Digital Commons Network^™

Sense Of Belonging In Cyberspace: Examining The Impact Of Hybrid Courses On Student Persistence, Ronald J. Costello

Theses and Dissertations

The following is a quantitative study of the effects of hybrid course offerings on student sense of belonging and satisfaction at a commuter campus. The study employed the following independent variables: gender, age, race, class standing, GPA (which was self-reported), marital status, number of children, employment status, number of hours worked per week, number of hybrid courses taken, and 2 dependent variables (sense of belonging and satisfaction). The study found no significant difference in sense of belonging and satisfaction among students in either the hybrid or face-to-face modalities. Other findings found that students with children exhibited a negative relationship between …

Blended Learning In Context: An Exploration Of The Effectuality Of Math Blended Learning Programs On Minority Students' Standardized Test Scores, Shannon Jennifer Verrett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine whether or not adopting a school-wide math blended learning (MBL) model led to significant differences in the Algebra I math standardized test scores on the California Standards Test (CST), between underrepresented minority students from Title I high schools in Los Angeles who had a school-wide MBL program during the 2011-2012 school year compared to underrepresented minority students from Title I high schools who did not have a school-wide MBL program. This study focused on the efficacy of the math intervention program, and was intended to further research in the area …

Perceptions Of Blended Learning: A Case Study On Student Experiences In An Advanced Placement Macroeconomics Course, Daniel A. Gagnon

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to use a case study design to examine the impact of a blended learning instructional model on students in an Advanced Placement (AP) Macroeconomics course. Using an instrumental case study design, the researcher investigated blended learning and students’ perceptions of their own interactions with the materials as well as perceptions of overall performance in the course. The study also used grade point averages (GPA), LMS Usage Reports, and AP exam scores to triangulate with the interview data. The key factors influencing the students’ views were discussed, an enhanced model of blended learning was proposed, …

An Exploration Of A Blended Learning Cohort Through Social Network Analysis, Kelley Charlene Bliden

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies: Doctoral Research Projects

The following technical report is a social network analysis of online threaded discussions from three blending learning cohorts. The purpose of this social network analysis was to explore graduate level blended learning cohorts by investigating how the relationships and interactions among individuals shape and affect the overall cohort,to explore the evolution of each cohort overtime,and to investigate facilitator interactions within the blended learning program and how their contributions shaped and affected the network.

The threaded discussions were coded and analyzed based on literature about social network analysis, constructive-developmental theory, holding environments, and transformational learning theory. Eight selected weeks of discussions …

Sense Of Community In A Blended Technology Integration Course: A Design-Based Research Study, John Buckley Harrison

Theses and Dissertations

This design-based research study explored whether Sense of Community was maintained while flexibility in the course was increased through an adoption of a unique blended learning model. Data collected in this study show a significant drop in the sense of connectedness score from a mean of 50.8 out of 66 to a mean of 39.68 in the first iteration. The score then began to gradually increase, reaching 50.65 in the third iteration. Results indicate that transitioning to a blended learning environment may be a suitable option to increase flexibility while maintaining a Sense of Community in a project-based course. Future …

Blended Learning : A Program Evaluation In A Central Virginia K-12 School District, Edward A. Hoisington

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a general education course offered in a blended learning environment in a Central Virginia public school district. Three research questions were addressed in this study: How satisfied are students with a blended learning environment in a general education Economics and Personal Finance course? Is a student’s course grade affected by the following: Technology, self-efficacy, course organization, quality of instruction, and student satisfaction in a blended learning course? Is a student’s grade on a credential test affected by the following: Technology, self-efficacy, course organization, quality of instruction, and student satisfaction in a blended …

State Of The Nation: K-12 Online Learning In Canada, Michael K. Barbour, Randy Labonte

