The Research Of Collaborative Learning Environment In Web-based Course

The quality of Web-based Course is one important factor that restricts the development of distance education. At present, there are many problems in the implementation of Web-based Courses in our country. Generally speaking, those Web-based Courses have the common problem that pays much more attention to the appearance and explanation of teaching contents and makes light of the designs of teaching environment and teaching activity, and especially lacks design, organization and implementation of collaborative learning.Collaborative learning is a more effective high-level cognitive learning tool, how to create nice collaborative learning environments for learners to support and facilitate the studies of learners gradually has become a hot research subject in educational technology research. Therefore, studying the collaborative learning in Web-based Courses to promote communications among students and improve studying atmosphere, and also creating a collaborative learning environment in Web-based Courses have profound theoretical and realistic significance.Using many kinds of methods, including literature analysis, case analysis, system analysis, object-oriented software design and so on, this paper has done some research work in the following aspects.(1)Analysis of collaborative learning in Web-based Course and its environment. First, it analyses the concepts of Web-based Course, collaborative learning, learning environment and collaborative learning environment, etc; then, it defines the collaborative learning environment in Web-based Course. On this basis, it proposes the internal structure and constituent elements of collaborative learning environment.(2)Construction of framework for collaborative learning environment designing in Web-based Courses. Based on the constructivism theory in learning environment designing, situated cognition, Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory, activity theory and group dynamics theory, using the learning environment design model proposed by Jonathan, Fa-Ti Wu, Zhi-Xian Zhong and others and related learning environment design models for reference, it constructs the framework for collaborative learning environment designing in Web-based Courses. (3)Proposing specific design method for collaborative learning environment in Web-based Courses based on design framework. It mainly carries on researches in the following several aspects including characteristics analysis of learners, learning goal analysis, design of learning activities, physical environment design, activity environment design, psychological environment design, strategy environment design and implementation of collaborative learning activities.( 4 ) Design of collaborative learning support system in Web-based Course. The collaborative learning support system in Web-based Course is designed from both teaching design and software design.(5)Development of application instances. Under the guide of the system design method summarized in this paper, develops the collaborative learning system in Web-based Course and is applied with the"Technique &Application of Database"course.After a series of research work, this paper acquires much achievement.(1)Defines the concept of collaborative learning environment in Web-based Course, using the constructivism theory in learning environment, situated cognition, Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory, activity theory and group dynamics theory as theoretical basis, and constructs the design model from two aspects, namely, design method for learning environment and support system design for collaborative learning.(2)Carries on research on learning environment design model and obtains the design framework of collaborative learning environment in Web-based Course. And the design of collaborative learning environment in Web-based Course is considered to be made up of physical environment design, activity environment design, psychological environment design and strategy environment design.(3)Obtains the software design model of the system, and the system which is divided into physical environment subsystem, activity environment subsystem, psychological environment subsystem and strategy environment subsystem is considered to adopt three-layer architecture. In view of model abstract and model expression, related models are built at all stages of system software design and provides shared, reusable visualization reference model for system development.(4)An instance of the system is developed, in which collaborative learning course design method and collaborative learning support system software design model are applied, to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of system design methods and models. The innovations of this paper are as follows:(1)Propose an effective method and model for collaborative learning environment design in Web-based Course, and provides a methodological reference for the design of Web-based Course that supports collaborative learning.(2)In the design and implementation of the system, Web2.0 application elements are integrated with collaborative learning environment in Web-based Course.Future research work is mainly to further improve the design of the collaborative learning activities'specific steps and functions of example system.