The Offline Nature of Online Community: Exploring Distance Learners' Extracurricular Interactions

Autor/in	Berry, Sharla
Titel	The Offline Nature of Online Community: Exploring Distance Learners' Extracurricular Interactions
Quelle	In: International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 20 (2019) 2, S.63-78 (16 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1492-3831
Schlagwörter	Online Courses; Electronic Learning; Distance Education; Extracurricular Activities; Graduate Students; Doctoral Programs; Student Attitudes; Sense of Community; Student Experience; Social Media; Computer Oriented Programs; Peer Relationship; Service Learning + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Online course; Online-Kurs; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Außerunterrichtliche Aktivität; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Doktorandenprogramm; Schülerverhalten; Studienerfahrung; Soziale Medien; Computerprogramm; Peer-Beziehungen; Service-Learning
Abstract	Despite the importance of interpersonal contact to students' sense of community, little is known about how online students form relationships outside of class. Drawing on interviews with 20 students from one online doctoral program, I explore the ways in which distance learners create community outside of class. In the case study I explore how students use social media and group texting apps to develop relationships with peers. I also explore how online students connect in-person at study groups and sporting events. Lastly, I consider the ways in which a three-day, in-person orientation helped online students connect on and offline. Findings indicate that online students' perceptions of community were not limited to their in-class experiences. In addition to their in-class interactions, online students were impacted by their extracurricular interactions in digital and physical spaces. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01