Education Faculty Publications

This is the seventh edition of the State of the Nation: K –12 Online Learning in Canada, written on behalf of the Canadian eLearning Network (CANeLearn). This year’s report is slightly abbreviated as we transition CANeLearn’s involvement and develop an active data set that will be launched live on our website upon publication of this report (http://canelearn.net)

The State of the Nation: K –12 Online Learning in Canada report provides critical information and insight into how Canadian educational authorities and governments are integrating technology-supported approaches to prepare students for today’s economy and a future society in which the use …

William Mitchell College Of Law's Hybrid Program For J.D. Study: Answering The Call For Innovation, Eric S. Janus, Gregory M. Duhl, Simon Canick

Faculty Scholarship

In January 2015, William Mitchell College of Law will launch the first American Bar Association (ABA)-approved, on-campus/ online J.D. program to further the college's mission: to provide accessible, experiential, rigorous training for tomorrow's lawyers. Known as the hybrid program, it will offer a legal education to talented, hard-working students who cannot access a traditional J.D. program because of location or family or work commitments. In this article, we explain the origins and pedagogical foundations of the program, as well as give an overview of the program.

Supporting Middle School Students With Emotional Or Behavioral Disorders In Blended Learning: A Fraction Intervention Using Virtual Manipulatives, Barbara Serianni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) are more likely than other students with disabilities to drop out of school (Blackorby & Wagner, 1996) and suffer societal consequences that include higher probabilities and rates of incarceration, poverty, drug abuse, homelessness, low wages, and unemployment (Bradley, Doolittle, & Bartolotta, 2008; Wagner, 1995). High school graduation is a critical factor to improve post-secondary outcomes for students with EBD; yet it is often mathematics, specifically algebra, that stands in the way of graduation (Blackorby & Wagner). Students with EBD often enter middle school lacking foundational mathematics skills, such as fractions, which sets them …

Using Contemporary Practice-Based Approaches To Generate Data For Guiding The Design Of Information Literacy Learning Environments - A Preliminary Study Of Engineering Students, Antti M. Rousi, Virpi Palmgren, Kirsi Heino

Proceedings of the IATUL Conferences

Abstract

Introduction. This preliminary study examines the application of contemporary practice-based approaches to generate data for guiding the design of information literacy learning environments.

Method. This preliminary study was conducted by interviewing three engineering students who were participating at the Tools for master’s thesis course arranged by Aalto University Library’s Otaniemi Campus Library. The interview’s structure was two-fold, as it first sketched out the participant’s master’s thesis practices through Schatzki’s site ontology and secondly examined the perceived value of different information literacy learning tasks on the latter.

Results. The master’s thesis practices of the interviewees were networked …

Health Sciences Information Literacy In Cms Environments: Learning From Our Peers, Tierney Lyons, Stefanie Warlick

Libraries

With academic institutions’ adoption of Course/Learning Management Systems (CMS), librarians are increasingly providing content through this delivery method. This study aims to identify practical information for librarians considering CMS content development or re-evaluation of online offerings.

A Framework For Institutional Adoption And Implementation Of Blended Learning In Higher Education, Charles R. Graham, Wendy Woodfield, J. Buckley Harrison

Faculty Publications

There has been rapid growth in blended learning implementation and research focused on course-level issues such as improved learning outcomes, but very limited research focused on institutional policy and adoption issues. More institutional-level blended learning research is needed to guide institutions of higher education in strategically adopting and implementing blended learning on campus. This research investigates six cases of institutional adoption of blended learning to examine the key issues that can guide university administrators interested in this endeavor. Cases were selected to represent institutions at various stages of blended learning adoption including (1) awareness/exploration, (2) adoption/early implementation, and (3) mature …

Effects Of Online Instructional Conversation On English As A Foreign Language Learners' Webquest Writing Performance : A Mixed Methods Study, Haesong Lee

