ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

Abstract

Online Education is designed to acquire educational content and move it to the web. The
Online Education is the foundation to encourage technological development in education
system. This will facilitate learners to access content from anywhere and anytime with
the help of internet facility. Using information technology in education can be highly
effective due to a large amount of data and information over the internet. The Internet
and advanced networking technologies are comparative newcomers to the classroom.
Now a day’s technology has proved positive effects on the educational process at the
basic and as well as the advanced level. To be effectual in the education system,
technology cannot live in a vacuity, but must turn out to be part of the whole educational
environment. The evaluation in the role of information technology for the online education
can be measured in many ways.

This research paper provides the basic ideas of online education concept and its
structure, role of IT in online education system, benefits gained from available of IT
functions in online education. Aim, objectives, questions of research will deliver the brief
knowledge of online education. In this research, mixed method approach is used. As a
mixed method, research is conducted using case study and interview. Research believes
that IT performs the most important role to provide online education in Australia that
makes it self-motivated, interactive and fascinating towards the teaching learning
process.
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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Research Gap ....................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Aim and Objectives: .............................................................................................. 4
1.3 Research questions: ............................................................................................. 4
2 Literature Review ............................................................................................... 4
Virtual Learning ....................................................................................................... 5
Internet based learning ........................................................................................... 5
Computer Based learning ....................................................................................... 5
Web based learning ................................................................................................ 6
4 Threats to reliability and validity ............................................................................. 12
5 Research planning ................................................................................................. 13
6 Discussion .......................................................................................................... 14
7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 15
6. References ........................................................................................................... 16

List of figures:

Figure 1 Architecture for web based learning……………………………………..8

Figure 2 Education system…………………………………………………..………9

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1. INTRODUCTION

There are more than 40 universities and approximately 130 higher education providers.
Higher education becomes industry in Australia as their revenues exceeded $26 billion
in 2012 (Kirtman, (2009)). Enrolments of students are increasing strongly. Previous
research indicates that the rapid increment can be seen in online enrolment. Almost
students prefer to use online education, whereas some universities offer off-campus
study centres (Kirtman, 2009).

E-learning content, e-tutoring e-coaching etc. are different components of e-learning

which are included into online education. Self-paced e-learning is mostly based on Web
based training that involve various e-lesson. “An e-lesson is a chain of sources which
can be any text, graphics, animations, audio, and video and in the form of questions and
feedback” (Ghirardini, 2011). E-learning can give online assets connections to learning
materials. A virtual classroom is one kind of instructional strategy. In this, teacher
instructs to understudies utilizing slides, sound or video documents which is likewise
called synchronous learning (Norton, 2014).

Nowadays, Education Governors board highly focus on the technology used in both
aspects of teaching and learning. More and more universities are in the race of attracting
domestic and International students through adopting and implementing online
education in their courses. This research will strongly focus on online education concept,
its impact on Australian education and economy, benefits of IT functions in online
education.

1.1 Research Gap

Online education system is going to be adoptable by many universities in worldwide.
Many researchers worked on its structure, approaches, methodology, etc. partial
research on benefits of IT in online education Australia and structure of online education
and its functional benefits are to be explained in this research.

Defining problem statement

Today, adopting IT in education is the real need of students and Teachers. Online
education is the real need of every university. Most of the universities dislike to adopt
online education as it costly and it demands highly maintenance and regularly update.
To lead in the competitive era, online education is the necessity rather than expenses
and affordability.
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1.2 Aim and Objectives:

The aim of this research is to examine how information technology (IT) can
contribute to Australian education.

There are mainly three objections of this research:

1. To understanding basic online education structure in Australia.

2. To identify what IT functions are used in online education system.

3. To identify the benefits obtained from the available IT functions in online

education.

