Education Commons^™

Examination Of Asynchronous Volumetric And Frequency Communication Patterns In Online Courses And Their Impact On Adult Learner Satisfaction, Robert W. Treat

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of online discussion board interactions of adult learners and their satisfaction with their experience. Specifically, this study's objectives were to examine the asynchronous volumetric and frequency textual communication patterns through online discussion boards and the association to adult learner satisfaction for 102 electronically surveyed adult learners at a mid-western university during the 2005-2006 academic year. Highly reliable (Cronbach alpha = 0.97) and valid data were collected from a learner satisfaction form developed specifically for the outcome variable o f this study. Exploratory factor analysis provided evidence that the data collected …

Teaching Courses Online: A Review Of The Research, Mary K. Tallent-Runnels, Julie A. Thomas, William Y. Lan, Sandi Cooper, Terence C. Ahern, Shana M. Shaw, Xiaoming Liu

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This literature review summarizes research on online teaching and learning. It is organized into four topics: course environment, learners’ outcomes, learners’ characteristics, and institutional and administrative factors. The authors found little consistency of terminology, discovered some conclusive guidelines, and identified developing lines of inquiry. The conclusions overall suggest that most of the studies reviewed were descriptive and exploratory, that most online students are nontraditional and Anglo American, and that few universities have written policies, guidelines, or technical support for faculty members or students. Asynchronous communication seemed to facilitate in-depth communication (but not more than in traditional classes), students liked to …

Online Community And Connectedness, Ellen Glisan, Guy Trainin

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

Do online students feel isolated and alone or does a sense of community and connectedness develop in online class environments? The poster presents the results of a survey that was conducted to determine if online “facelessness” blocks online students’ abilities to connect to their fellow online students and if being disconnected from their fellow students lessens their satisfaction with online courses.

And Finally … If It Is Intellectual, Can It Be Property?, Michael Simonson

Faculty Articles

Excerpt

Carol Twigg, executive director of the Center for Academic Transformation, has written and spoken extensively in the area of intellectual property and ownership of online courses and course materials. A reading of the abstract of her excellent monograph Intellectual Property Policies for a New Learning Environment is a requirement for any serious distance educator (Twigg, 2000). It is wellwritten, informative, and thought-provoking.

E-Learning Enhances Both Student Achievement And Career Change Options, Rochelle P. Ripple

Perspectives In Learning

It seems as if everyone is using e-learning (online learning) these days. There are many options available, including self-paced courses, skills-based courses, virtual classrooms (and their cousins, live web seminars), web-enhanced courses, and asynchronous courses. There is a plethora of technological methods that can be utilized for course delivery. Which of these technologies and methods of use will maximize e-learning’s effectiveness? In other words, for the university, the instructor and students, which seems to work the best? In a nutshell - all of them. The beauty of e-learning is that there are so many options that can be tailored to …

Good (Best) Practices For Electronically Offered Degree And Certificate Programs, Scott L. Howell, Katherine Baker

Faculty Publications

Who would have ever imagined the effect of one set of distance education principles developed 10 years ago (1995)? At a time in the history of distance- and e-learning, when many associations, organizations, and institutions set about to define themselves and those standards by which their constituents would be held accountable for quality practices, one set of standards has emerged preeminent the work of the Western Cooperative of Educational Telecommunications known as Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs. Even Though the original 17 principles enumerated in 1995 have evolved to 27 in 2005, all institutions of higher …

Are You Ready To Provide Instruction Via Interactive Satellite Delivery Technology, John E. Turner, Philip A. Reed

STEMPS Faculty Publications

A difficulty for faculty new to teaching at a distance is being able to visualize the scope of needed skills and tasks that will be required of them. The purpose of this project was to provide an empirically-based, self-administered skill enhancement guide for new distance education faculty teaching via interactive satellite broadcast. A modified Delphi approach was used to survey 18 faculty members experienced in distance education from the 6 colleges at a major eastern university. Respondents created a validated task list in phase 1 and determined task criticality and sequencing of task learning in phase 2.

The Development Of Global Awareness In Elementary Students Through Participation In An Online Cross-Cultural Project, Allen C. Grant

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study provided insights about how to develop online cross-cultural projects designed to foster global awareness in upper elementary-age students. Three schools, located in the southern United States, Mexico and Turkey, implemented a cross-cultural model as part of a comparative case study. The primary goal of this research was to gain an understanding of how these populations develop global awareness in an online environment. A second goal was to determine the necessary implications for practice when conducting online, cross-cultural projects in upper elementary classrooms. During eight weeks of implementation, students participated in cross-cultural groups as members of an online community. …

Distance Education In Georgia's Public School Districts: Baseline Data On Utilization And The Perceived Barriers To Implementation And Expansion, William Joseph Tankersley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interests in distance education, particularly online education, is increasing in public school districts throughout the United States. Districts are using these courses for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to the following: offering courses not available at school, increasing the availability of Advanced Placement (AP) and college level courses, and solving scheduling conflicts for students. Many states have created virtual schools for this purpose. The Georgia Virtual School program was created on May 4, 2005, upon signing of Senate BIll 33 by Governor Sonny Perdue. In an effort to aid those who are involved in the planning and …