我国普通高校网上教学平台及网站建设的现状分析

Online Teaching Platforms and Websites in China's Universities

网上教学平台是基于互联网实现网上教学的必要条件。本研究以从网络上可以查询到的我国普通高校网络教育学院的53个网上教学平台及网站为样本,以课程设计、交流和协作、管理为教学平台的三大类功能、以及22项子功能为分析框架,探讨现存的网上教学平台的功能及网站建设的现状。研究结果表明,在我国网上教学平台的功能中,课程设计功能不够突出;网上交流和协作的功能比较普遍;技术管理和资源管理受到重视。作者的结论是,我国普通高校网络教育在教学平台及网站建设方面已经从网上简单的发布信息和共享资源为主,进入了利用网络辅助教学过程为主,少部分学校已经开始了基于网络的学习,网络的优势正在远程教育的实践中得到发挥。

An online teaching platform is a necessary component of teaching and learning on the Internet. This paper aims to analyze the features and functions of existing teaching platforms. It is hoped that this research will enable educational institutes to better understand the differences between online teaching platforms and other types of platforms, and hence improve existing teaching platforms to enhance teaching effectiveness. The sample is 53 teaching platforms and websites used by China's online colleges. Three general functions (design, interaction and collaboration, and administration and management) and 22 sub-functions are included in the analytical framework. The results show that the design of these websites leaves much to be desired but they are quite effective in terms of the other two general functions. The conclusions of this paper are as follows. We have observed that these platforms have moved away from the very simple functions of information dissemination and resources sharing towards more sophisticated functions such as assisting the teaching process. Some universities are already carrying out online learning but improvements are needed in website construction and the utilization of the teaching platform. Finally, the authors of this paper suggest that the education authority should play a leading role in the further development of online teaching platforms. Online education experts and practitioners can be recruited to investigate areas for improvement. For example, the Internet should be used more for the dissemination of information and the network among different online colleges can be strengthened. If teaching support services and resource sharing can be further improved, online teaching platforms will become more useful learning tools.