An Exploration into Facilitating Higher Levels of Learning in a Text-Based Internet Learning Environment Using Diverse Instructional Strategies

The purpose of this action-research study was to explore how well various instructional strategies translate to a text-based Internet learning environment and facilitate higher levels of learning. The participants were 19 adult learners enrolled in an online degree program at a Western Canadian research university. The results of the study provide support for the position that text-based Internet communication technologies can facilitate effective learning environments through the use of certain instructional strategies, resulting in the ability to facilitate higher levels of learning. The outcomes may be useful to those involved in the design and/or instruction of online learning in postsecondary settings.