Theme 3, Reflections

During the week I have red two articles. In the article "Mixed research and online learning: Strategies for improvement" by Lowenthal, P. R. & Leech it is examined the phenomenon of online learning. In the article "Emotional presence, learning and the online learning environment" by Cleveland-Innes, M. and Campbell P. the authors review and investigate the presence of emotion in online learning.

Quantitative methods research was used in the studies of influence of emotions on students in online learning. This work examines the main reasons that cause emotional arousal.There are the social, scientific and educational reasons, etc. Emotions emerges in the process of adapting in online learning, cognitive, social and teaching presence.

In 1970, LeDoux began studying the emotions from fear. He suggested that all reactions that are true for the fear will be true for other emotions, too. There is a theory which confirms that in case of injuries the vision of emotions and the ability to think rationally are changed. Stress helps in the formation of explicit memories, but it can empty the memory too. The learning process is the flow of information and exchange of emotional experience. This is a dynamic exchange in a complex social environment where learning takes place. Emotional expression is a part of being of socially submitted online learning. "COI" is a model for teaching and learning online.

In 2000 new problems have been formulated about how in the best way integrate and control emotions in the learning environment. Zembylos applied new qualitative methodologies in 2008. As a result researches reached a new qualitative level. Positive and negative emotions that are associated with the process of learning are the object of these studies. In online learning process students create their own understanding of the process. In online learning, students take more responsibility and are more active in the learning process. They develop new skills but the impact of emotions in the new learning environment is coming to be determined. Emotions exist together with other phenomena of online research community.

Emotions create presence which is the result of the dynamic interaction between emotions, cognitions, behaviour and environment.The emotional factor is present in the social, cognitive areas and in the learning process. Emotions concentrate us on certain aspects of the situation. In the online learning reactions of confidence and peace are important but reactions of fear, pressure and stress are unacceptable.

There are a number of issues with online learning which wait to be explored. Here are some of the questions: What issues are present in any online learning environment? How does the design of impact, organization, promotion and direct instruction work?

The quantitative research method determines the size and is identified with the numerical data in the study. When using this method the processing of observations and experiments data take place, and modelling, diagnosis and prognosis of the research take place as well. After processing of the results of research the modelling take place. Meanwhile new information is obtained and creation and investigation of possible models of the development of object of the study take place.