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A Triple Helix of Learning Processes
How to CultivateA Triple Helix
Among Distance-Education Learners
I defended my doctoral dissertation on November, 28, 2003.

Opponent: Professor Glen Postle, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.



A Triple Helix of Learning Processes

How to cultivate learning, communication and collaboration
among distance-education learners

Abstract

This work focuses on col­laborative learning and how it can be applied and supported in distance edu­cation. Previ­ous work indicates that distance learners ex­perience more loneli­ness, technical problems and lack of stimulation than face-to-face learners do. Col­laboration with peers may improve the feeling of connectedness and engage­ment. How­ever, collaborative learning is not the answer to all problems in dis­tance edu­cation--and it creates new problems. The present work explores problems, opportu­nities and proc­esses when col­labo­rative learning is intro­duced in dis­tance educa­tion--and sug­gests solutions.

Related research on distance edu­cation and computer-supported collaborative learning is reviewed and related to own research. The different roles of infor­mation and communication technology in these areas are described.

 

Six own research papers are re­viewed and integrated. Three of them explore university courses on computer use in society. Learners interacted mainly through a forum system, i.e. a system for text-based, asynchro­nous electronic con­fer­en­ces and discussions. The special char­a­cter of forum com­mu­nica­tion had an im­pact on com­mu­nica­tion and collabora­tion pro­cesses. One paper summarizes these results and de­duces a first list of tips to teachers and systems designers, aiming to reduce problems and take advantage of col­lab­or­a­tive-learning opportunities.

One paper, a report to the Swedish School Board, provides an overview of research on distance education, with recommendations for use in secondary schools.

To get a broader picture of distance-education learners and their special situation and interests, a study was con­ducted in Australia. Most of the learners were secondary-school students, living far away from towns. Communi­cation was nor­mally restricted to mail, radio and telephone. Opportunities for col­laboration between peers were rare, and correspondence tradi­tions and the lack of technological infra­structure were delaying changes. However, a develop­ment towards more collaborative learn­ing had started.

Empirical data were gathered ethno­graphically in natural course settings. Results were analysed using ‘activity theory’ as a framework.

The main contribution of this work is a description on how three groups of learning proc­esses develop and interact: (a) of con­tent, (b) of communication, and (c) of col­laboration. They form the spiral­ling model of a “Triple Helix”. Finally, detailed advice is given as checklists to organisations, teachers, learners and system designers.

 

 

I work at DSV, where I teach and do research.

I belong to the research group CMC within K2LAB.

I am also associated to The Graduate School for Human-Machine Interaction.

My areas of research interest are

Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae Eva R Fåhræus

A fuller version is found here.

Studies

1961

Graduated at Bromma Highschool, Stockholm

1968

Master of Science in Engineering at KTH, Stockholm

1992-94

Studies in Psychology, Stockholm University

1994-95

Studies at DSV

1995

Accepted as Ph D student at DSV, KTH

Work experiences

1967-74

Statens Järnvägar (Swedish Railway Board), programmer, systems analyst

1974-81

Statskonsult, consultant within administrative development

1981-84

Sieverts Kabelverk (now Ericsson Cables), head of dept. for administrative development

1984-89

Consultant within administrative development, own enterprise

1989-94

WASA Försäkring (now Länsförsäkringar; insurance company), controller, projekt leader, head of department



Projects

1995-96

Intelligent Filters : Research and development project for methods to help users of asynchronous group communication to choose important messages. Sponsored by NUTEK , the Swedish Board for Technical Development.

1996-97

"Väv ihop skolan med världen" (Spin a web between the school and the world): Distance education project for highschool teachers in the pedagogical use of the Internet. Sponsored by DUKOM, a committee at the Swedish Board of Education.

1997-2000

Designing and testing support functions for distance teachers as an addition to the conferencing system KOM2000. Sponsored by NUTEK , the Swedish Board for Technical Development.

1998-2000

SeniorOnline: An EU project to provide senior citizens with possibilities to reach each other and other people via the Internet.

2001

Research overview of distance education with special focus on secondary school. Financed by the Swedish Scool Board  (Skolverket).

2002

Study of distance education at  Rönninge and Svenstaviks Gymnasier.

Study of distance education in Australian Schools.

2003-2004

Project "Lärandemötens praktik" in collaboration with Stockholm School of education (Lärarhögskolan i Stockholm). Financed by Vetenskapsrådet.



Teaching

Human-Computer Interaction

People, Computers, and Society

Tutoring Masters and Candidate theses

Publications

Fåhræus, E. Kvalitet i skolans datoranvändning. (Quality in Computer Use at School) C-uppsats vid DSV, 1996.

