The New Jersey Institute of Technology's
Electronic Theses & Dissertations Project

Title:	Assessing learning outcomes and social capital formation resulting from the use and sharing of internet knowledge resources
Author:	Collins, Regina S.
View Online:	njit-etd2015-040 (xxxii, 379 pages ~ 5.0 MB pdf)
Department:	Department of Information Systems
Degree:	Doctor of Philosophy
Program:	Information Systems
Document Type:	Dissertation
Advisory Committee:	Deek, Fadi P. (Committee co-chair) Hiltz, Starr Roxanne (Committee co-chair) Elliot, Norbert (Committee member) Passerini, Katia (Committee member) Gruzd, Anatoliy Anatoliyovych (Committee member)
Date:	2015-05
Keywords:	Technology enhanced learning Collaborative learning Knowledge-sharing communities Knowledge management
Availability:	Unrestricted
Abstract:	Today’s “digital natives” use the Internet to address most, if not all, their learning-related knowledge needs. This research evaluates the outcomes of formal learning activities requiring students to use, manage, share, and consolidate Internet knowledge resources (such as websites, videos, and blogs) to achieve both individual and group learning. This research takes an integrative approach to learning, capturing learner cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal characteristics as well as the impact of the digital environment by evaluating the technological affordances of two different systems supporting such learning activities. This research also examines pedagogical modifications that would best integrate course assignments utilizing Internet resources for learning. This research begins with semi-structured interviews investigating students’ current practices in using, organizing, and sharing digital resources. Based on the results of these interviews, this research implements a pilot study and subsequent quasi-experimental field studies to test digital resource management and sharing in the completion of varied pedagogical activities. Using two different systems, this research evaluates the affordances provided by each, exposing design considerations that can inform the modification of existing systems or the development of new systems to better support digital resource management and sharing in the educational domain.