University of Zimbabwe COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN AN ICT TEXT BASED SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING COMMUNITIES. WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON LEARNING OUTCOMES? by TAURAYI RUPERE R970202P A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree in Computer Science. Department of Computer Science Faculty of Science University of Zimbabwe February 2006 i ABSTRACT COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN AN ICT TEXT BASED SYNCHRONOUS AND ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING COMMUNITIES. WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON LEARNING OUTCOMES? This dissertation analyses collaborative learning in synchronous and asynchronous learning communities and come up with the best suitable e-learning community for the Zimbabwean distance students. It focuses on the University of Zimbabwe, Masters of Business Administration first year class studying Business Information Systems course as the research group. The research was divided into three sections, The Structure (Pre- phase), the process (Experience) and the Outcome (Post phase). At the structure stage, students were grouped randomly into three groups, the synchronous, asynchronous and the control group. The asynchronous and synchronous groups were made to registered and familiarize with the e-learning platform and environment. An ASSIST tool was applied to ascertain the dependent and independent variables that would affect collaboration and usage of the e-learning environment at process stage. At the process stage, the synchronous and asynchronous groups were further divided into smaller groups considering the variables analysed at the structure stage. A time period was set to monitor collaboration using the e-learning platform. Various groups were given different discussion topics which contributed to their coursework and collaboration monitored. At the outcome stage, the SATISFACTION model was applied to determine the way students have been collaborating and their experience in using the e-learning platform. The responses of the synchronous and asynchronous groups were analysed with the coursework results as well as the final results and compared with the control group results. E-learning usage depending on the SATISFACTION model was analysed using the one way ANOVA- repeated measure so as to establish the trend. Comparison of the groups was carried out using the T- Test distribution. The results revealed that students in collaborative synchronous communities have a negative impact on the learning outcomes as compared to the asynchronous communities. The asynchronous collaborative e- ii learning in an ICT text based communities is best suited for the Zimbabwean distance students as compared to the synchronous collaborative communities. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I thank my supervisor Mr. S. Chikasha, for his continuous support and guidance in this research program. He was always there to listen and to give advice on the research direction. He showed me different ways to approach the research. I thank also my co- supervisor Mr. T. Museba for the great assistance he gave. Besides my supervisors, I would like to thank the rest of the computer science staff and students for the friendship, encouragement and assistance through out. I am also grateful to the Graduate School of Management staff and the MBA BIS students who made my research easier by assisting in many ways. Many thanks go to Dr. G. Kabanda for all the effort throughout the research. He helped me most of the times with ideas and information about the BIS class, assisting in monitoring student collaboration and using the e-learning platform. I am also greatly indebted to the computer center staff and the mathematics lecturer for the assistance in statistics. Many thanks go to Mr. Lampit for his in-depth knowledge in statistics. Last, but not least, I thank my family, for unconditional support and encouragement to pursue my interests, even when the interests went beyond boundaries of social life. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of tables.....................................................................................................................viii List of figures...................................................................................................................... x List of appendices .............................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1 ...................................................................................................................... 12 1. Introduction........................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Problem Statement............................................................................................ 13 1.3 Conceptual Framework..................................................................................... 13 1.3.1 The Research Aims................................................................................... 14 1.3.2 The Research Objectives........................................................................... 14 1.4 Why is the Research Important?....................................................................... 15 1.5 Research Approach? ......................................................................................... 16 1.6 Major Questions................................................................................................ 16 1.6.1 How the researcher approach?.................................................................. 16 1.6.2 Main Hypothesis....................................................................................... 17 1.7 Thesis Outline................................................................................................... 17 1.8 Definition of Terms........................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 ...................................................................................................................... 20 2 Literature Review.................................................................................................. 20 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Problem Based Learning (PBL), Blended Learning, Online Learning, Web based learning & Distance Learning............................................................................. 24 2.2.1 Problem Based Learning (PBL)................................................................ 24 2.2.1 Blended Learning...................................................................................... 26 2.2.3 Computer Based Training (CBT).............................................................. 26 2.2.4 Online Learning........................................................................................ 26 2.2.5 Web based Learning ................................................................................. 27 2.2.6 Distance Learning..................................................................................... 27 2.3 E-Learning ........................................................................................................ 28 2.4 Synchronous and Asynchronous Collababorative E-learning .......................... 31 2.4.1 What Is Collaborative Learning?.............................................................. 32 2.4.2 Learning Environment .............................................................................. 36 2.4.3 Moderation................................................................................................ 37 2.4.4 Group Dynamics....................................................................................... 37 2.4.5 Student Characteristics.............................................................................. 37 2.4.6 Time.......................................................................................................... 38 2.5 Collaboration of Students and students’ perceptions........................................ 38 2.5.1 Students’ attitudes and satisfaction........................................................... 39 2.5.2 Student contributions and relationships.................................................... 39 2.5.3 Course effectiveness ................................................................................. 40 v 2.6 Impacts on learning Outcomes.......................................................................... 40 2.6.1 Time and Place Dimensions...................................................................... 40 2.6.2 The E-Learning environment and its Implications on discussion groups. 40 2.7 Summary of Proposed Research....................................................................... 42 Chapter 3 ...................................................................................................................... 44 3 Methodology......................................................................................................... 44 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 44 3.2 The SPO Research Structure Design ................................................................ 44 3.2.1 Structure of Research................................................................................ 44 3.2.2 Process of Research .................................................................................. 44 3.3.3 Outcome of the Research.........................................................................