USING IT TO REENGINEER BUSINESS EDUCATION - AN EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF COLLABORATIVE TELELEARNING

This longitudinal field study (three work sessions plus an initial tra ining session) investigates the efficacy of a new technology-desktop v ideoconferencing (DVC)-in support of collaborative telelearning (i.e., collaborative learning among non-proximate team members). Two types o f collaborative telelearning environments are considered: One involves local groups (i.e., students on the same campus), and the other invol ves non-proximate distant groups (i.e., students on two separate campu ses). The collaborative telelearning environments are compared to each other and to a traditional face-to-face collaborative learning enviro nment. The study found that the three environments are equally effecti ve in terms of student knowledge acquisition, however, higher critical -thinking skills were found in the distant DVC environment The subject s in the three learning environments were equally satisfied with their learning process and outcomes. At the conclusion of the longitudinal assessment, the distant students using DVC were more committed and att racted to their groups compared to local students who worked face-to-f ace or through DVC.