Education Commons^™

Academic Library Resources And Services For Online Distance Learners: An Exploratory Study, Roseanne Michele Sasso

Doctoral Dissertations

In this study distance learning library resources and services as provided by member institutions belonging to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) were examined. The goals of this study were (a) to identify the types of distance learning library resources and services being provided, and (b) to gain insight into the experiences and perspectives of Association of Research Libraries’ library personnel in delivering library resources and services to their distance learning library patrons. This exploratory study consisted of two phases, where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Phase one involved a content analysis of member institution’s distance learning websites …

Measuring Faculty Perceptions Of Blackboard Using The Technology Acceptance Model, Leila Halawi, Richard Mccarthy

Leila A. Halawi

Web-based education offers the combination of self-paced learning and interactivity. We are just now beginning to empirically assess the differences between online education and traditional classroom based instruction. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been widely used in Information Systems research to analyze user perceptions of technology. This paper describes the results of an empirical study of faculty perception of Blackboard usage, utilizing TAM as its theoretical basis.

Measuring Students Perceptions Of Blackboard Using The Technology Acceptance Model: A Pls Approach, Leila Halawi, Richard Mccarthy

Leila A. Halawi

In this study, partial least square approach (PLS) is applied to investigate the determinants of students’ perceived usage results in the framework of university online or hybrid courses. A total of 134 valid responses from students who have finished or are currently enrolled in at least one online or hybrid course at two universities were employed to inspect the structural model. Using a structure that is in theory grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM) and tested through TAM, the analysis of results suggest that separate factors guide the students’ usage choice.

Online Classroom Culture Best Practices, Lisa Martino

Publications

Overcome challenges - create an online classroom culture.

In 2013, over five million post-secondary students enrolled in online courses in America (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Many universities strive to meet student demands for this online course modality. Challenges for online students continue to exist with (1) social isolation; (2) coursework confusion; and (3) lack of teacher presence (Milheim, 2012). Studies show that by creating an online classroom culture, faculty can overcome these challenges to foster and motivate online student engagement (Ladyshewsky, 2013; Milheim, 2014; Vesely, Bloom, Sherlock, 2007). In this conference presentation, the participants surveyed online classroom culture …

Reflective Practice Series: Models And Theories To Guide Teaching In The Virtual Classroom, Martin Sivula

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

This reflective practice paper utilizes the action research model to discuss the real time, virtual classroom for the “adult” learner. A brief historical context is given on distance education, followed by selective theoretical models that inform the action research. Data was provided by graduate level students in a variety of courses over several years. Educators, trainers, and adult learners might benefit by improving and transforming their instructional practice by the use of these new tools. Physical, on the ground classroom simulation was successfully achieved by the use of video conferencing software products. Empirical testing also revealed that screen sharing, streaming …

How Fast Is Fast Enough? Education Students’ Perceptions Of Email Response Time In Online Courses, Ching-Wen Zhang, Beth Hurst, Annice Mclean

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

An unintended consequence of the ubiquitous use of email for online course communication is that some faculty believe students now seem to expect 24/7 access to their instructors. Emails come from students at all hours of the day and night, and they seem to expect answers quickly. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of college students in the field of education of how long they expect to wait for their online instructors to respond to their emails and how quickly they respond to emails from their online instructors. A voluntary, anonymous survey was sent to undergraduate …

Community College Student Success In Online Versus Equivalent Face-To-Face Courses, Cheri B. Gregory

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As part of a nationwide effort to increase the postsecondary educational attainment levels of citizens, colleges and universities have expanded offerings of courses and programs to more effectively meet the needs of students. Online courses offer convenience and flexibility that traditional face-to-face classes do not. These features appeal to students with family and work responsibilities that typically make attending classes on campus difficult. However, many of the students who tend to take courses in this instructional format have characteristics that place them at high-risk for academic failure. Because of the traditional mission of community colleges, they generally serve more students …

How To Double Or Triple Student Participation/Engagement In Threaded Class Discussions Without Being Coercive Or Punitive, Robert W. Hill

Faculty Presentations

In this highly-interactive session, industry best practices will be shared along with an exclusive look at the instructor’s own current semester class discussion boards to demonstrate specific strategies/techniques he employs to maximize students’ engagement and to foster a safe online learning community. Audience members will immediately be able to apply some of these pedagogical methods to their own current classes that very day.

Nontraditional Student Risk Factors And Gender As Predictors For Enrollment In College Distance Education, Tammy Crews Pao

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine whether nontraditional student age, female gender, and the possession of nontraditional student risk factors predict enrollment in distance education college courses. This dissertation used data from the most recent National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12), which consisted of approximately 95,000 undergraduate students who were enrolled in higher education in 2011-2012. The results of a logistic regression analysis indicated that both nontraditional student age and female gender were strong predictors of enrollment in distance education, whereas the number of nontraditional student risk indicators was a partial predictor. As leaders in higher education are …

Book Review - Online, Blended, And Distance Education: Building Successful Programs In Schools, Joshua C. Elliott

Education Faculty Publications

Book review by Joshua C. Elliott.

