A Comprehensive Web-Based Learning Framework: Toward Theoretical Diversity

Abstract

This chapter presents a theoretical framework for understanding the Web-based learning (WBL) phenomenon based on disciplines other than education. First, from the organizational communication field, it proposes media richness and social influence models to understand factors affecting media communication choice in WBL. Second, from the managerial field, it proposes the theory of knowledge reuse to understand the managerial challenges that instructors face when creating knowledge repositories for WBL. Finally, from the information literature perspective, it proposes the information structure framework to assess the adequacy of the information for a particular situation. In reviewing these theoretical perspectives, implications of the proposed framework for research and practice are highlighted.