计算机的通信技术在高等教育的学习环境中造成了什么样的变化？

What changes have computer-mediated communication technologies caused in the learning environments of higher education?
适应性学习支持系统已经成为教育中的人工智能研究领域的焦点话题，在最近几年，这是一个认知科学和计算机科学的跨区域教育。然而，目前的e-learning系统发送同样的教学内容，由于学习者的个体差异，学习目标和学习风格的不同，导致所有学习者对于认知超载和迷惑的现象，严重影响了质量电子的学习。

Adaptive learning support system has been the focus topic in the research field of artificial intelligence in education in recent years, which is a cross areas of education, cognitive science and computer science. However, current e-learning system sends the same teaching content to all learners without concerning individual differences of learners, such as the prior knowledge, learning goal and learning style, which results in the phenomenon of cognitive overload and disorientation, and seriously affects the quality of e-learning. So many researches shift from traditional e-learning platform to adaptive and personalized learning environment. Adaptive learning support system in essence is a kind of personalized online learning environment, which can provide adaptive learning support according to individual characteristics of learner, including personalized learning resources, learning processes and learning strategies.

This paper intends to answer the following questions: What changes have computer-mediated communication technologies caused in the learning environments of higher education?

This paper consists of four parts. Chapter 1 is the introduction of whole paper with the writing purpose and aims, the research questions and the organization. Chapter 2 is a brief introduction of computer-mediated communication technologies, which explains the conception of computer-mediated communication, the types of computer-mediated communication, i.e. synchronous mode and asynchronous mode. Chapter 3 introduces the learning changes caused by computer-mediated communication technologies in terms of beneficial changes and adverse changes. Finally Chapter 4 draws a natural conclusion of the whole paper.

Brief introduction of computer-mediated communication technologies

The computer-mediated communication refers to the communicative exchange and transaction which happens through the connection of two or more networked connected computers. When computer-mediated communication used to defined as the exchanges that happen though the computer connected form such as e-mail, chatting tools, it can also been applicable to the other forms of the interaction on text based information. The studies on computer-mediated communication centered on the influences towards computer assist communication. Recently many researches have been carried on computer-mediated communication based on the software.

 The conception of computer-mediated communication

In this paper, we focus on the student model and adaptive teaching content organization of adaptive learning support system. Student model is the key component of adaptive learning support system, which records the learner's individual characteristics, reflecting the individual differences of learners, and provides a basis for decision making of adaptive learning support system. And adaptive teaching content is customized in accordance with the individual characteristics of learners by adaptive learning support system, which is the most important way to support learning, and is the most obvious manifestation of adaptation of adaptive learning system.

 The types of computer-mediated communication

There are two types of computer-mediated communication (Kiesler, 1984, pp.1123-1134) , which namely are synchronous mode and asynchronous mode. The synchronous communications refers to every participant gets on the internet at the same time, while the asynchronous communication refers to the happening is not at the same time, where there is constraints, such as the sending of e-mail. 

People select asynchronous communication such as email for delayed, controlled and longer messages. They also like www.ukassignment.org email for negative emotion because they are far from the receiver ("shielding" effect). On the other hand, people prefer synchronous communication like IM for immediate good news. They also use it because they can multitask while talking. Based on detailed analysis of the Enhancing Adaptive Hypermedia Application Model (EAHAM), we proposes the architecture of adaptive learning support system, including the media space, domain knowledge model, student model, context model, teaching strategies model and adaptive model, and adding the adaptive learning module, learning strategies modules and learning tools modules. The architecture of adaptive learning support system based on EAHAM refines the system components and the operating mechanisms, which can provide adaptive learning support in accordance with the prior knowledge, learning style and other aspects of individual differences of learners, and has good operability in system implementation. 

The following part will discuss the two modes of computer mediated communication in details.

 Synchronous mode

The synchronous mode (Walther, 1996, pp.56-87) refers to the students learn the knowledge at the same time while accompanying the knowledge input process. While setting the synchronous mode, the signals from the controller with teaching signals will send to the students. The DRAM controller and CPU bus must run at the same processing speed. In the classroom teaching the instructor send out the information with the computer mediated assistance, the students learn the knowledge at the same time. 

Synchronous mode, this learning method has the following characteristics. First, the teacher’s information sending and the student information acceptance are at the same time. Second, the teacher can know the students’ feedback at a fast speed, which is contributive to the teaching plan’s changing and altering. Last but not least, this mode can coordinate the relationship between the students and the teachers, due to the interactive cooperation.
同步模式下，这种学习方法对于指示和学习具有以下优点。首先，可以展示学生的反馈速度快。第二，可以形成学生和老师良好的合作关系。但最重要的是，此方法可以补偿老师的取向方法的局限性，并形成学生的取向的倾向。

Synchronous mode, this learning method has the following advantages of instructing and learning. First, it can demonstrate the students’ feedback at a fast speed. Second, it can form the good cooperation with the students and the teachers. Last but not least, this method can compensate the limitations of the teacher’s orientated methods and form the student’s orientated tendency.

Synchronous mode has the above mentioned advantages. However, this learning method still has the following disadvantages of instructing and learning. On one hand, it will scatter the teacher’s intention. On the other hand, it will make harder to realize the teaching plan and schedule.

The above mentioned are the definition, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the synchronous mode.

 Asynchronous mode

The asynchronous mode refers to Jonassena (1995, pp.7-26) the students learn the knowledge does not accompany the knowledge input process. While setting the synchronous mode, the signals from the controller with teaching signals will send to the students. The DRAM controller and CPU bus must run without at the same processing speed. In the classroom teaching the instructor send out the information with the computer mediated assistance, the students learn the knowledge without at the same time. 

Asynchronous mode, this learning method has the following characteristics. First, the teacher’s information sending and the student information acceptance are not at the same time. Second, the teacher can know the students’ feedback at a fast speed, which is contributive to the teaching plan’s changing and altering. Last but not least, this mode can coordinate the relationship between the students and the teachers, due to the interactive cooperation.

Asynchronous mode, this learning method has the following advantages of instructing and learning. First, it can demonstrate the students’ feedback at a fast speed. Second, it can form the good cooperation with the students and the teachers. Last but not least, this method can compensate the limitations of the teacher’s orientated methods and form the student’s orientated tendency.

Asynchronous mode has the above mentioned advantages. However, this learning method still has the following disadvantages of instructing and learning. First, the responding speed compared with the asynchronous is lower than the synchronous mode. Second, this students’ orientated method is based on the after class feedback rather than the on class or immediate response of the students. 

The above mentioned are the definition, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the asynchronous mode.