An Investigation of Six Online Learning Stages in E-Learning

Teaching and learning online for the first time can be a frustrating experience. This paper describes six stages students may go through when they take courses in asynchronous, text-based, Web-based learning environments. An action research model has been used to develop a model to understand the stages of student learning in online course management systems, such as WebCT, Blackboard, Wimba. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, the paper will identify and describe is six stages of online learning. And secondly, it will discuss metacognitive understanding of these stages from the perspectives from students and an instructor as they are engaged in online learning and teaching. When new online learners apply the knowledge of these six stages to their learning, they appreciate they are not unique and inadequate in their ability to learn online. In addition, online instructors who have knowledge of the six stages can identify the key moments when they need to provide intensive support with the knowledge that the learner will require less support during the later stages.