Clark, T. & Barbour, M.K. (Eds.). (2015). Online, Blended, and Distance Education: Building Successful Programs in Schools. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 9781620361641 (pbk.)

The Relationship Between Successful Completion And Sequential Movement In Self-Paced Distance Courses, Janine Lim

School of Distance Education Faculty Publications

A course design question for self-paced courses includes whether or not technological measures should be used in course design to force students to follow the sequence intended by the course author. This study examined learner behavior to understand whether the sequence of student assignment submissions in a self-paced distance course is related to successful completion of the course. The study included 543 students in 89 different general education courses at a private university in the United States during a two year period. Results indicate that students who completed at least one assignment or exam out of the intended sequence of …

Trans-Pacific Doctoral Success – A Collaborative Cohort Model, Helen Partridge, Christine Bruce, Sandra Hirsh, Ken Haycock, Sylvia Edwards, Cheryl Stenstrom, Susan Gasson

Faculty Publications

The San Jose Gateway PhD program is a doctoral partnership between the School of Information at San Jose State University (SJSU) in the USA, and the Information Systems School at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia. Because of Californian legislation, SJSU has not been able to offer PhD degrees. The Gateway Program therefore provides a research pathway for SJSU’s coursework students. It also helps the School to grow the research capacity of academic staff. For QUT, the Program provides the opportunity to advance research agendas and to build strong international connections and partnerships. The Program began in 2008. …

Practising Teaching Using Virtual Classroom Role Plays, Barney Dalgarno, Sue Gregory, Vicki Knox, Torsten Reiners

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Practice in the role of the teacher is an essential part of teacher education, however professional experience placements are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Consequently, additional university-based teaching practice, such as classroom role play with student teacher peers is important. Classroom role plays can be effective but there are limits to the realism of the experience and such strategies are not feasible for students studying at a distance. This article reports on a study in which a classroom in the virtual world of Second Life was used to house role plays of student teachers in preparation for their first professional …

Developing Distance Education Content Using The Tappa Process, Robert L. Moore

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The proliferation of distance education has occurred alongside the emerging technologies of the Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 environments, changing the way instructors approach, design, and deliver their instructional materials. In the past, instructional design (ID) practitioners relied on instruction system design (ISD) models that focused primarily on macroinstruction. It is now important for these practitioners to use microinstruction strategies to keep pace with the technology evolution. This case study describes the TAPPA (Target, Accomplishment, Past, Prototype, Artifact) Process which was created using the Generic Model for Design Research (GMDR) proposed by McKenney and Reeves (2012) and uses selected ID …

Interacting At A Distance: Creating Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Robert L. Moore

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Effective online instruction requires understanding not only interaction but also how to facilitate interaction through technology (Moore & Kearsley, 2012). Specifically, Moore and Kearsley (2012) categorize these types of interactions as "learner with content, interaction with instruction [or] interaction with other learners" (p. 132). This chapter examines each of these interaction types and suggests ways to incorporate them into online learning environments (OLEs). The chapter provides techniques and approaches that will be beneficial to both instructional design practitioners and online instructors. It seeks to assuage some of the concerns that faculty have about OLEs and provides ideas and activities that …

The Added Value Of Conducting Learning Design Meeting To The Online Course Development Process, Denise Shaver

Faculty Publications

Do you find it challenging to have discussions with instructors about designing online courses and best practices in teaching? This article will highlight key components to conducting effective Learning Design Meetings. It outlines techniques used by our institution in engaging faculty in a discussion regarding better use of Learning Management Systems (LMS), storyboard layout, learning outcomes, student engagement, learning activities, formal assessments, and content delivery. Learning Design meetings have proven to be a compelling manner of decreasing faculty resistance while exposing instructors to best practices in pedagogy, andragogy, and online learning. Instructional Designers (IDs), Instructional Facilitators (IFs), and Course Authors …

The Relationship Between Successful Completion And Sequential Movement In Self-Paced Distance Courses, Janine M. Lim

Faculty Publications

A course design question for self-paced courses includes whether or not technological measures should be used in course design to force students to follow the sequence intended by the course author. This study examined learner behavior to understand whether the sequence of student assignment submissions in a self-paced distance course is related to successful completion of the course. The study included 543 students in 89 different general education courses at a private university in the United States during a two year period. Results indicate that students who completed at least one assignment or exam out of the intended sequence of …