Educational Technology Commons^™

Blending Face-To-Face And Distance Learners In A Synchronous Class: Instructor And Learner Experiences, P. Clint Rogers, Charles R. Graham, Rus Rasmussen, J. Olin Campbell, Donna M. Ure

Faculty Publications

Like many institutions, Brigham Young University (BYU) is searching for ways to extend the reach of its programs without expanding the physical classroom and without incurring unreasonable costs. Internet supported instruction provides one alternative, with millions of students already attending Web-based classes (Gubernick & Ebeling, 1997). This case study examines the development of a class that blends distance and face-to-face students in a synchronous class. This case study focuses on how this blended learning environment was experienced by the distance and face-to-face students as well as the instructor.

Blended Learning Environments Definitions And Directions, Russell T. Osguthorpe, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

During the past decade the availability of computer technologies, such as the Internet, have greatly expanded the educational options available to learners and instructors alike. Innovative uses of technology have begun to blur the distinctions between traditional face-to-face and more recent distance learning environments. As the learning environments have been combined, many have recognized the inherent strengths and weaknesses associated with both.

Factors For Effective Learning Groups In Face-To-Face And Virtual Environments, Charles R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Group work has been a powerful instructional method used in face-to-face learning environments. To date, group work has not reached the same prominence in distance learning environments where there is a strong emphasis on independent or individualistic learning. This may be due in part to the perceived difficulty of engaging students in working together at a distance, as well as a general lack of knowledge about the factors that contribute to effective virtual group work. This paper reviews the literature related to creating effective learning groups in face-to-face and virtual environments. Research from the following four areas was used: cooperative …

Seven Principles Of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens For Evaluating Online Courses, Charles R. Graham, Kursat Cagiltay, Byung-Ro Lim, Joni Craner, Thomas M. Duffy

Faculty Publications

The "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education," originally published in the AAHE Bulletin (Chickering & Gamson, 1987), are a popular framework for evaluating teaching in traditional, face-to-face courses. The principles are based on 50 years of higher education research (Chickering & Reisser, 1993). A faculty inventory (Johnson Foundation, "Faculty," 1989) and an institutional inventory (Johnson Foundation, "Institutional," 1989) based on these principles have helped faculty members and higher-education institutions examine and improve their teaching practices.

We, a team of five evaluators from Indiana University's Center for Research on Learning and Technology (CRLT), recently used these principles to evaluate …

Focused Graduate Education: An Invisible But Real Competitive Edge, Roland D. Kankey, Jan P. Muczyk, Neal M. Ely

Faculty Publications

The future mission of the Air Force will be diverse and complex. Advanced technology will play an increasingly prominent role; a smaller force must accomplish more. To support this mission, our acquisition corps must be intellectually capable, well educated and trained. Focused graduate education will be essential to sustain this effort.

In The (Not So) Distant Future: Fiber Optic Distance Learning At The University Of Northern Iowa, Mary Bozik

Faculty Publications

Currently every Area Education Agency; community college; and Regent University in Iowa is connected by a fiber optic system known as the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). Every semester; 7 to 13 college credit classes have been offered at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) via the ICN since 1993. In the Spring of 1995 seven classes (six graduate; one undergraduate) were offered on the ICN by UNI; all were taught by a different instructor; each of whom had participated in a 3-day preparatory workshop. All 168 students were surveyed and 103 responded. Students reported their instructors used a variety of …

Technology: Connecting People And Places, Richard Stahlhut

Faculty Publications

The College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) established collaborative partnership agreements with nine major school districts in Iowa where UNI student teachers were placed. One collaborative project connected the campus coordinator with the nine off-campus sites through the campus computer network (Caucus). In the 1993-94 school year the transition to Internet is being made. This paper describes: (1) how the UNI computer network (Caucus) was developed and extended; (2) projects that caused practitioners to become active partners in the UNI Teacher Education program; (3) projects such as newsletters; establishment of mentor programs for student teachers; and …

Using Computer Conferencing Technology To Assist Collaboration Between Higher Education Faculty; Student Teachers And K-12 Practitioners, Richard Stahlhut, Richard R. Hawkes

Faculty Publications

The College of Education at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) created collaborative partnerships with nine major school districts in Iowa in order to establish several kinds of relationships between practitioners and university faculty which computer networks facilitated. A new "Cobra" computer conference system was expanded to the nine regional off-campus centers where UNI student teachers were working; and modem-equipped portable computers were linked to the campus through a WATTS telephone line. Personnel; including field-based personnel and practitioners; were then able to communicate with nearly all offices on UNI campus through E-mail and computer conferences. Further programs have recruited teachers …

Math Student Teachers: How Well Prepared Are They?, Richard G. Stahlhut

Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to find out how well mathematics majors at the University of Northern Iowa were prepared in the foundations of effective teaching practices and how well they performed during the student teaching experience. Data were gathered from mathematics student teachers (N=22) who were observed; interviewed; and asked to keep daily journals. Results suggest that mathematics teacher education students: (1) be required to create practical problems for pupils for every mathematics course in grades 7-12; (2) be required to take a course that deals with writing across the curriculum so they can better incorporate English into their classroom …

Computer Literacy: An Instructional Unit, Ruth Ratekin, Jack C. Reed

Faculty Publications

This instructional unit on computer literacy is intended for use as a 9-week course meeting five days per week for 50-minute class periods. If tied to a 9-week course in keyboarding or combined with additional materials on programming or software applications; it could also be expanded into a semester course. The following topics are covered in the individual chapters: the role of computers in society; ways in which computers affect society (historical development of computers; their effects on quality of life; economic effects of computers; concerns arising from computer use; and rapid technological changes in business); the way in which …

Computer Applications: Using Electronic Spreadsheets, Connee Riley, Jack C. Reed

Faculty Publications

This instructional unit is intended to assist teachers in helping students learn to use electronic spreadsheets. The 11 learning activities included; all of which are designed for use in conjunction with Multiplan Spreadsheet Software; are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. An effort has been made to include problems applicable to each of the following areas: basic business; secretarial; administrative support; information processing; marketing; and accounting. Topics covered in the individual lessons include operating a spreadsheet program; formatting an electronic spreadsheet; entering and saving data; creating a new electronic spreadsheet from an existing one; rearranging and replacing data; changing data …

Identification Of Tasks In Photo-Offset Lithography Occupations, University Of Northern Iowa

Faculty Publications

The research project was designed to provide data pertaining to performance tasks in specific occupations in various areas of vocational/technical education. The data presented in the document is intended to be used to develop appropriate objectives and curricular content to assist in the preparation of individuals entering the specific photo-offset lithography occupations of layout man; paste-up man; lithographic cameraman; stripper; platemaker; and offset pressman. To discover the tasks and functions required for these job categories; a list of graphic arts industries in Iowa was developed; graphic arts personnel in three cities were interviewed and; from that information; the major instruments …

Bibliography Of Occupational Information, Janice Wieckhorst

Faculty Publications

This bibliography (non-annotated) is divided into three major sections. The first covers books; periodicals and pamphlets describing individual careers; job hunting techniques and the world of work. The second section contains a selected listing of U. S. government publications on employment and careers. The final section includes a group of reference materials pertinent to employment. While this bibliography is specific to the library at the University of Northern Iowa; its citations cover recognized materials generally available through reference libraries and the U. S. Government. (CKJ)