The evolution of higher education in China: Storied experiences of Internet usage by students and faculty

The purpose of this study was to illuminate how the internet is enhancing the educational experience of Chinese university students, expanding access to education and educational materials, improving the quality of instruction and curriculum, and increasing the productivity of students and faculty. While quantitative information regarding internet usage is available, qualitative analysis of what educational use of the internet means to students is lacking.;Given the nature of the study, case study methods were used to achieve the purposes of this research. The study consisted of individual interviews that were conducted either by the researcher or when necessary by a Chinese-speaking research assistant. A researcher-designed interview protocol gave focus to the data collection.;University students and faculty were interviewed to gain an understanding of how the internet has expanded access to education and educational materials; how the internet has improved the quality of instruction, instructional materials, and curriculum; and how the internet has increased the productivity of students and faculty. The interview data yielded qualitative field texts that afforded an opportunity for rich descriptions of student perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences to be crafted. Data was analyzed and presented as narrative accounts concerning internet usage and perceptions about the heightened quality of The interview data yielded qualitative field texts that afforded an opportunity for rich descriptions of student perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences to be crafted. Data was analyzed and presented as narrative accounts concerning internet usage and perceptions about the heightened quality of education afforded by the internet. The compilation of free flowing texts facilitated comparisons across cases and individuals.;This more thorough understanding of how the internet is enhancing students' educational experience allowed for more focused attention on, and development of, those educational uses of the internet than was previously possible. This study offers a better understanding of what direction or focus future educational uses of the internet might include.