
  • Van Manen, M. (2002) The Pedagogical Task of Teaching, Teaching and Teacher Education, Vol. 18 (2), pp 135-138.
  • Author Note: This is a revised and extended version of (i) a paper presented to the IODL International Conference, Eskisehir, September, 2006 and (ii) a presentation for an IODL round-table chaired by Prof. Dr Ozkul.
Year 2007, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 29 - 37, 01.06.2007

Abstract

References

  • Ben-Jacob, MG, Levin, DS and Ben-Jacob, TK (2000). The Learning Environment of the 21st Century, Educational Technology Review, No.13, pp: 8-12.
  • Cavanaugh, C, (2001) The Effectiveness of Interactive Distance Education Technologies in K-12 Learning: A Meta-Analysis, International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, 7, (1), 73-88.
  • Ertl, H. and Plante, J. (2004). Connectivity and Learning in Canada’s Schools, Ottawa, Statistics Canada, Government of Canada.
  • Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (2000) Supporting Learning: Report on the Ministerial Panel on Educational Delivery in the Classroom, St John’s, NL, Department of Education.
  • Hawkes, M. and Halverson, P. (2002). Technology Facilitation in the Rural School: An Analysis of Options, Journal of Research in Rural Education, 17 (3), 162-170.
  • Healey D and Stevens K (2002) Student Access to Information Technology and Perceptions of Future Opportunities in Two Small Labrador Communities Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology / La Revue Canadienne de l’Apprentissage et de la Technologie, Vol. 28, No. 1, Winter, pp: 7-18.
  • Information Highway Advisory Council (1997) Preparing Canada for a Digital World, Ottawa, Industry Canada.
  • Joyce, R. (2003) A Third Way at Blacksmith’s Elbow, in: G. Adams (ed) Survival of the Fastest, Auckland, Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand
  • Lowther, D., Ross, S. & Morrison, G. (2003). When Each Has One: The Influences on Teaching Strategies and Student Achievement of Using Laptops in the Classroom, Educational Technology Research and Development 51 (3), 23-44.
  • Mathiasen, H. (2004). Expectations of Technology: When the Intensive Application of IT in Teaching Becomes a Possibility, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36, (3), 273-294.
  • Stevens, K.J. (2005a) The Integration of Virtual and Actual Classes in Sparsely Populated Regions, In: Kinshuk, Demetrios G Sampson & Pedro Isaias (eds) Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age, IADIS Press, Lisbon, p: 517-520
  • Stevens, K. and Stewart, D. (2005b) Cybercells-Learning in Actual and Virtual Groups, Melbourne, Thomson-Dunmore Press
  • Stevens, K. (2002) Minnkandi heimur -Rafrænt net smárra skóla- Óvænt tengsl Íslenska menntanetsins við Nýja Sjáland og Kanada, (Making the World Smaller -The Electronic Networking of Small Schools – Some Unseen Connections of the Icelandic Educational Network in New Zealand and Canada), Skólavarðan Vol. 2, No. 2, pp: 22- 24 [Icelandic translation by Karl Erlendsson]
  • Stevens, K (2001) The Development of Digital Intranets for the Enhancement of Education in Rural Communities, Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, Vol. 13, No. 3, Winter, pp: 19 - 24
  • Stevens, K J (1999a) A New Model for Teaching in Rural Communities–The Electronic Organisation of Classes As Intranets, Prism – Journal of The Newfoundland and
  • Labrador Teachers’ Association, Winter, Vol. 6, No 1, pp: 23–26
  • Stevens, K. J. (1999b) Telecommunications Technologies, TeleLearning and the Development of Virtual Classes for Rural New Zealanders, Open Praxis (1).
  • Stevens, K, Sandalov A., Sukhareva N., Barry M. and Piper T.(1999) The Development of Open Models for Teaching Physics to Schools in Dispersed Locations in Russia and Canada, In: Valerio Grementieri, Andras Szucs and Vladimir I. Trukhin (eds) Information and Communication Technologies and Human Resources Development: New Opportunities for European Co-operation, European Distance Education Network, Budapest, Hungary, October 1999, pp: 148 – 154.
  • Stevens, K.J. 1998. The Management of Intranets: Some Pedagogical Issues in the Development of TeleLearning, In: A. Higgins (ed) Best Practice, Research and Diversity in Open and Distance Learning, Distance Education Association of New Zealand, Rotorua, New Zealand, pp: 279 – 286.
  • Tella S (1995) Virtual School in a Networking Learning Environment, Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Department of Teacher Education
  • Van Manen, M. (2002) The Pedagogical Task of Teaching, Teaching and Teacher Education, Vol. 18 (2), pp 135-138.
  • Author Note: This is a revised and extended version of (i) a paper presented to the IODL International Conference, Eskisehir, September, 2006 and (ii) a presentation for an IODL round-table chaired by Prof. Dr Ozkul.
There are 22 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ken Stevens This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2007
Submission Date February 27, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2007 Volume: 8 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Stevens, K. (2007). The Development Of Virtual Educational Environments To Support Inter-School Collaboration. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 8(2), 29-37.