1.3 Research questions:

1. What is online education?

2. What is the role of IT in online education?

3. What are the benefits obtained from the IT functions used in online education?

4. How effective online education and its impact on Australian revenue?

2 Literature Review
Online education also provides the E-learning material. “E-learning can be defined as
the use of computer and Internet technologies to deliver a broad array of solutions to
enable learning and improve performance” (Ghirardini, 2011). E-learning draw in
amateurs who discover challenges to go to classrooms. There are two posibities of E-
learning, for example, self-guided and educator based. Self-guided learners are self-
deciding, while teacher based e-taking in courses offer different levels from resources
and relationship from learners (Drennan et al. 2005).

Presence is a significant practice for any online course. Student’s satisfaction and
presence are strongly related with each other. So they consider that a course is effective.
Virtual education, web based education, internet based education, and computer
mediated education all are the terms that can be used to describe online education. E-
learning can provide virtual classrooms, computer based learning and web based
 ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

learning. It contains the deliverance of content via Internet, audio and videotape,
interactive TV and CD-ROM (Paulsen, 2003).

Technology is a broad term for applied science, over and over again connected with
technology. The latest useful form of technology in education is information and
communication technology (ICT). Recent technology such as computers in all their
different forms, mobile phones and the like, that are used to manipulate data and
information, provides communication between people via the internet. Use of IT tools to
support learning is often tenured e-learning.

Virtual Learning

Virtual Learning includes characteristic of both e – learning and online. It has the
desirable quality to develop the learning process entirely using new information
technologies. Virtual education provides learning environment where faculty and student
are separated by space and time, or both, and the faculty provides course content
through various educational applications, the videoconferencing, etc. Students collect
the materials and are in touch with the faculty via the IT technologies. Recent
technologies have changed the way of acquiring the education and the teaching learning
process. Over the time expansion in information technology “Virtual Education System”
has been provided to provide e-learning services efficiently and effectively (Clark & Gibb
(2006)). This system was established for those who wants to study further but not
possible for them to come at campus due to work responsibilities. This system is catching
the attention among the number of students who attend the classes at their
conveniences. Virtual Education provides flexibility and convenience to the students and
faculties involve fewer infrastructures, easy to manage time, cost effective, encourage
to self-study and improve their computer and other technical skills which are extremely
useful.

Internet based learning

Many technologies are used to deliver education with the help of Internet service which
includes the use of the World Wide Web (WWW) for online lectures, notes, newsgroups
for mutual discussions and class announcements, e-mail conversation between students
and faculties, interesting and effective videos through the Internet facility for remote
participation in classrooms (Ahmad, 2010).

Computer Based learning

It is an educational form in which students gain the knowledge by using special training
programs using the computers. This system was very effective in the pre-Internet times,
 ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

as time passes the use of the Internet has become more, the scope of CBTs is enforced.
It has the advantages over traditional classroom system and over self-taught books. By
using this system students can study, think, respond and discuss on any relevant
subjects. It offers stimulating atmosphere to learner for learning at his own pace.

Web based learning

Institutions and people both aim to take advantage in terms of providing and taking
advantages of gaining knowledge respectively. Previous study found that learning
technologies has huge market potential. Hence, e-learning systems are in demand
(Schewe, K., Thalheim, B., Binemann-Zdanowicz et.al, 2005).

Fig 1: Architecture for web based learning (Schewe, Thalheim, Binemann, Zdanowicz
et.al, 2005)

Definition Layer: - explain the purpose, goals and the expected learners from the
system

Didactic Layer: - used to generalize the ideas which are gathered on the definition layer.

Tutorial layer: - even as the didactic layer did not pay much concentration to technical
issues.

Presentation layer: - defines the difficulties of associating presentation and aspects of

the physical implementation.
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Major difference between Web based and e-Learning is that web based covers more
services than e-learning. Another difference is that e-learning only focus on contents
while web based provides various educational services (Paulsen, 2003).

Web based system allows each learner to progress through a series of educational
programs at his or her own time and speed. This system generally includes a
measurement element that makes sure the content is mastered before the student
moves ahead. Today's students are more comfortable in an on-line environment than in
a traditional classroom. This is fortunate, because on-line learning systems are
considerably flexible.