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

WebQuests, or inquiry-oriented activities in which learners interact with Web-based information (Dodge, 1995, 1996, 2007), have recently been gaining popularity in education in general and in language education in particular. While it has the advantage of fostering higher-level thinking through authentic assignments, a WebQuest can be challenging to second or foreign language learners. In light of this challenge, Instructional Conversation (IC), or discussion-oriented form of teacher-led talk about text (Saunders & Goldenberg, 2007), may provide a solution to foreign/second language learners' difficulties with comprehension of Web-based information, thereby facilitating their WebQuest task performance. The purpose of this mixed methods study …

Creating Flickr Photo-Narratives With First-Year Teacher Education Students: The Possibilities And Pitfalls Of Designing Emergent Learning Tasks, Marta Kawka, Kevin M. Larkin, Patrick Danaher

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper explores the implementation of a Flickr (Web 2.0 photo sharing software) learning task in a first year primary education course. The context for the task was a Multiliteracies course where students designed digital media activities for later use with primary age students. The Flickr task was constructed to determine how a learning activity might be designed to afford the best opportunities for emergent learning (Kawka, Larkin, & Danaher, 2011). Emergent learning describes learning situations where: the student is self-directed; the content is created and distributed by learners; and the learning destination is open-ended and unpredictable (Williams, Karousou, & …

Development Of A Model For Blended Learning In Traditional Universities In Palestine / Ghassan O A Shahin, O A Shahin Ghassan

Student Works (2010-2019)

Many institutions of higher education are incorporating e-learning into their curriculum. Several factors though, need to be taken into consideration when implementing e-learning. One way to help in overcoming barriers facing efforts of higher education in Palestine to move towards implementing e-learning is to adopt blended learning approach. The research is aimed at developing a model of blended learning that can be applied in traditional universities in Palestine. Information was first obtained through a questionnaire distributed among faculty members in Palestine to determine the problems and needs of implementing e-learning in higher education. Factors for blended learning were determined based …

Understanding The Role Of Social, Teaching And Cognitive Presence In Hybrid Courses: Student Perspectives On Learning And Pedagogical Implications, Janelle De Carrico Voegele

Dissertations and Theses

The use of hybrid learning (a blend of face-to-face and distance learning) is rapidly increasing in higher education. However, educational leaders have raised concerns about the proliferation of hybrid programming as an efficiency measure without appropriate attention to learning. This study examined the relationship between social, teaching and cognitive presence, pedagogical design, and students' perspectives on hybrid learning effectiveness. Data from thirty-nine undergraduate courses representing 1,886 students were analyzed to identify indicators of best hybrid practice. Aspects of social and teaching presence significantly influenced students' perceptions of learning, including facilitation of student interactions, assignment feedback and guidance, effective use of …

Blended Language Learning: An Effective Solution But Not Without Its Challenges, Christopher Johnson, Debra Marsh

Higher Learning Research Communications

The study discussed in this investigation is part of a larger collaborative initiative between Laureate Education and Cambridge University Press (LEP-CUP collaboration). This second phase of the research, completed in 2013, aimed to further explore the conclusions from phase 1 and set out to identify effective and appropriate best practice blended learning models within the network. A study was set up with 36 teachers, all experienced ELT teachers with differing levels of experience in blended language teaching, who took part in extended focus groups discussions sessions prompted by a series of questions. Responses from these groups of teachers indicated that …

The Laureate English Program: Taking A Research Informed Approach To Blended Learning, Debra Marsh, Christopher Johnson

Higher Learning Research Communications

The aim of this case study is to describe the implementation of the Laureate English Program (LEP), the consequent decision to roll out blended learning across the network, and the Laureate-Cambridge University Press research partnership. Phase 1 of the research was completed in September 2012. The goal of this first phase was to gain a general understanding of student profile, computer literacy and competence, student levels of achievement, and student feedback on their blended learning experience. Six hundred and forty-eight students and 35 teachers responded to a questionnaire, which included multiple choice questions and open ended questions requiring extended comment. …

The Examination Of The Implementation Of Blended Learning Instruction On The Teaching And Learning Environment In Two West Michigan School Districts, Richard Mark Vandermolen

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Blended learning instruction is emerging as one of the most promising instructional practices in educational settings. Blended learning instruction combines two learning environments: traditional face-to-face instruction and online instruction.

