Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Distance Education : Is The Classroom Becoming Obsolete?, Randall M. Gilbert

Graduate Research Papers

The future of education seems to be moving rapidly towards distance education. Society is moving faster as people are trying to coordinate work, family, and school. Due to the increasing pressure of time and distance constraints, today's learners are sometimes choosing to get their educations online, or through a school with distance education technologies and capabilities. This literature review describes distance education, instructor and student attitudes towards distance education, benefits and disadvantages of distance education, the past and the future of distance education, and how and why it should be used in training and education.

Using Podcasts To Support Distance Education For Adult Learners, David Graw

Graduate Research Papers

Podcasting is one of several emerging Web 2.0 technologies that are becoming important to the future of distance education for adult learners. This investigation examines the influence of podcasting in support of distance education programming for adult students. An overview of student perspectives, instructional support systems, and technological trends is presented to readers interested in using podcasts to support adult learners enrolled in distance education programs.

The literature review provides information that will help readers understand the complexities of integrating podcast technology into adult distance education programs. This review of the literature concludes that an understanding of student perspectives, podcast …

An Exploratory Case Study Of Students' Perceptions Of Online Graduate Education, Hou Chun Kuong

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate graduate students' perceptions of online education. Online learning has grown tremendously over the past several years and has made learning and teaching opportunities more available to many people throughout the world. As an increased number of higher education institutions use online education as a means of delivering courses and programs, educational researchers have been working tirelessly to uncover and delineate the factors that facilitate and enhance success in online learning. One major factor that researchers (e.g., Pérez Cereijo, 2006) have established as a predictor of success is students' perceptions of online learning. …

The Production Of High-Quality Video For E-Learning, Eugene Mcgovern, Audrey Martin, Roy Moore

Articles

As video capture, editing and transmission capabilities become more accessible, video is increasingly being considered when developing e-learning content. However, the skills required for video production are not commonly part of many e-learning developers backgrounds. This paper presents the experiences of academics from the spatial information sciences when developing high quality video content for an on-line e-learning module in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Video comprises one element of the module and is designed to, as far as possible, address the lack of ‘hands-on’ experience of GNSS equipment and observing procedures. The video element of the module was used by …

Crossing Academic Domains: Creating A Learning Environment In Faculty Teamwork, Paula Korsko, Kate Lyons

Touchstone

The following paper takes a look at the process that two college professors from different disciplines underwent to develop and carry out a project by creating a learning environment in which both faculty members attempted to acquire the language and culture of the other in order to accomplish the task at hand.

Multicultural Education: More Than The Acknowledgement Of Black History Month, Owen Latimore

Perspectives In Learning

I remember clearly as a child, in the early nineteen sixties, the only African American mentioned in my school was Crispus Attucks. For a long time I thought there was only one black man that fought in the entire revolutionary war. From the big old musty textbooks we were given to study it was obvious very few black people had accomplished anything worth writing about. I hated history. I thought its only concern were old dead white men. Understandably, I did not do well in history. Since 2005, enrollment in public schools has increased, but “Black males continue spiraling down …

Using Web 2.0 Technology To Support Collaborative Learning In Distance Education, Sarah E. Ling

Graduate Research Papers

Distance education continues to grow in popularity with higher education institutions across the country. A shift in pedagogy towards collaborative learning activities within the online learning environments is designed to bring students together as a group. This review of research investigates how Web 2.0 technology has proven to be useful in these collaborative activities. Various issues and obstacles are addressed which may arise in the use of this social software for collaborative learning within a distance education setting. The introduction of Web 2.0 software to distance education may hold the key to creating powerful collaborative learning experience for students who …

Effective E-Learning Environments For Adult Learners, Lois A. Lindell

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the types of instructional strategies that are appropriate and effective in e-learning environments for today's adult learners. To identify the best practices among instructional strategies in e-learning environments, three specific questions were addressed. These areas include: adult learning, instructional design and future developments in e-learning.

