Methods for the Masses - Learner-Centric Views of a Distance Study Reading Course on Empirical Education Research
Abstract: For many students in educational science, empirical research methods represent (partial) new ground – not only at the beginning of the lifelong learning process. It is important above all to (re-)awaken joy and interest in scientific work and in the associated methodology. Online-based reading courses are an important tool in the varied toolkit of distance universities for stimulating such a response in the spirit of the Seamless Learning Approach (Wong 2012). This paper focuses on the conception, implementation and evaluation of an online-based reading course on empirical education research organized every semester at FernUniversität in Hagen (Germany) since the summer semester 2012. In addition to describing the course structure, it reflects critically on the various ways of fostering motivation and individual monitoring of learning progress.
Presider: Godwin Okeke, University of North Texas Denton