Most research concerning blended instruction has been conducted at the postsecondary level. This study was conducted at the high school level and examined the implementation of blended instruction in a high school setting. It explored and considered the perspective of teachers and students as they experienced the blended environment for the first time. The study was conducted at two comprehensive high schools in West Michigan. The study collected qualitative data by …

Doctoral Students' Perceptions Of Learning In A Blended Research Methods Course : Three Telling Cases, Sedef Uzuner Smith

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As Walker, Golde, Jones, Bueschel, and Hutchings (2008) state, research is "the sine qua non of the doctorate" (p. 4). Therefore, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to conduct research is a key priority in doctoral education. Blended instruction is a promising, yet so far seldom used model for supporting doctoral students' learning and research training. This model includes a combination of traditional face-to-face (FTF) instruction with Web-based online approaches.

The Sloan-C Pillars And Boundary Objects As A Framework For Evaluating Blended Learning, Charles R. Graham, Mark Laumakis, Chuck Dziuban

Faculty Publications

The authors contend that blended learning represents a boundary object; a construct that brings together constituencies from a variety of backgrounds with each of these cohorts defining the object somewhat differently. The Sloan-C Pillars (learning effectiveness, access, cost effectiveness, student satisfaction, and faculty satisfaction provide a foundation for the evaluation of asynchronous learning networks that works equally well for the evaluation of blended learning environments. The Pillars and a simplified model of learning system, focus on inputs, processes, and outputs, and provide the framework for a case study of blended learning design and evaluation in a 500-student section of an …

Pedagogical Re-Mediation In Hybrid Courses: A Case Study Of Five First-Year Composition Instructors, Rebecca Middlebrook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the move to increase availability of composition courses in the online environment continues, it is important to understand the ways in which composition instructors have taken on the challenges associated with moving their teaching online and how they modify, or re-mediate, their pedagogy for the this new teaching and learning environment. This study takes on the task of examining re-mediation as it occurs in the pedagogical practices used by instructors to facilitate peer review activities in hybrid, first-year composition courses. At the same time, it is important to understand the varying factors that may influence the degree to which …

Activity Systems Within Blended Problem-Based Learning In Academic Professional Development, Roisin Donnelly

Journal Articles

Blending face-to-face and online problem-based learning environments presents opportunities for both learners and lecturers to take part in collaborative knowledge construction. Activity theory is a suitable framework to investigate such environments and the learning processes that both sets of participants experience when engaging in these complementary environments. This paper attempts to map out the potential for activity systems using a blended problem-based learning approach through the exploration of an accredited academic staff development programme in Ireland. Firstly, an analysis of tool use and the discourse that participants and tutors engage in is presented. Secondly, tutor reflections about the evolution of …

Blended Learning In Social Care Education In Ireland: A New Opportunity, Tom Farrelly, Colm O'Doherty

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Using an action research approach this paper examines the complexity of designing and developing an innovative and user-friendly approach to professional social care education that incorporates advances in educational technology. The project has just moved to the operational stage following an 18-month period of consultation and reflection. Therefore, this paper represents and outline of the development phase and a progress report of the first eight weeks of delivery.

Lessons Learned During An Experimental Blended Course, Anthony P. Trippe

Presentations and other scholarship

During the Fall 2003 quarter, Rochester Institute of Technology offered a graduate course titled “Operating Systems for Telecommunications.” This author facilitated the course which was conducted in two sections. The first section was conducted in an fully asynchronous distance learning environment. The second section met face-to-face (F2F) once a week while conducting the remainder of its activities at a distance over the Internet. This paper compares the two environments and discusses the lessons learned about faculty and student satisfaction and student performance.