Interaction in distance education and online learning: using evidence and theory to improve practice

• Published in: Journal of computing in higher education Vol. 23; no. 2-3; pp. 82 - 103
• Main Authors: Abrami, Philip C., Bernard, Robert M., Bures, Eva M., Borokhovski, Eugene, Tamim, Rana M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Canada; Computer Software; Cooperative Learning; Course Content; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education; Educational Technology; Educational Theories; Electronic Learning; Evidence; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Instructional Design; Instructional Improvement; Instructors; Interaction; Learning; Learning and Instruction; Learning Theories; Metacognition; Multimedia; Multimedia Instruction; On-line systems; Online; Online Courses; Online instruction; Research Methodology; Stemming; Student Motivation; Students; Teaching Methods; Web Based Instruction; Canada; Distance education; Motivation; Instructional design; Multimedia learning; Collaboration; Metacognition; Cooperative learning; Online learning; Self-regulation

In a recent meta-analysis of distance and online learning, Bernard et al. ( 2009 ) quantitatively verified the importance of three types of interaction: among students, between the instructor and students, and between students and course content. In this paper we explore these findings further, disc...