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A Constructivist Perspective on the Thesis Supervision Process: A Case Study of Sri Lankan Undergraduate Thesis Projects
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
2019 (English)In: The Journal of Interactive Learning Research, ISSN 1093-023X, Vol. 30, no 4, p. 425-449Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

One of the main issues in undergraduate thesis supervision is a lack of understanding about the pedagogical assumptions underpinning the supervision process. In this paper, the concepts of the zone of proximal development and scaffolding are applied in developing a theoretical framework to understand the nature of the interactions that are expected between student, supervisor, research context and peers. Both designed-in and contingent scaffolding are applied in order to frame a personalized learning environment with a flexible structure that supports the interactions, based on individual zones of proximal development. A case study was conducted including students’ and supervisors’ views in several undergraduate degree programs within a Sri Lankan national university, and the findings were compared with the theoretical framework. The empirical data suggest that both students and supervisors tend to encounter problems if the thesis supervision process has not adequately designed to support the characteristics of constructivist learning.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019. Vol. 30, no 4, p. 425-449
Keywords [en]
Research supervision, Student-supervisor relationship, Thesis course design, Constructivist learning theories, Undergraduate research
National Category
Information Systems, Social aspects
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-190561OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-190561DiVA, id: diva2:1530676
Available from: 2021-02-23 Created: 2021-02-23 Last updated: 2022-10-27Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. A Framework for Designing Learning Management Systems to Support Undergraduate Thesis Projects: With a Focus on Sri Lankan Universities
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Framework for Designing Learning Management Systems to Support Undergraduate Thesis Projects: With a Focus on Sri Lankan Universities
2022 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

In Sri Lankan public universities about 41000 undergraduate projects are conducted every year, and on average, the total man-hours spent on the thesis projects is about 1.2 million. Although the universities widely use information technology to support teaching and learning, a specific system supporting undergraduate thesis projects is lacking and literature documents many problems related to these projects. Hence, the present research endeavour was commenced in a Sri Lankan university to develop a framework to guide the design process of a Learning Management System (LMS) that can be used to address those problems and support Undergraduate Thesis Projects (UTP). The following three research questions guided the study: 1) What are the problems of UTP? 2) Which learning theories and pedagogical concepts should be considered when designing an LMS to support the UTP? 3) What are the requirements and components of an LMS which would support the UTP? The Soft Design Science Research Methodology was applied to answer three research questions, and the main findings are as follows: 1) Six main problems areas were identified based on a specific case, 2) These problems were related to unsatisfied requirements of student student-supervisor interaction, scaffolding, and self-regulation processes 3) These requirements further analysed using related learning theories and specific problems were condensed into a general problem.  The general problem is the lack of a learning environment that supports the theoretical foundation (pedagogical implications) and practical facilitation (Information and Communication Technology tools), which could support the student-supervisor interaction, scaffolding, and self-regulation processes, 4) The general problem was analysed, comparing the theoretical foundations and pedagogical implications and a framework was suggested as a general solution for designing an LMS with four basic modules. These modules include software subcomponents that can be used to enhance student-supervisor interaction, peer collaboration, students’ self-regulation skills, and students’ motivation, 5) The general solution was evaluated, and it was shown that supervisors accepted the proposed components as parts of an LMS that supports UTP. The findings show that this framework offers features and components that enhance the quality and importance of thesis projects. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences; Stockholm University, 2022. p. 93
Series
Report Series / Department of Computer & Systems Sciences, ISSN 1101-8526 ; 22-005
Keywords
Thesis projects, Self-regulation learning, Scaffolding, Zone of Proximal Development, Constructivist learning theories, Thesis project management systems
National Category
Computer Sciences Information Systems
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-210121 (URN)978-91-8014-042-3 (ISBN)978-91-8014-043-0 (ISBN)
Public defence
2022-11-21, Lilla hörsalen, NOD-huset, Borgarfjordsgatan 12, Kista, 14:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-10-27 Created: 2022-10-10 Last updated: 2022-10-20Bibliographically approved

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A Constructivist Perspective on the Thesis Supervision Process: A Case Study of Sri Lankan Undergraduate Thesis Projects

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Colombage, Ranil PeirisMännikkö Barbutiu, SirkkuHansson, Henrik

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