Research Article

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES

Volume: 27 Number: 3 July 1, 2026
Uyen Nu Thuy Nguyen *, David Kember

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between conceptions and approaches to teaching in two forms of online teaching in a university in Vietnam; asynchronous teaching through video-recording and synchronous online teaching through online communication platforms. Data were gathered through interviews with 14 lecturers who taught through both modes of online teaching. Data analysis employed grounded theory. For the asynchronous online teaching via video-recording, there was no relationship between conceptions and approaches, as all lecturers used teacher-centred approaches to teaching. For the synchronous teaching through online communication platforms, there was a reasonably logical relationship between conceptions and approaches. Deviations from a logical relationship were caused by technological constraints. The findings differ markedly from those for face-to-face teaching, where there is normally a consistent and logical relationship between conceptions and approaches. This study highlights how technological affordances and institutional design choices mediate the expression of pedagogical intent in online distance education courses.

Keywords

Conceptions of teaching, approaches to teaching, online teaching, distance education courses, university lecturers

Supporting Institution

University of Tasmania

Ethical Statement

The research investigations conducted for this paper abide by the ethical requirements of the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee. Ethics approval was gained through application 20543.

Thanks

We thank the lecturers who consented to take part in the interviews.

References

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APA
Nguyen, U. N. T., & Kember, D. (2026). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 27(3), 180-196. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1774193
AMA
1.Nguyen UNT, Kember D. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. TOJDE. 2026;27(3):180-196. doi:10.17718/tojde.1774193
Chicago
Nguyen, Uyen Nu Thuy, and David Kember. 2026. “RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 27 (3): 180-96. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1774193.
EndNote
Nguyen UNT, Kember D (July 1, 2026) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 27 3 180–196.
IEEE
[1]U. N. T. Nguyen and D. Kember, “RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES”, TOJDE, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 180–196, July 2026, doi: 10.17718/tojde.1774193.
ISNAD
Nguyen, Uyen Nu Thuy - Kember, David. “RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 27/3 (July 1, 2026): 180-196. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1774193.
JAMA
1.Nguyen UNT, Kember D. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. TOJDE. 2026;27:180–196.
MLA
Nguyen, Uyen Nu Thuy, and David Kember. “RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, vol. 27, no. 3, July 2026, pp. 180-96, doi:10.17718/tojde.1774193.
Vancouver
1.Uyen Nu Thuy Nguyen, David Kember. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONCEPTIONS AND APPROACHES TO TEACHING IN ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. TOJDE. 2026 Jul. 1;27(3):180-96. doi:10.17718/tojde.1774193