Web-based learning supports the kind of learning needed for the knowledge perspective
of the information society, such as lifetime learning, direct learner learning, conceptualize
learning, personalized learning, transformative learning, two-way/supportive learning
and just-in-time learning. (Mahanta & Ahmed, 2012)Latest technologies in education
emerging from multimedia and on-line developments support extremely interactive
student-centred learning and offer multiple opportunities for both students and teachers.
These technologies support modern teaching learning in a number of ways.

Using this approach in online educational systems users are allowed to access
remotely by using web browser. It provides security and consistent work via internet
without installing additional software.
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Fig 2: Education System

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Students need to register before he or she wants to view the course material, which
contains the several pages of text with graphics. There is no time and date restriction for
completion a course. Students may stop study and get back to any previous course
whenever they needs. Students need to enter their login and password. There should be
time tracking system, which returns the student to the place where he or she has stopped
their studying. After finishing the course, students are offered to take an online quiz. If
the students pass the examination tests, the system will automatically report the
student’s data to the administrator. After that the students can get the certificate.

Australian universities enrol students from most countries. Research shows that distance
education has never fallen below 5% of total enrolment of students (Norton, 2014). There
are several factors may be responsible for this scenario. One of these factors is that
internet has improved educational technology and students feel easier to study at
campus. This change in technology also raise the demand of post graduate study.
People having significant work responsibility can feel study easier as they don’t need to
travel to campus (Paulsen, 2003).

It is very important to analyse the need for our students to learn effective communication
skill in internet based forums.it also true as all the organisations become highly
dependent upon its internal structure and intra- organisational online communication and
interaction such as worker-worker, worker- employer, worker-client (Clark and Gibb
2006). By observing such a high universal demand for online skill, educators are working
to create online atmosphere for learning aspects (Drennan et al. 2005). Student
participation is important factor of performance in online learning. Faculties need to
encourage students to join in virtual discussion along with contribution at higher level of
cognition. It always happen that engagement itself may increase students’ performance.
ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

3 Research design and Methodologies:

Research is a continuous process, which deeply focused on seeking the research
queries with scientific approaches, it means to find out the truth which has not been
discovered or still hidden. This chapter will discuss about research groups & types
followed by research strategies which will be used to complete this research.

3.1 Research Objectives

Research objectives are divided into some groups. All these groups, such as
exploratory research, descriptive, diagnostic & hypothesis testing are explained in
this researcher (Kothari, 2004).

3.2 Research Groups

 Exploratory or Formative Research

Exploratory or Formative Research is undertaken in the area, where limited
information is available to investigate.
 Descriptive Research vs. Analytical Research.
According to Kothari (2004), Descriptive Research is a combination of facts-finding
enquiries and various surveys. In this the researcher has negligible control on
variables.
Contrary, Analytical research focused on the available information and it is used for
critical evaluation (Kothari, 1985& 2004).
 Diagnostic Research.
Diagnostic research aims to find out the frequency with which the research is linked
with other studies.
 Hypothesis-Testing Researcher.
This research is conducted to test the hypothesis result in order to find the causal
relationship between different variables.

3.3 Types of Research

 Applied vs. Fundamental Research

Applied researcher is used to find out the solution, which is currently faced by the
society or industrial organisations at present and its output comes in common
language (Kothari 2004).Oppositely, fundamental research is conducted for
knowledge collection only and its outcome comes in technical language.
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 Qualitative vs. Quantitative Research:

Qualitative or exploratory research is the open ended and inductive methods for
research, focused on the qualitative phenomenon (words) or qualitative data
collection. Qualitative investigation aim is to find out the motives and desires, by the
depth interviews. The Word association tests, story completion, sentence completion
etc. are its techniques. Interviews, documents, and observations plays crucial role in
this research. Interview session’s ranges from personal interview, in-depth interviews
or group focus interview (Kumar, 2014).
 Quantitative Research
Quantitative research mainly focused on the term quantity or measurement. The
outcome of this research is a set of numbers which can be counted. As per Kumar
(2014), quantitative research is based on statistical methods starts with collection of
data focused on any hypothesis or experiment followed by descriptive statistical
methods. Non-descriptive, numerical, are its characteristics. Quantitative Research
outcome is presented in the form of tables and graphs (Kothari, 2006).
 Mixed Methods Research
Mixed Methods Research includes the collection, analysis and integration of
quantitative and qualitative research in a single study. This MMR (Mixed Methods
Research) is useful, when several diverse but related research questions are studied
(Kothari, 2006).

