The main task in action research is to design and implement a study using data collection tools that show the reader what happened during and as a result of an intervention.
Enhancing Higher Education Learning with Online Social Networks
The purpose of my study was to examine if learning is enhanced by offering beginning graphic design students an online social network; an interactive and collaborative class-based website environment, including additional learning resources, how-to online video tutorials, and peer review. In addition to their traditional classroom-based instruction, will this improve their comprehension of core skills and increase their conceptual understanding of what they are learning?
The Research Question
Will offering beginning Photoshop students in a community college graphic design program a collaborative, interactive online social network improve their comprehension of core software skills and their understanding of basic design principles?
Abstract
This study evaluates the implementation of an online social network created specifically for four sections of a Beginning Adobe Photoshop course taught in the Graphic Communication Department of a California Community College in the Spring 2010 semester. The researcher, also the instructor of these four sections, introduced this network to the existing hybrid structure of this course approximately one month after the course commenced. The researcher observed 100 student participants in this study over a six week period.
Data collection methods included both class and individual discussions, questionnaires, blog posts, online commenting, peer feedback, self-reflections, forum discussion posts, and email correspondence. The researcher observed a positive response to the introduction of this social network in most all areas. Students overall were engaged and motivated by this interactive online product. In addition, based on a rubric for coursework and learning outcomes previously established for this course, a general improvement in the quality of coursework was observed by the researcher.
Findings in this study suggest that the educational experience of students in the four sections of this course was enhanced by their participation in this social network, and that it made a positive impact on their performance in the course and the quality of their work.
The researcher also reflects on his role as the principle instructor of these four sections of this course, his role as the primary online facilitator, and principle resource organizer, for both this course and this project. In addition, based on observations and feedback from participants, recommendations are made on how to proceed in this area in the future.
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