The Complexity Of E-learning And Its Research's Complexity Paradigm

Complexity theory (complexity science or complexity research) flourished in the eighty of twenty century. Its proposition raised a science revolution of inter-discipline and cross-disciplinary, and is regarded as"the twenty-first century new science". It's also one of the fronts in contemporary science. Complexity theory proposed its methodology through the critique and transcendence towards the simple thinking of unilateral- emphasized reductionism or holism. E-learning system's complexity decides the necessity and feasibility by using complexity theory to analyze and to do the research.This thesis consists of six parts:The first part is"exordium". It consists of five aspects, which constructs this research's logic frame: the reason why to do the research, the purpose and meaning, the method, the research situation of home and abroad and review, and the definitions to relevant concepts.The second part is"the philosophical background, schools and methodologies of complexity theory". Through examining the philosophical background of complexity theory's flourish, this thesis introduces three important schools, their representatives and important views of the theory, and then introduces the methodology: the syncretism that combined by reductionism and holism.The third part is"the research dilemma of current E-learning". The thesis generalizes the research dilemma from those aspects: the social challenge that current E-learning research faced E-learning research's task and mission, and the paradigm transformation of E-learning.The forth part is"The complexity interpretation to E-learning: the complexity on ontology". The thesis regards E-learning as a complex system, and interprets four complexities: E-learning's subjects, technology, information and circumstance, which based on ontology.The fifth part is"E-learning research's complexity paradigm: the complexity on epistemology". After the discussion of"complexity paradigm"on epistemology, the thesis will construct E-learning research's complexity through research purpose, object, method, activity and result etc.The sixth part is"conclusion". It concludes the thesis's research work and meaning, point out the inadequacies, and makes a prospect to the following research work.