The literature reviewed highlights the importance of learner-centered instructional strategies that use authentic learning experiences, collaboration, and real-world problem solving applications. Continued research is called for to further refine and expand on the best instructional practices. Institutions engaged in distance education need to provide for training …

Editorial Board, About This Issue, Table Of Contents, Deirdre C. Greer

Perspectives In Learning

Editorial Board, About this Issue, Table of Contents

Mr. Bell, You Are Destroying Our Children!, David Rock

Perspectives In Learning

Is technology the wave of the future? Society says "YES" when it is convenient and educators respond with a multitude of answers. The use of technology in today's classroom has become a controversial curricular topic for those inside and outside the classroom. Why? I am sure that many of the same arguments used today against the use of technology in P-12 education are similar to those used during the past 100 years. Imagine the thousands of educators a hundred years ago that said, "The use of this new invention will destroy the writing ability of our children. There will be …

The Effectiveness Of Block Schedule In Middle School, Ginger L. Markham

Perspectives In Learning

Block scheduling in one form or another seems to be highly effective when properly used. It invites depth in learning, inquiry based and student based learning, which corresponds with Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). The faculty and staff of Veterans Memorial Middle School are planning to meet the needs of the students by changing their teaching methods to support the GPS and alternating 4X4 block schedule. The author would recommend any middle school use a block schedule of some type in order to meet the needs of their school. Once the teachers buy into the concept, there is no limit to …

Collaboration In Schools: Creating Solutions To Complex Problems, Wendy Steelmon

Perspectives In Learning

Although the concept of cooperative teams is not a new one, Transformational Leadership is bringing collaboration back to the spotlight in the world of education. In this approach, the principal becomes a facilitator, teachers become professional colleagues, students are motivated by the mere joy of learning, and parents and the local community increase their involvement as stewards, resulting in the involvement of all stakeholders in the complex problem solving issues of the school. Collaboration requires trust and support among these team members and, though it takes time, yields much more effective schools and productive students.

Bringing The Ivory Tower And Real World Together: Lessons Learned In The Collaborative Process Of Preparing Effective Teachers, Tina D. Butcher, Jan G. Burcham, Deirdre C. Greer, Mary Beth Hendricks

Perspectives In Learning

When the “ivory tower” world of educator preparation faculty collides with the “real world” of in-service teachers, the result can be a partnership that is committed to preparing teachers equipped to meet the needs of diverse learners in 21st century classrooms. The lessons learned in the development of such a partnership include a focus on: a) authentic engagement of all stakeholders; b) honest, diplomatic, and timely communication; c) support and scaffolding for pre-service teachers; d) a variety of authentic assessment measures; and e) assistance for new teachers during the induction period. Strengthening the bonds between university faculty and classroom teachers …

Teaching Basic Counseling Skills To Aspiring School Leaders: Active Listening Skills As Critical Components Of Team Building And Collaboration, Paul T. Hackett, L. Christopher Ross, Irene Asuncion

Perspectives In Learning

The preparation of school leaders in educational leadership programs provides multiple challenges in terms of a set course of study with discrete skills for the leader. Programs in educational leadership have been criticized for curricular disarray (Levine, 2005). Deficiencies cited by an American Enterprise Institute study of 31 educational leadership programs found that a small percentage of instruction in those programs focused on issues such as data analysis, public relations, marketing, and parent and school board relations (Hess & Kelly, 2005). A Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) study of educational leadership programs found that the majority of universities “fall short …

Promoting Student Success In Online Courses, Cecilia Ruhlmann

Graduate Research Papers

This review examines the factors promoting student success in online courses. The first part of the study examines how prevalent the dropout rate is in secondary education, not only in the United States but also in Asia and Europe. The second part examines how online courses differ from face-to-face courses. The third part covers skills that are essential for succeeding in an online environment. The skills discussed are self-regulation, self-efficacy, motivation, and depth of learning. The fourth part of the study discusses what can be done to strengthen online courses.

