Research on Webbed Connectivity in a Web-Based Learning Environment: Online Social Work Education

Abstract

This paper describes the preliminary data and analysis of how students in an online MSW program perceive their experiences, interactions, and responses to learning structure, material, and technology in the Web environment. The student perceptions, which have been used to refine the online program, highlight how important it is to students to feel a personal or webbed connection to faculty and other students in the Web environment. Rather than being a cold, sterile learning environment, the online learning world appears to be one that encourages professional webbed connectivity and relationship building.

Keywords:

• online learning
• master of social work
• student perceptions
• learning technologies