Action e-learning: An exploratory case study of action learning applied online

Human Resource Development International

Volumn 9, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 157-171

  Waddill, Deborah DeWolfe ^a  

^a Restek Consulting   (United States)

Author keywords

Action learning; Instructional design; Management learning; Web based instruction

Indexed keywords

EID: 84949775739     PISSN: 13678868     EISSN: 14698374     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/13678860600616347     Document Type: Article

References (57)

1. Arbaugh, J. B., 2000. An exploratory study of the effects of gender on student learning and class participation in an internet-based MBA course. Management Learning, 31:533–549.
2. Arbaugh, J. B., and Duray, R., 2002. Technological and structural characteristics, student learning and satisfaction with web-based courses:an exploratory study of two on-line MBA programs. Management Learning, 33:331–348.
3. Bannan-Ritland, B., 2001. An action learning framework for teaching instructional design. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 14 (2):37–51.
4. Cho, S., and Berge, Z., 2002. Overcoming barriers to distance training and education. Education at a Distance, The USDLA Journal, 16 (1):1–15.
5. Clark, L. J., 2001. Web-based teaching:a new educational paradigm. Intercom, 48:20–23.
6. Creswell, J., 1998. Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design:Choosing among Five Traditions, Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.
7. Dilworth, R. L., 1998a. Action learning in a nutshell. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 11 (1):28–43.
8. Dilworth, R. L., 1998b. Setting the stage. Special Issue of Performance Improvement Quarterly, 11 (1):5–8.
9. Dilworth, R., and Willis, V., 2003. Action Learning:Images and Pathways, Malabar, FL:Krieger.
10. Dixon, N. M., 1998a. Building global capacity with global task teams. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 11 (1):108–112.
11. Dixon, N. M., 1998b. Action learning:more than just a task force. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 11 (1):44–58.
12. Dolmans, D., Gijselaers, W. H., Moust, J., and Grave, W., 2002. Trends in research on the tutor in problem-based learning:conclusions and implications for educational practice and research. Medical Teacher, 24 (2):173ff
13. Downey, S., Wentling, R. M., Wentling, T., and Wadsworth, A., 2005. The relationship between national culture and the usability of an e-learning system. Human Resource Development International, 8 (1):47–64.
14. Driscoll, M., 1999. Web-based training in the workplace. Adult Learning, 10 (4):21–25.
15. Duffy, T., and Jonassen, D., eds. 1992. Constructivism and the Technology of Instruction:A Conversation, Hillsdale, NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum.
16. Forman, D. C., 2002. “ Benefits, costs, and the value of e-learning programs ”. In The ASTD E-Learning Handbook:Best Practices, Strategies, and Case Studies for an Emerging Field, Edited by:Rossett, A., 398–413. New York:McGraw-Hill.
17. Gijselaers, W. H., ed. 1995. Educational Innovation in Economics and Business Administration, Dordrecht:Kluwer Academic.
18. Gray, D., 2001. Work-based learning, action learning, and the virtual paradigm. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 25 (3)
19. Hall, B., 1997. Web-Based Training Cookbook, New York:Wiley.
20. Hall, B., and LeCavalier, J., November 2000. “ The case for Level 3 ”. November, Available at:
21. Holton, E., 1996. The flawed four-level evaluation model. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 7 (1):5–21.
22. Honebein, P. C., 1996. “ Seven goals for the design of constructivist learning environments ”. In Constructivist Learning Environments:Case Studies in Instructional Design, Edited by:Wilson, B. G., 11–24. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Educational Technology Publications.
23. Hughes, J., and Attwell, G., February 2003. “ A framework for the evaluation of e-learning ”. February, Available at:
24. Ingram, H., Sandelands, E., and Teare, R., 2002. Cases in e-enabled action learning. Training & Management Development Methods, 16:27–41.
25. Kaufman, R., and Keller, J., 1994. Levels of evaluation:beyond Kirkpatrick. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 5 (4):371–380.
26. Khan, B. H., ed. 1997. Web-Based Instruction, Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Educational Technology Publications.
