Phases
Project Description
Fostering Community Online: An investigation to mitigate issues of learner isolation and instructional distance in an ELL e-learning environment involved applied research within the delivery of an online workplace-focused ELL course.
The goals of the project were:
- to research issues of learner isolation and instructional distance in an ELL environment
- to design mitigation strategies to combat issues of learner isolation and instructional distance in an ELL online environment
The project prioritized applied research through the delivery of an online course for internationally educated learners. The course fostered the development of workplace communication skills (language and pragmatic skill development). The course included different strategies to increase learner engagement in the online environment. Throughout the course, learners commented on and provided feedback about their online learning experience.
Findings from the learner feedback and course data were reviewed to inform the development of the applied research report: Virtual Education in ELL. This research report highlights current research and outlines strategies to mitigate learner isolation in a Canadian ELL online context, providing recommendations for ELL online course development and delivery.
Research Report
The aim of the Virtual Education in ELL research report is to investigate and mitigate issues of learner isolation and instructional distance in ELL online learning environments. This research explores the concept of learner isolation and its relationship with community building and online presence, and identifies mitigating strategies associated with alleviating learner isolation and bridging instructional distance in online.