Title: Analysing student engagement with learning and tutoring activities in networked learning communities: a multi-method approach

Authors: Maarten De Laat, Vic Lally, Lasse Lipponen, Robert-Jan Simons

Addresses: School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK. ' Networked Learning Research Group, University of Sheffield, 388, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JA, UK. ' Department of Applied Sciences of Education, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. ' Centre for ICT in Education, IVLOS, University of Utrecht, P.O. Box 80127, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to study the nature of teaching and learning processes in two Networked Learning Communities (NLCs). The study undertakes empirical work using a multi-method approach in order to triangulate and contextualise our findings and enrich our understanding of the student participation in these NLCs. We apply Social Network Analysis (SNA) to visualise the social structure of the NLC, Content Analysis (CA) to identify learning and teaching processes and Context Analysis (CxA) to study students| personal experiences and intentions. The paper reports some of the current findings of this work and discusses future prospects. This paper is part of a continuing international study that is investigating networked collaborative learning among a community of learners engaged in a master|s programme in e-learning.

Keywords: networked learning; online tutoring; multi-method; triangulation; computer-mediated communication; student engagement; learning communities; web based communities; teaching; social network analysis; content analysis; context analysis; student experiences; student intentions; collaborative learning; online learning; e-learning; electronic learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2006.011766

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.394 - 412

Published online: 20 Dec 2006 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article