Interpersonal communication over the internet: A study of Anadolu University Open Education Faculty information management students

The main goal of this research is to examine the communication behaviors of the learners in completely online the Information Management Associate Degree Program at Open Education Faculty of Anadolu University. In the research, communication behaviors refer learners? online communication competencies and online communication apprehension. This research intended to identify online learners? communication competencies, communication apprehension levels and the interactions occur between in these two variables. Online learners communication competencies consisted of knowledge, skills and motivation subsets while communication apprehension covered use of computer, written and oral communication apprehensions.In this case study, various instruments were used to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data were gathered through analysis of individual semi-structured interviews and learners? interaction logs. Quantitative data were collected to be able to select the students for semi-structured interviews by using the Computer-Mediated Communication Scale and Computer-Mediated Communication Apprehension Scale. These two scales were administered to the first year students in the program. With 6 students semi-structured interviews were conducted via Microsoft Messenger (MSN) chat tool to be able to identify their computer-mediated communication competencies and their computer-mediated communication apprehension levels.As a result of this study, it uncovered that the learners are not able to use the communication environments of the program effectively and that interactions between the learners and the facilitators do not occur as much as it is supposed to be. It was also observed that both the learners? communication behaviors and the facilitators? attitudes are crucial indicators. The interviews revealed that the biggest problem the learners were facing was access to the facilitators. This problem has negative effects on learners? motivation. In the study, the shortage of learner-to-instructor interactions was investigated separately in the learners? context and in the facilitators? context. From the learners? context, they do not know the full advantage and availability of the communication opportunities provided in the IM Program. Besides a shortage of writing skills was also identified. Another finding of the study is that expertise levels of the facilitators in the field are good indicator of a lack of learner-to-instructor interactions.