Perceptions about Learners’ Roles and Functions in Online Higher Education: A Qualitative Research Required

Abstract

This research aims at exploring the need for investigating the beliefs and perceptions related to online learners’ roles and functions of constructing knowledge and learning in higher education. The study attempts to examine the contemporary literature on online education to review the perceptions around online learners’ roles as well as the tutors’ perspectives on learners’ participation and responsibilities in learning and peer-learning. Since higher education learners are usually more aware of teaching and learning objectives than learners at other levels, then, using interviews and observations for such research instead of surveys could produce new and in-depth findings. Furthermore, understanding the conceptualizations of both teachers and students about the ‘roles of learners’ can be helpful to ongoing pedagogical improvement for quality learning to take place.