 Online Learning Update Ray Schroeder, editor, COLRS - Online@Illinois SpringfieldOnline Learning Update - a blog published daily since 2001 by Ray Schroeder, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois at Springfield |
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Monday, October 02, 2006
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM and INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION - Elif TOPRAK, TOJDE
According to the social constructivist theory of International Relations (IR); social interactions and communication are crucial in the international system (Adler, 2002: 99). Constructivist scholars, use the concept of cognitive development, to study “common values” and their dissemination. This is also the starting point of institutionalization of values that develop into cooperative behaviors in the international society. In this framework, international cooperation is studied as a sociological concept, based on “learning”. Institutions are important in this process, since they affect interest and identity changes. According to this sociological approach, common values and interests are learned through interactions and are accepted as common norms. This is how identities are formed vis-a-vis the institutions. A good example for this network can be the European Union’s cooperative programmes and projects conducted by the different Directorates of the Commission (Checkel, 2003: 352-54). As cooperation frameworks among states and non-state entities increase in number, common cultural values develop and pave the way for further cooperation. Information and communication technologies ease this interaction and namely “globalize” every field in life. This in turn, accelerates the process for building common institutions. The aim of this paper is to evaluate international collaboration in distance education, on a social constructive theoretical basis.
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