Education Commons^™

Examination Of An Emerging Community Of Practice For Instructional Designers: A Descriptive Case Study In A Midwestern University, Jiaqi Yu, Connie Hargrave

Constance P. Hargrave

This study examined the functioning of a group of instructional designers (IDs) in higher education through the lens of Communities of Practice (CoPs). The study particularly focused on whether and how the grouping of experienced and novice IDs operated as an effective CoP from the perspective of novices. The findings indicated that a group of IDs working in a midwestern university was able to cultivate a CoP within a clearly defined domain, a well-established community, and the shared practice with a specific body of knowledge. Particularly from the perspectives of novices, they highlighted the positive impact while participating in the …

Virtual Instructor-Student Interaction: A New Method For Stimulating Class Participation In An Asynchronous Learning Network, Christopher Donoghue

Christopher Donoghue

The goal of this paper is to describe a new virtual form of instructor-student interaction that can enable students to interact with their instructors without the pressures inherent in a traditional setting where they must face other students. Virtual instructor-student interaction (VISI) is a new pedagogical technique, developed by the author, which involves the transformation of an online survey into a medium that can simultaneously present course material, ask questions, obtain feedback and deliver responses. The interaction takes place asynchronously in a private space between the student and the instructor. By using this method instructors can enable students to grow …

Concurrent Enrollment Benchmark Data And Self-Study Report 2014 .Pdf, Ron J. Hammond

Ron J. Hammond

Educational Pathways To Remote Employment In Isolated Communities, David C. Denkenberger, Julia Way, Joshua M. Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce

Those who live in isolated communities often lack reliable, skilled employment opportunities, which fundamentally undermines their human security. For individuals who wish to remain in their isolated communities for family, religious, philosophical or other reasons, their attachment to their communities creates a disincentive for higher education. This promotes low educational achievement, which in turn results in low socioeconomic status, lack of social mobility, and a generational cycle of poverty. The human misery that results from such a feedback loop is observed in isolated communities throughout North America, including aboriginal communities in Canada. Fortunately, maturation of information and communication technologies now …

The Big Crunch: A Hybrid Solution To Earth And Space Science Instruction For Elementary Education Majors, Cinzia Cervato, Charles Kerton, Andrea Peer, Lesya M. Hassall, Allan Schmidt

Lesya Hassall

We describe the rationale and process for the development of a new hybrid Earth and Space Science course for elementary education majors. A five-step course design model, applicable to both online and traditional courses, is presented. Assessment of the course outcomes after two semesters indicates that the intensive time invested in the development of the course results in a manageable workload during the semester for faculty with an already full teaching load. We also found that average scores in proctored online exams for this cohort of students are identical to the average scores of students from the same major enrolled …

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.

Insights From An Industry Advisory Board About Online Education For Practitioners, Eulanda A. Sanders, Pollyanna Zhang, Ellen Mckinney, Young-A Lee, Sarah Bennett

Ellen C. McKinney

Higher education institutions are increasingly using media and Internet for teaching and learning. The 2011 Survey of Online Learning reported that the number of students taking at least one online class was 6.7 million (Allen & Seaman, 2013). Sixty-five percent of higher education organizations perceive online education as a necessary part of their long-term development strategy (Babson Survey Research Group). Moreover, online education not only applies to college students, but also expands to continuing education of industry employees. Increasing technical skill requirements in apparel companies cause employees to need continued training, to keep up with the ever-changing work environment.

Insights From An Industry Advisory Board About Online Education For Practitioners, Eulanda A. Sanders, Pollyanna Zhang, Ellen Mckinney, Young-A Lee, Sarah Bennett

Ellen C. McKinney

Higher education institutions are increasingly using media and Internet for teaching and learning. The 2011 Survey of Online Learning reported that the number of students taking at least one online class was 6.7 million (Allen & Seaman, 2013). Sixty-five percent of higher education organizations perceive online education as a necessary part of their long-term development strategy (Babson Survey Research Group). Moreover, online education not only applies to college students, but also expands to continuing education of industry employees. Increasing technical skill requirements in apparel companies cause employees to need continued training, to keep up with the ever-changing work environment.

Redesigning Web-Based Courses For Nurse Educators. Fully Online? Hybrid?, Elaine Barber Parker, Maureen E. Wassef, Judith Abbate

Elaine Parker

Background: Schools of nursing are experiencing faculty shortages which limit student admissions. The additional time and effort needed to gain competency as an academic nurse educator is one reason for this shortage. Nurse educator web-based courses offer increased flexibility in time management as well as reduced commuting time, however not all nurses embrace the online learning environment. Aim: Expand access to two web-based nurse educator courses at the University of Massachusetts Worcester by offering nurses the choice, within a single course, of completing either a hybrid or fully online course. N620: Teaching and Curriculum DevelopmentN623: Identifying and Measuring Outcomes Research …

Redesigning Web-Based Courses For Nurse Educators. Fully Online? Hybrid?, Elaine Barber Parker, Maureen E. Wassef, Judith Abbate

Elaine Parker

Background:
Schools of nursing are experiencing faculty shortages which limit student admissions. The additional time and effort needed to gain competency as an academic nurse educator is one reason for this shortage. Nurse educator web-based courses offer increased flexibility in time management as well as reduced commuting time, however not all nurses embrace the online learning environment.

Aim:
Expand access to two web-based nurse educator courses at the University of Massachusetts Worcester by offering nurses the choice, within a single course, of completing either a hybrid or fully online course.

