Title
The way of the termite: a theoretically grounded approach to the design of e-learning environments
Abstract
This paper presents an argument for a design paradigm for e-learning environments that cater for the needs of diverse learners using social navigation and signposts. The argument begins with transactional distance theory, which predicts an inverse relationship between structure and dialogue in a learning transaction. It is argued that this relationship may be expressed as a function of the control exercised by each participant in a learning transaction, which varies from context to context and, learner to learner. This paper identifies and describes a type of e-learning environment wherein structure is derived from a dialogue-like process between its inhabitants, akin to that used by termites when building termite mounds. In such an environment, control is emergent, arising from the interactions and behaviours of its users. This suggests some general principles for the design of e-learning environments that both shape and are shaped by the communities that inhabit them.
Year
DOI
Venue
2006
10.1504/IJWBC.2006.008611
IJWBC
Keywords
Field
DocType
inverse relationship,design paradigm,social navigation,general principle,e-learning environment,termite mound,diverse learner,dialogue-like process,transactional distance theory,systems theory,emergence,design
Systems theory,E learning,Design paradigm,Computer science,Transactional distance,Knowledge management,Synchronous learning,Database transaction,Stigmergy,Social navigation
Journal
Volume
Issue
Citations 
2
1
0
PageRank 
References 
Authors
0.34
2
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Jon Dron110219.41