英语专业毕业论文文献综述样例

英语专业毕业论文文献综述样例

参考范文1

Distance Learning

This paper will summarize two articles on distance learning and give the author’s views on the benefits and obstacles of implementing distance-learning in a junior and senior high school learning environment.

Jeannette McDonald, in her article: Is “As good as face-to-face” as good as it gets? (2002), raises a very important question as to whether “[the] goal [of online learning should be] to meet existing standards of traditional education”(McDonald, 2002) or “has distance learning, and especially online education opened the door to enhanced strategies in teaching and learning”(McDonald, 2002)? Online learning may just be “doing different things” (McDonald, 2002). What are these different things? Jeannette McDonald claims that “distance education can be a frontier for new methods of communication giving rise to innovative teaching and learning practices that may not be possible in traditional, place-bound education”(2002). The article discusses both the positive and “potential negative impacts of online education” (McDonald, 2002).

There are many benefits to using online distance learning environments. Online education is available “anyplace, anytime [for] global communities of learners based on shared interests”(McDonald, 2002). Jeannette McDonald claims that “online education [with its] group-based instruction [and] computer mediated communication (CMC) provides an opportunity for new development and understanding in teaching and learning” (2002). CMC encourages “collaborative learning [by not providing] cues regarding appearance, race, gender, education, or social status bestowing a sort of anonymity to participants” (McDonald, 2002). Distance also “permits the expression of emotion (both positive and negative) and promotes discussion that normally would be inhibited. [Yet, this same] text-based [positive aspect of online learning], makes online education more cumbersome and therefore takes more time than face-to-face learning. [In addition,] the sheer bulk of messages can be overwhelming”(McDonald, 2002). The learner only has the written text and no other “non-verbal”(McDonald, 2002) cues. This may confuse the learner and cause “misunderstanding” (McDonald, 2002). The article lists the “seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education” (McDonald, 2004) published in 1987 by the American Association of Higher Education Bulletin. Jeannette McDonald claims that “online education has the potential to achiever all of these practices”(2002). There is a need for quality and standards for distance learning. “In April 2000, the institute of Higher Education Policy produced a study with 24 benchmarks for the success in Internet-based distance education”(The Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2000).

Although Jeannette McDonald feels that there are “biases against distance learning programs”(2002), her recommendation is “to take advantage of the potential of online education [by striving] to understand the technology and how it affects human communication and interaction” (2002).

“In the road to dotcom in education” (2004), Mark David Milliron deals with