Abstract
This study investigated the kinds of dialogues utilized by Open University students while studying
an intermediate level physics course. Research objectives were twofold: to document what
dialogue types, mediated through which resources, were (1) generally utilized by students as they
learned; and (2) were specifically utilized by students to overcome conceptual difficulties. It was
found that all students initially chose individual study characterized by intrapersonal dialogue.
Only when individual study failed did students opt for interpersonal dialogue. This finding
conflicts with the assumed importance often ascribed to interpersonal dialogue by some distance
education theorists.
an intermediate level physics course. Research objectives were twofold: to document what
dialogue types, mediated through which resources, were (1) generally utilized by students as they
learned; and (2) were specifically utilized by students to overcome conceptual difficulties. It was
found that all students initially chose individual study characterized by intrapersonal dialogue.
Only when individual study failed did students opt for interpersonal dialogue. This finding
conflicts with the assumed importance often ascribed to interpersonal dialogue by some distance
education theorists.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 265-277 |
| Journal | Open Learning |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 2004 |