Online learning – Teaching & Learning Research Initiative

On2Science – Multiple affordances for learning through participation in online citizen science

Abstract This research investigated the integration of learning in science and digital technologies, with online citizen science (OCS) projects acting as the fulcrum for curriculum design. Across 3 years, teacher-researchers designed and implemented 16 innovative cross-curricular programmes. Our research focused on three areas: (1) mapping progressions in students’ science capabilities; (2) identifying affordances of OCS engagement for developing students’ digital technologies progress outcomes; and (3) investigating the impacts of teacher practices in relation to human–computer interactions. The project outcomes have potential to contribute significantly to both science and technology education research and teaching. 1. Introduction This research project brought together a team of education and information science researchers, teacher professional learning

Arts e-learning and the online specialist teacher: Increasing opportunities for quality student outcomes

Please view the poster for this project. The poster layout is integral to the presentation of the research Project description The project researched the potential of an arts (dance and drama) e-learning environment to provide quality arts teaching and produce successful learning outcomes for students. It involved the implementation of an innovative, web-based programme that makes possible the expertise of dance and drama specialists online in years 6, 7, and 8 classrooms where such expertise would not normally otherwise be available. A project team comprised researcher/specialist practitioners and classroom teachers in documenting the changing process of multiple implementations of the programme and producing insights into the potential ongoing viability of such

Together is better? Primary students’ and teachers’ experiences of collaborative learning online

This project undertook to research the use of the Learning Activity Management System (LAMS) online learning environment to teach a collaborative unit involving three classes in two primary schools. There has been much research on collaborative learning at various levels of the school sector (e.g., Brown & Thomson, 2000; Holloway, 2003; Holmes, 2003; Holzer, 2004; Lourdusamy, Myint, & Sipusic, 2003; Peel & Shortland, 2004; Whatley & Bell, 2003). However, the use of online environments for collaborative work is a new and largely under-researched area for primary school teachers, as most studies in this area have involved the secondary or tertiary sector (Chih-Hsiung & Correy, 2003; Hakkinen, 2003; Hron & Friedrich, 2003;