The Production Of High-Quality Video For E-Learning, Eugene Mcgovern, Audrey Martin, Roy Moore

Conference papers

As video capture, editing and transmission capabilities become more accessible, video is increasingly being considered when developing e-learning content. However, the skills required for video production are not commonly part of many e-learning developers backgrounds. This paper presents the experiences of academics from the spatial information sciences when developing high quality video content for an on-line e-learning module in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Video comprises one element of the module and is designed to, as far as possible, address the lack of ‘hands-on’ experience of GNSS equipment and observing procedures. The video element of the module was used by …

Digital Cs1 Study Pack Based On Moodle And Python, Atanas Radenski

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

We believe that CS1 courses can be made more attractive to students:

• by teaching a highly interactive scripting language – Python
• by using an open source course management system - such as Moodle - to make all course resources available in a comprehensive digital study pack, and
• by offering detailed self-guided online labs

We have used Moodle [1] and Python [2] to develop a "Python First" digital study pack [3] which comprises a wealth of new, original learning modules: extensive e-texts, detailed self-guided labs, numerous sample programs, quizzes, and slides. Our digital study pack pedagogy is described in recent ITiCSE …

Evaluation Of An Adult Education Technology Program, Iwasan D. Kejawa

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adult education technology program at a chartered alternative adult education center in Florida. The adult education center had a low rate of students passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This study examined the impact of the use of computer technology in an effort to improve student learning in mathematics, reading, and science. Computers at the institution were used by all students for tutorials to prepare them for the FCAT and to obtain a high school diploma. The research questions for this study were as follows: 1. Is the education technology …

Using Data To Integrate School Counseling Field Experiences Into A Partner School Network, S. Lenoir Gillam, Lisa Shaw

Perspectives In Learning

The College of Education (COE) coordinates field experiences and clinical practice for teacher education through its Partner School Network (PSN) and the Office of College of Education Services and Field Experiences (SAFE). The Partner School Network is made up of school personnel within the CSU service area who have agreed to collaborate with the COE in designing, delivering, and evaluating field experiences and clinical practice. Exceptions are made when students are employed in a school system outside the PSN. In recent semesters, the M.Ed. School Counseling program has been integrated into certain aspects connected with the PSN. Most notably, the …

A Decision To Serve: Decision Making Through Service Learning, Elizabeth A. Romey

Perspectives In Learning

The use of service learning and community service with students at all levels of ability is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially with gifted students, because of their need to prepare for college applications. These applications often require a range of activities including community service as well as straight academic success. However, the distinction between community service, a reactive activity, and service learning, a proactive process in which students take leadership roles in their community, is not always emphasized. The role of structured decision-making processes, like those in Talents Unlimited and Future Problem Solving, to enable gifted students to take proactive leadership …

Editorial Board, About This Issue, Table Of Contents, Deirdre Greer

Perspectives In Learning

Welcome to Volume 8, Issue 2 of Perspectives in Learning. This issue represents our first fall publication and begins with an article by Lenoir Gillam and Lisa Shaw, which details the process of student placements in partner schools for a counseling program. The authors reveal how the use of data has improved this process.

Susan Ohanian: Rabble Rouser, Conspiracy Theorist, Or Teacher Who Gives A Damn?, Sheena Baker

Perspectives In Learning

Longtime teacher and current Senior Fellow at the Vermont Society for the Study of Education, Susan Ohanian has authored twenty-three books and over 300 articles published in both reputable and radical journals alike. With such titles as One Size Fits Few: The Folly of Educational Standards, Caught in the Middle: Nonstandard Kids and a Killing Curriculum, and Why Is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools?, her books clearly demonstrate that she is one of the most vehement and vocal critics of contemporary education in the United States. In fact, she is a member of the governing board of the Educator …

Constructivism In Early Childhood Education, Joseph Mills

Perspectives In Learning

At most universities and colleges, a form of constructivism based on child psychological theories dominates the stage as the “official knowledge pre-service early childhood teachers must know to be proclaimed competent” (Livingston, 2003, p. 3). Why, then, have the understandings of how children learn and the teaching practices suggested by this theory not taken root in many early childhood classrooms? In attempting to answer this question through a review of current literature in the field, three topics of discussion have been suggested: an explanation of the development and learning theories which support constructivism, identifying classroom practices which are considered to …

Online Instruction In The University Setting: Reflections On Four Years Of Practice In Distance Education, Tom Hackett

Perspectives In Learning

The development of online courses is replete with challenges for the instructor and for curriculum planners who wish to provide students the convenience of online instruction and take advantage of the power of the venue. Despite the obvious promise of technologies with seemingly unlimited potential and capability, certain inherent limitations add a complexity to their implementation. This article discusses the need for a philosophical underpinning that considers both the power and limitations of the online instructional venue.