27. Kirkpatrick, D., 1994. Evaluating Training Programs:The Four Levels, San Francisco, CA:Berrett-Koehler.
28. Knowles, M. S., 1970. The Modern Practice of Adult Education:Andragogy vs. Pedagogy, New York:Association Press.
29. Knowles, M. S., 1984. Andragogy in Action, San Francisco, CA:Jossey-Bass.
30. Knowles, M., Holton, E., and Swanson, R., 1998. The Adult Learner, 5th edn, Woburn, MA:Butterworth-Heinemann.
31. Lincoln, Y., and Guba, E., 1985. Naturalistic Inquiry, Newbury Park, CA:Sage.
32. Mann, C., and Stewart, F., 2000. Internet Communication and Qualitative Research:A Handbook for Researching Online, London:Sage.
33. Marquardt, M., 1999. Action Learning in Action:Transforming Problems and People for World-Class Organizational Learning, 1st edn, Palo Alto, CA:Davies-Black.
34. Marquardt, M., 2004. Optimizing the Power of Action Learning, Palo Alto, CA:Davies-Black.
35. Mayberry, E., 2005. “ Kirkpatrick's Level 3:improving the evaluation of e-learning ”. Available at:
36. Mumford, A., 1995. Managers developing others through action learning. Industrial and Commercial Training, 27 (2):19ff
37. Murphy, K., and Cifuentes, L., 2001. Using Web tools, collaborating, and learning online. Distance Education, 22 (2):285–305.
38. Noel, J., and Charan, R., 1988. Leadership and development at GEs Crotonville. Human Resource Management, 27 (4):433ff
39. Palloff, R., and Pratt, K., 1999. “ Defining and redefining community ”. In Building Learning Communities in Cyberspace:Effective Strategies for the Online Classroom, San Francisco, CA:Jossey-Bass.
40. Pedler, M., 1998. Action Learning in Practice, Aldershot:Gower.
41. Phillips, J., Phillips, P., Duresky, L., and Gaudet, C., 2002. “ Evaluating the ROI of e-learning ”. In The ASTD E-Learning Handbook:Best Practices, Strategies, and Case Studies for an Emerging Field, Edited by:Rossett, A., 387–397. New York:McGraw-Hill.
42. Poell, R., Yorks, L., and Marsick, V., Conducting action-learning research from a cross-cultural multi-theory perspective:theory and data from the US and the Netherlands. Paper presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development. February26, Estes Park, CO.
43. Poole, D. M., 2000. Student participation in a discussion-oriented online course:a case study. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 33:162–177.
44. Revans, R. W., 1980. Action Learning:New Techniques for Management, London:Anchor Press.
45. Revans, R. W., 1982. The Origin and Growth of Action Learning, London:Chartwell Bratt.
46. Roberts, B., 1998. Training via the desktop. HR Magazine, 43 (9):98–104.
47. Rossett, A., ed. 2002. The ASTD E-Learning Handbook:Best Practices, Strategies, and Case Studies for an Emerging Field, New York:McGraw-Hill.
48. Saba, F., 2000. Research in distance education:a status report. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 1 (1):1–9.
49. Sandelands, E., 1999. “ Cyber tutoring and learning:how to facilitate action learning online ”. Available at:
50. Savery, J., and Duffy, T., 1996. “ Problem-based learning:an instructional model and its constructivist framework ”. In Constructivist Learning Environments:Case Studies in Instructional Design, Edited by:Wilson, B. G., 135–148. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Educational Technology Publications.
51. Singh, H., 2001. “ Online implementation of Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation using web databases ”. In Web-Based Training, Edited by:Khan, B. H., 523–529. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Educational Technology Publications.
52. Sloman, M., and Reynolds, J., 2003. Developing the e-learning community. Human Resource Development International, 6 (2):259–272.
53. Stake, R., 1995. The Art of Case Study Research, Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.
54. Swan, K., 2002. Building learning communities in online courses:the importance of interaction. Education, Communication & Information, 2 (1):23–49.
55. Weasenforth, D., Biesenbach-Lucas, S., and Meloni, C., 2002. Realizing constructivist objectives through collaborative technologies:threaded discussions. Language Learning & Technology, 6 (3):58–86.
56. Yin, R. K., ed. 2003. Case Study Research Design and Methods, Vol. 5, 3rd edn, Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.
57. Yoo, Y., Kanawattanachai, P., and Citurs, A., 2002. Forging into the wired wilderness:a case study of a technology-mediated distributed discussion-based class. Journal of Management Education, 26 (2):139ff