| The purpose of this research is to consider the extent to which a sense of community was experienced by the students enrolled in an on-line course. Data were collected from fourteen of the students who participated in the class, and took the form of a survey, interviews, a focus group and a review of the student messages in the online conference. The teacher was also interviewed.; The notion of "community" was examined and an understanding was gained that the English word "community" comprises two senses that are more fully revealed in the words gesellschaft which refers to an organizational sense of society, and gemeinschaft which captures the affective sense of care, concern and interdependence that community members have for one another. A set of four criteria was developed which it was felt would reasonably reflect the major characteristics of an "online learning community": active, meaningful participation; the teacher as co-learner and mentor, a community of discourse; and positive interdependence. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