Collection of data:

In this research, following strategies are mainly used: case study, primary data, and
secondary data.

• Primary Data
In this research, personal or telephonic interview and questionnaire are the main source
as primary data collection. A questionnaire includes the list of questions. This research
includes open ended and closed ended questions such as,

Is the online education is beneficial for all?

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Is the online education help to improve quality of education in Australia?

How effective IT role in online education?

Why assessment task is easier in online education?

 ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

• Secondary Data
In this research, information regarding online education in Australia will be obtained
from journals, books, publications etc. in which data regarding IT contribution in
Australian online education has already taken by previous researchers.

4 Threats to reliability and validity

In any type of research, two factors such as reliability and validity plays important role,
which are explained below:

Reliability Threats Characteristics

Change of participants Tiredness , focus on matter may reduce

reliability

Research error Introductory error during measuring

Validity Threats Characteristics

Selection effects Replicated methods reduce validity

Morality Loss of information affect validity

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5 Research planning

Date started Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 21- 24 25 26

from 01/09/15 detail 23
Abstract Kruti
Introduction Kruti
Literature survey Ravindar
,Kruti
Research design Ravindar
and ,Kruti
methodology
Threats to Ravindar
reliability and
validity
Discussion Kruti

conclusion Kruti

References Ravindar
,Kruti

As shown in table, research work has been started from September 1st, 2015 by group
of two members and finished in total 10 days. On the day 1 st and 2nd, abstract and
introduction will be finished in which research aim and objectives have been found. Then,
we will finish literature review in next three days. Furthermore, next three days will be
spent on references followed by task of threats. Next task of research results carried out
on 21st to 24th and last two days, we have done conclusion and references, we have
done research report successfully.
 ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

6 Discussion
A since the topic of this research analysis is the contribution of IT in Australian online
education, the variable of this research process are both qualitative and quantitative. All
the quantitative variables are measured on Likert scale ranked on scale of 1-5. Initially,
the researcher selected 500 students and 100 professors for the survey program.
However, the researcher got 60% respondents at the end of survey program. Therefore
total population size of this research is 360 and the sample size has been taken in the
prediction method is 300 (Chau, 2010; Paulus et al., 2010). 80% of the respondents
were strongly agree with the statement showed that online education is beneficial for
all, whereas out of remaining 20%, equal percentage of participants have found to be
with agree and disagree. Moreover, 95% respondents agree and believe that online
education help to improve Australian education quality.

At first site, from various literature reviews, case studies provides the brief analysis of
success parameters of online education in terms of huge range of benefits for students
and assessment authorities such as associate professors and examiners (Bonk, 2009).
According to Kirtman (2009), online education has become highly effective and its
impact on Australian revenue also increases. Almost students prefer to use online
education, whereas some universities offer off-campus study centres (Kirtman, 2009).
It also shows how effective online education in Australia. Because of IT, it becomes
easier for teachers to carry out assessment of students work with accuracy (Bolliger &
Wasilik, 2009; Gannon Cook, Ley, Crawford, & Warner, 2009).

