Distributed Learning Environment and Multicultural Issues SIG

Aims:

Through interaction with members from different countries we would like to

• discuss various issues related to the creation and implementation of distributed learning environments particularly in a multicultural context
• gain as broad a perspective as possible on the issues related to multiculturalism and teaching and learning techniques
• establish any link between improved learning outcomes and the use of technology to promote learning
• work towards understanding each other and work collaboratively for the achievement of common goals.
• provide stepwise elaboration and clarification of what we call 'sharing learning experiences' and hence further facilitation of learning communities on the WWW.

Rationale:

In recent years due to introduction of various information and communication technologies in education our mode of learning and teaching has changed to a great extend. We often hear about terms such as online learning, e-learning, web based instruction, virtual university, flexible learning, and so on. These terms as well as methods are very new to teachers and their students. Therefore, teachers find themselves less equipped with the skills and techniques of handling these types of new learning and teaching environment than desirable.

The time has come when teachers and students need to learn together. Also teachers need to be more flexible and less authoritarian in their teaching approaches. In the fast changing electronic age every teacher needs to be an action researcher to make things work as per the social and individual needs and preferences of students.

Due to easy accessibility of information, communication, resources and movement of people from one place to another, teachers in a classroom have to deal with many more different situations than ever before. Present day classrooms consist of students from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We know that as we grow older learning becomes more and more a process of aimed social synthesis and sharing the conceptual background of cultural identity.

Globalization of education in a true sense cannot be achieved only by establishing accessibility, developing cost effective technology in terms of time, money, efforts, etc. We realize that all these issues, challenges and demands cannot be solved overnight or by an individual. We need to have some platform where people from different places can put joint efforts to achieve common goals. This SIG will provide a forum to discuss all such issues mentioned above and enlighten us with different views and perspectives to deal with present and future challenges of education.

Research Interests:

The SIG consists of people from various disciplines with varied academic and cultural backgrounds. The varied research interests of the group members and its relation to the focus of the SIG provides a multidimensional perspective to the SIG theme. A comprehensive summary of the area of interest relevant SIG:

Non-scholastic learning, the conceptual structures and discourses of learning, the issues related to multiculturalism and teaching and learning, techniques, repertoire of techniques for teacher education in a multicultural setup, influence of different cultural attitudes in teaching of science, relationship of online learning to the de-schooling debate, the link between improved learning outcomes and the use of technology to promote learning, the role of educational designers in Web based delivery, constructive approaches to Web enhanced and Web supported multi-media, feasibility of use of mobile technology for offering courses across different countries, the way very young children learn to use IT and the quality of teacher education programs in the IT area, transnational education, new information and communication technologies in international education, the internationalisation of higher education, collaborative learning among people from different cultural background and from different age groups, cognitive tools and strategies for distributed learning environment, globalization of quality education/learning using IT following the desired paths of compassion and holistic-global consciousness where divisions are not there, i.e. towards new theories on consciousness.

Proposed Activities:

• Starting an Online Discussion Forum.
• Writing a column in the AARE NEWS by members of the SIG.
• Conducting joint research studies among the members of the SIG.
• Organising a Symposium based on SIG theme in the AARE annual conference.
• Presenting joint and individual research work relevant to SIG at the symposium in the AARE annual conference.
• Making grant proposals to different organizations for collaborative research by the members of the SIG

Convenor:

Dr. Madhumita Bhattacharya, Senior Lecturer, Deparment of Technology, Science and Mathematics Education, College of Education, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand M.Bhattacharya@massey.ac.nz

AARE members / non-members who have agreed to join the SIG:

1. Steen Wackahausen, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Aarhus, Denmark filsw@hum.au.dk
2. Christopher Ziguras, Postdoctoral Research Fellow , RMIT Globalisation and Cultural Diversity Research Concentration, RMIT, Australia christopher.ziguras@rmit.edu.au
3. Nattavud Pimpa, Ph.D. student, Monash University, Australia nattpimpa@yahoo.com Natt.Pimpa@Education.monash.edu.au
4. Louise White New Zealand ladd.white@xtra.co.nz
5. John Allan-Rae New Zealand john@nzeas.co.nz
6. Lone Morris Jorgensen, Lecturer, Department of Technology,Science and Math Education, Massey University College of Education, Palmerston North, New Zealand L.M.Jorgensen@massey.ac.nz
7. Laila Oubenaissa, Research Associate, Universit‚ de Montr‚al, Canada oubenaissa@scedu.umontreal.ca
8. Max Giardina, Associate Professor, Universit‚ de Montr‚al, Canada giardina@scedu.umontreal.ca
9. Nombeko (Nombe) Mpako, Associate Director, School of Applied Art, Border Technikon, South Africa nmpako@inyathi.bortech.ac.za
10. Toomas Tenno, Professor, Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Tartu, Estonia tenn@chem.ut.ee
11. Hasso Kukemelk, Head, Department of General Education, Faculty of Education, University of Tartu, Estonia hasso@ut.ee
12. Kinshuk, Associate Professor, College of Business, Department of Information Systems, Massey University, New Zealand Kinshuk@massey.ac.nz
13. Kim McShane, Lecturer, Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Sydney, Australia K.Mcshane@itl.usyd.edu.au
14. Jun H. Jo, Senior Lecturer, Director, Intelligent Multimedia Research, School of Information Technology, Gold Coast Campus Griffith University, Australia j.jo@mailbox.gu.edu.au
15. Neil Russell, Associate Professor, Head, School of Education and Professional Studies, Gold Coast Campus Griffith University, Australia n.Russell@mailbox.gu.edu.au
16. Scott D. Johnson, Professor and Department Head, Department of Human Resource Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA sjohnson@uiuc.edu
17. B.K. Passi, IGNOU-UNESCO Chair, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi Bangmod Rasburana Bangkok, Thailand passi.bk@kmutt.ac.th
18. K. L. Kumar, Professor and Head, Department of Technology and Education Studies, Faculty of Engineering, University of Botswana, Botswana kumarkl@hotmail.com
19. Lee Kar Tin, Head Department of Information and Applied Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Technology, Hong Kong, China ktlee@ied.edu.hk
20. Piet Kommers, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, Twente University, Netherlands kommers@edte.utwente.nl