N620: Teaching and Curriculum Development
N623: Identifying and Measuring Outcomes …

Free Resources For Teaching Psychology, T. L. Brink

T. L. Brink

Provides links to free materials for teaching psychology (textbooks, videos, statistical programs)

Bringing The Library To The Students: Using Technology To Deliver Instruction And Resources For Research, Judith Arnold, Jennifer N. Sias, Jingping Zhang

Jennifer N Sias

To provide equitable services and access to off-campus students, librarians must meet the challenges of the digital divide and the geographic divide. Instruction and document delivery are key services that can determine how successful a library is in meeting its responsibility to distance learning. This session will focus on technological solutions to instruction, access, and document delivery in technology-challenged and remote environments.

Bringing The Library To The Students: Using Technology To Deliver Instruction And Resources For Research, Judith Arnold, Jennifer N. Sias, Jingping Zhang

Jingping Zhang

To provide equitable services and access to off-campus students, librarians must meet the challenges of the digital divide and the geographic divide. Instruction and document delivery are key services that can determine how successful a library is in meeting its responsibility to distance learning. This session will focus on technological solutions to instruction, access, and document delivery in technology-challenged and remote environments.

Applied Learning In Online Education: A Comparative Study Employing Deal Critical Reflection, John R. Fisher, Margaret Mittelman

Dr. John R. Fisher

This article stretches the boundaries of the meaning of applied learning to include online learning activities. The DEAL model of critical reflection was used to obtain student feedback in comparing two delivery strategies of an upper- division online leadership capstone course. Student reflection comments were analyzed for offerings of the course in summer and fall semesters. The fall delivery of the course adopted an applied reading summary strategy which required students to specifically apply their learning to their work and career plans. The DEAL model of critical reflection provided rich qualitative data evaluating teaching approaches and suggested students preferred applied …

An Entrepreneurial Approach To Career Development, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Connie I Reimers-Hild, PhD, CPC

This article explains how people can use an entrepreneurial approach to career development in and effort to advance their careers and employment opportunities.

Coaching As A Catalyst: Distance Learning For Personal Innovation (Revised Presentation), Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Connie I Reimers-Hild, PhD, CPC

Abstract of the paper and basis of the presentation: Coaching is emerging as a tool that can be used to achieve sustainable personal and organizational innovation, and distance education technologies have made coaching more accessible, affordable and available. Distance learning professionals are in a unique position to help technology-based coaching evolve in an effective and sustainable manner. The expertise and experience of distance learning professionals has the potential to advance the interrelationships between teaching, learning and coaching in an effort to help individuals and organizations achieve sustainable and meaningful innovation. A coaching case study utilizing the Inner Leader Coaching Ecosystem …

Coaching As A Catalyst: Distance Learning For Personal Innovation, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Connie I Reimers-Hild, PhD, CPC

Abstract of the paper and basis of the presentation: Coaching is emerging as a tool that can be used to achieve sustainable personal and organizational innovation, and distance education technologies have made coaching more accessible, affordable and available. Distance learning professionals are in a unique position to help technology-based coaching evolve in an effective and sustainable manner. The expertise and experience of distance learning professionals has the potential to advance the interrelationships between teaching, learning and coaching in an effort to help individuals and organizations achieve sustainable and meaningful innovation. A coaching case study utilizing the Inner Leader Coaching Ecosystem …

Dr. Connie's 6 Keys To Becoming A Successful Learner, Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Connie I Reimers-Hild, PhD, CPC

I have learned a great deal about students by teaching and advising learners at the University of Nebraska. The fact that I was working on my Ph.D. on a part-time basis while being employed full-time broadened my knowledge about how to be a successful learner. My professional and personal experiences in the world of higher education have enabled me develop some powerful insights on what it takes to be a successful learner. I would like to share my insights with as many people as possible, so here are Dr. Connie’s 6 Keys to Becoming a Successful Learner:

E-Learning: Issues And Challenges, Mohammed Aman

Mohammed M. Aman

E-learning is gaining momentum throughout the world thanks to the widespread use of the web and the sophisticated course management systems that are affordable and available in other major languages besides English. The level of comfort with technology among young people and the expectations for wider access to higher education are factors that are forcing college dministrators to explore more opportunities to make courses available to students regardless of their proximity to campus. The paper addresses issues of academic honesty, academic support and expectations/requirements to make e-learning as rigorous, if not more so, than on site learning.

The Professional Doctorate On Webcd, Meg O'Reilly, Chris Morgan

Dr Meg O'Reilly

Students enrolled in Southern Cross University's (SCU) Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) are a unique group of senior business people. Their demand for greater flexibility of delivery and portability of study materials was the impetus for a redesign of this professional degree at SCU. With a rapidly growing student base around Australia and SEAsia, DBA study packages must be suitable for a very mobile and busy professional group. Most have convenient access to computers and network connection, unlike students in many other programs. On the other hand, DBA students do not have much time to devote to study. They are …

Evaluations Of The Effectiveness Of A Web-Based Graduate Epidemiology Course, Molly A. Rose, Anthony J. Frisby, Michael D. Hamlin, Susan S. Jones

Anthony J Frisby, PhD

An online epidemiology course was developed, implemented, and evaluated for graduate nursing students through the collaborative efforts of nursing faculty and information, education, and instructional design staff of the library at a health sciences university. This epidemiology course is a core curriculum course for graduate nursing students. The course was piloted with 14 students (one student in Romania); the initial online offering ran concurrently with a traditional classroom section. Extensive evaluation data were collected and analyzed to compare the effectiveness of the classroom and distance-learning formats. Areas of evaluation included objective measures, such as midterm and final examination scores and …

Assessment For Learning: An Outcomes-Based Approach To Enhance Learning, Ian R. Mcandrew, William Muldoon, Indra R. Sinka

Ian R. McAndrew