Study also found that online education is highly beneficial for non- traditional students
who are combining work with study (Chau, 2010; Paulus et al., 2010) and students living
in remote or regional areas (Dell, Hobbs, & Miller, 2008; Robina & Anderson, 2010).
Moreover, online studies can also provide centred environment to more students
(Barker, 2003; Pederson & Liu, 2003; Salmon, 2003), raise students engagement in
learning (Anderson, 2008; Herrington & Herrington, 2006) and increase students’
abilities to deal with newer technology (Bonk, 2009; Chau, 2010).
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7 Conclusion

Taking these point into consideration, results of primary data collection show that
majority of students in Australia enrolling into online study because of its quality and
benefits. They believe strongly that information technology is the pillar of online
education. Australia online education provide the productive environment to the users.
Online education involves various methods such as online tutoring, video conferencing
and audio conferencing. Australian education board also states that the revenues from
online education increases strongly which is the proof of usage of information technology
in online education in technological world (Drennan et al. 2005). The delivery methods
in online education system increase the possibilities of lifelong learning. Online education
also helpful to assess the tasks for teachers and management staff like assessment,
examination, and marking of students. In short, we can say that role of IT provides huge
benefits to Australian online education.
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6. References

[1] Ahmad, Z. (2010). Virtual Education System (Current Myth & Future Reality in
Pakistan). Retrieved from website:
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/228313339_Virtual_Education_System_(Curre
nt_Myth__Future_Reality_in_Pakistan)

[2] Bonk, C. J. (2009). The world is open: How web technology is revolutionizing
education. San Fransisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

[3] Bolliger, D., & Wasilik, O. (2009). Factors influencing faculty satisfaction with online
teaching and learning in higher education. Distance Education, 30(1), 103-116.

[4] Chau, P. (2010). Online higher education commodity. Journal of Computing in

Higher Education, 22(3), 177-191.

[5] Clark, D., & Gibb, J. (2006). Virtual Team Learning: An Introductory Study Team
Exercise. Journal of Management Education, 765-787.

[6] Duncan, K., Kenworthy, A., & Mcnamara, R. (n.d.) (2012). The Effect of Synchronous
and Asynchronous Participation on Students' Performance in Online Accounting
Courses. Accounting Education, 431-449.

[7] Drennan, J., Kennedy, J., and Pisarski, A. (2005), Factors affecting student attitudes
toward flexible online learning in management education, The Journal of Educational
Research, 98(6), 331-338.

[8] Dell, C., Hobbs, S., & Miller, K. (2008). Effective online teacher preparation: Lessons
learned. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 4(4), 602-610.

[9] Dyment, J., Downing, J., & Budd, Y. (2013). Framing Teacher Educator Engagement
in an Online Environment. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 38(1).

[10] Gannon Cook, R., Ley, K., Crawford, C., & Warner, A. (2009). Motivators and
inhibitors for University faculty in distance and e-learning. British Journal of Educational
Technology, 40(1), 149-163.

[11] Ghirardini, B., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, & Germany.
(2011). E-learning methodologies: A guide for designing and developing e-learning
courses. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
 ITECH 5500 Professional research and communication

[12] Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods & techniques. New Delhi:
New Age International (P) Ltd.

[13] Kumar, R. (2014). Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners.

[14] Kirtman, L. (2009). Online Versus In-Class Courses: An Examination of Differences

in Learning Outcomes. Issues in Teacher Education, 18. Retrieved from
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ858508.pdf

[15] Mahanta, D., & Ahmed, M. (2012). E-Learning objectives, Methodologies, Tools and
its limitation. International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering
(IJITEE), 2(1). Retrieved from
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[16] Norton, A., & Cherastidtham, I., (2014) Mapping Australian higher education,
201415, Grattan Institute

[17] Paulsen, M. F. (2003). Experiences with Learning Management Systems in 113

European Institutions. Educational Technology & Society.

[18] Proshin, D. (n.d.). web education system. Retrieved from

http://www.solovatsoft.com/E-Learning-System-Specification.pdf

[19] Schewe, K., Thalheim, B., Binemann-Zdanowicz, A., Kaschek, R., Kuss, T., &
Tschiedel, B. (2005). A Conceptual View of Web-Based E-Learning Systems. Education
and Information Technologies. doi:10.1007/s10639-005-6749-2

[20] Ward Ulmer, L., Watson, L., & Derby, D. (2007). Perceptions of higher education
faculty members on the value of distance education. Quarterly Review of Distance
Education, 8(1), 59-89.
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