Title: Online socio-cultural learning

Authors: Chih-Hsiung Tu, Cherng-Jyh Yen

Addresses: Educational Technology, College of Education, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 5774, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. ' Department of Educational Leadership, Graduate School of Education & Human Development, The George Washington University 2134 G Street, NW, Room 113 Washington, DC 20052, USA

Abstract: Online socio-cultural learning assists the online learner to engage in active social interaction to build social relationships and to participate in online learning communities to improve knowledge development. Online technologies do not separate online learners causing them to work and learn alone. Effectively applying online socio-cultural learning concepts assists online learners in working alone while learning together by engaging in active online collaborative social interaction. The paper proposes an online socio-cultural learning construct that addresses six critical learning characteristics (meaningful activity; learner uniqueness; process and development; relations; metacognition reflection; and cultural tools) to support effective online learning.

Keywords: online learning; socio-cultural learning; learning communities; social learning; computer-mediated communication; CMC; social interaction; e-learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2007.013658

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2007 Vol.17 No.2/3, pp.99 - 120

Published online: 10 May 2007 *

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