Writing Across The Curriculum: Designing Science Lessons Using The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences To Promote Literacy, Bonita E. Flournoy, Ollie Manley

Perspectives In Learning

As science teacher educators, whose task is to facilitate learning for teachers of science, we impress upon our pre-service teachers to engage their students in writing activities to promote literacy in science. One of the issues that our teachers frequently express in class is that students don’t like to read their textbooks or engage in traditional writing exercises. As we work with these pre-service teachers we assist them with developing a repertoire of strategies that can be used to engage students in reading and writing as they learn science. One way to actively engage students in reading and writing is …

Aligning Paradigms, Standards, And Assessment: A Higher-Education Application For Instruction In Science And Mathematics, Vikki K. Collins, Donna E. Pascoe, Martha C. Hall, H. Marguerite Yates

Perspectives In Learning

Disciplines of science and mathematics are essential for 21st century life and progress of our nation. To strengthen the effectiveness of education in the state of Georgia and to address emerging and enduring issues in 21st century life, the state adopted Georgia Performance Standards. To meet the standards of science and mathematics in Georgia classrooms, programs of teacher preparation and educational leadership in higher education institutions across the state must support and develop pre-service and in-service teachers and leaders able to effectively incorporate standards and assessment consistent with this paradigm shift. Student leadership teams at Columbus State University were instructed …

The Effects Of Early Intervention And Parent Training On Vocabulary Development For The At-Risk Preschool Child, Sallie Averitt Miller, Sally Sinclair, Catherine Kostolnick

Perspectives In Learning

This interdisciplinary team research documents that when specific skills are taught systematically at home and at school, the low-high SES achievement gap shrinks. It provides a “close-up look” at the effects of early intervention and parent training on vocabulary development for the child, which resulted in an intergenerational achievement. The quintessential research goal is to make certain that parents are well equipped to develop their child’s vocabulary; using conversation, literature, environmental print, and a focus on selected proven strategies; that is, concept development, daily and repeated readings, and vocabulary games and activities.

An Exploratory Study Into The Efficacy Of Learning Objects, Nicholas W. Farha

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Learning objects have very quickly become a widely accepted mode ur instructional technology. particularly in on-line and co111pu1cr-hasL'd k·mning environments; and Ihey are also gaining m:ceptance in hybrid and traditional classroom enviro11111ents as well. But do they really work? That is. do they impn)\'c learning outcomes? While there is a substantial body or literature rnnccrninμ learn int! oh,iL'L'ls. Il1L' literature is sparse in regard to the question or efficacy. This research investigated the effectiveness or learning objects hy cornparinμ learning owcomes (perl'ormam:c on a problem-solving task) using a learning object, wilh outcomes achieved via a traditional textbook-based delivery or instruction. …

Student Use Of, And Engagement With, Information Technology, John Ainley, Laura Engers

Digital learning research

The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has changed the nature of the learning environments experienced by school students. ... The connection between the learner and the learning environment is central to understanding how virtual learning environments motivate or engage students... The research literature on engagement in general has distinguished between three forms of engagement; behavioural, emotional and cognitive. These distinctions provide a means by which students? engagement with information technology can be described. Behavioural engagement refers to participation (both how much and in what forms) in technology-related activities. In this context behavioural engagement pre-supposes opportunities to engage with …

Comparing The Performance And Satisfaction Of Face-To-Face And Virtual Teams In A Learning Enviroment, Ying-Chieh A. Liu

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The main purpose of this study is to find whether virtual teams perform as effectively as face-to-face teams and if not, whether solutions can be derived to improve the levels of performance. To this end, the study compares the performance and satisfaction perception levels of virtual teams with face-to-face teams in a learning environment. In order to develop a sound framework for the research, a detailed literature review of prior research encompassing team satisfaction and performance in face-to-face and CMC (Computer Mediated Communication) supported environments was undertaken. Additionally the researcher performed a meta-analysis of previous research studies and from these …