Fåhræus, E. Intelligent Filtering on Usenet News, a User Study, DSV, rapport nr 97-007

Kilander, F., Fåhræus, E. & Palme, J. Intelligent Information Filtering. DSV, rapport 97-002.

Kilander, F., Fåhræus, E. & Palme, J. PEFNA the Private Filtering News Agent. DSV, rapport 97-004.

Männikkö, S. & Fåhræus, E. Spin a Web Between the School and the World. Proceedings of INET97, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Männikkö, S. & Fåhræus, E. Creating Places for Teaching and Learning. Proceedings of ICTE'97, Olso, Norway.

Fåhræus, E. & Männikkö, S. Slutrapport. Väv ihop skolan med världen. Institutionen för Data- och Systemvetenskap. 1997.

Männikkö, S. & Fåhræus, E. "Are you still there?!" About Mediated Communication in Teaching and Learning. Teleteaching '98 Distance Learning, Training and Education. Proceedings of the XV. IFIP World Computer Conference in Vienna and Budapest, 1998.

Fåhræus, E. & Männikkö, S. Closer at a Distance: Learning via Conference Systems. Collaborate '98, National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications, 11th Annual Conferense, Auckland, 1998.

Fåhræus, E. R. (1999). Tutoring group learning at a distance. In J. D. Price, J. Willis, D. A, Willis, M. Jost, & S. Boger-Mehall (Eds.), Proceedings of the So-ciety for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Con-ference (SITE'99, March, 1999), San Antonio, Texas.

Fåhræus, E.R. (1999). Discussions from a Situated-learning Perspective. In C. Abbott, (Ed.), Proceedings of the Conference on Telecommunications for Education and Training (TET'99, June, 1999), Gjøvik, Norway. (Pp. 164-169).

Fåhræus, E.R. (2000). Making Electrons Support Collaborative Learning. Proceedings of the Conference Innovations in Higher Education, Helsinki, 2000 (in press).

Fåhræus, E.R. (2000). Student Interaction Stimulates Learning beyond Grading in Asynchronous Electronic Discussions. Dept. of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University/KTH, Report No. ?? (in press).

Fåhræus, E.R (2000). Growing Knowledge: How to Support Collaborative Learning e-Discussions in Forum Systems. Licentiate Thesis. Dept. of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University/KTH, Report No. 00-005.

Fåhræus, E.R (2001). Making Networks Support Collaborative Learning. Presented at the International Conference on Learning and Teaching On-line - Practices, Challenges and Prospects, in Guangzhou, China, January, 2001.

Fåhræus, E.R (2001). Collaborative Learning through Forum Systems -  Problems and Opportunities. In Proceedings of Computer Support for Collaborative Learning Conference, Maastricht, Netherlands, March, 2001.

Fåhræus, E.R (2001). Flow in the Interaction - a Model for Assessment of the Interactivity in Web-based Courses. In Proceedings of the 20th World Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education, Dusseldorf, Germany, April, 2001.

Fåhræus, E.R (2001). A Students’ View on the Learning Process in Asynchronous e-Discussions -  A Preliminary Analysis. In Proceedings of the 10th conference of the European Distance Education Network (EDEN) Learning Without Limits - Developing the Next Generation of Education in Stockholm, June, 2001.

Fåhræus, E.R (2001). How to collaborate and learn at a distance - formats, problems and possibilities. In Axelsson, L-E., Bodin, K., Norberg, R., Persson, T. & Svensson, I. (Red.) (2001). folkbildning.net - an anthology about "folkbildning" and flexible learning. Stockholm: Folkbildningsrådet andDistum.

Fåhræus, E.R & Jonsson, L-E. (2002). Distansundervisning - mode eller möjlighet för ungdomsgymnasiet? (Distance Education - Fashion or Facility in Uppewr-Secondary Schools?) Forskning i fokus, no. 1, Skolverket. Kalmar: Leanders.

Fåhræus, E.R (2002).Collaboration and Learner Initiative at Dictance. How Do High-School Learners Master Distance Technology? In Proceedings of  the Conference IT in Rural and Distance areas Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Fåhræus, E.R. Distance Education Students Moving Towards Collaborative Learning - A field study of Australian DE Students and Systems. (12 pages.) Accepted 2003 for publication by the "Educational Technology & Society" (ISSN 1436-4522).

Fåhræus, E.R. (2003). A Triple Helix of Learning Processes - How to Cultivate Learning, Communication and Collaboration among Distance-Education students. Doctoral dissertation. Dept. of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University/KTH, Report No. 03-015.

Updated: 03-11-20