Meta-Communication for Reflective Online Conversations: Models for Distance Education

One of the ways in which distance education is capable of reaching online learners is the basis and method of meta-communication. Therefore, it is important to understand how to design reflective online conversations and how to implement a diverse milieu for prospective online learners so that they are able to transfer their information, knowledge, and learning from theoretical forms to real life experiences. Meta-Communication for Reflective Online Conversations: Models for Distance Education s discusses the potential of meta-communication models for building and managing reflective online conversations among distance learners. This book unites models for meta-communication, distance education, and reflective online conversations and can serve as a course supplement for studies in distance education, online education, reflective online education, and meta-communication.

Ugur Demiray holds Undergraduate (B.A.) in the area media Studies at Anadolu University, Faculty of Communication Sciences, Department of Cinema and Television, Eskisehir-Turkey, December 1977 - June 1982 and also Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree at Anadolu University, Social Sciences Graduate Institution, Department of Educational Communication Eskisehir-Turkey, September 1982 - May 1986. He is currently working for the Anadolu University. His researches are dealt with distance education application of Anadolu University, Ministry of Education and by other universities in Turkey. He is interested in changing ethical behaviors around the world by inserting technological developments to the educational field, especially to the Distance education applications, for 3 years. His interest also lies towards the profile of DE students and relationship of graduates and job market. He has an extensive experience publishing e-journal on distance education internationally under the patronage Anadolu University since 9 years, named, "TOJDE-Turkish Online Journal for Distance Education." The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education (TOJDE) is a peer-reviewed quarterly e-journal. International in scope, this scholarly e-journal publishes refereed articles focusing on the issues and challenges of providing theory, research and information services to global learners in any kind of distance education or open learning applications. TOJDE particularly strives to meet the continuing education needs of practitioners and educators by providing a forum for the discussion of extended learning strategies, policies and practices and trends in Information Technology as they impact the delivery of student support services for distance learners and faculties.

Gulsun Kurubacak is an Associate Professor in Applied Communication at the College of Open Education of Anadolu University. She undertook graduate studies at Anadolu University, Turkey (MA. Educational Technology) and the University of Cincinnati, USA (Ed.D. Curriculum & Instruction) and also worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the College of Education at New Mexico State University, USA (2001-2002). She is currently a graduate student in the Department of Computer and Instructional Technologies and also an undergraduate student in the Computer Engineering at the College of Informatics Technologies and Engineering of Hoca Ahmet Yesevi International Turk-Kazakhstani University. Dr. Kurubacak has over twenty-five years experience in focusing on the democratic and multicultural aspects of distance education; finding new answers, viewpoints and explanations to online communication problems through critical pedagogy; and improving learner critical thinking skills through project-based online learning. She continues to manage and provide pedagogical support for distance learning programs.

T. Volkan Yuzer, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Applied Communication at the Department of Distance Education, College of Open Education, Anadolu University, Turkey. He undertook graduate studies at Anadolu University, Turkey. His research interests are new communication technologies, synchronous, asynchronous and interactive communications and transformative learning milieus in distance and online education. He has over fifteen years experience in exploring additional distance learning media and providing communication and technological support for distance learning programs as well as develop online learning courses. He has participated in projects related to distance learning, online synchronous learning and the virtual classroom. He has been teaching courses in distance learning, communication and Information Technologies.