Online and Distance Education Commons^™

The Equitability Of Virtual Public High School Education In Urban School District, Carissa Jury

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Virtual education has become an integral component of modern high school education, particularly in urban districts where diverse student populations require flexible and equitable learning environments. This qualitative study explores the equitability of virtual public high school education in an urban school district, focusing on accessibility, student experiences, and policy implications. Using social constructivism and ecological systems' theory as theoretical frameworks, this research investigates factors influencing equitable outcomes, including access to technology, teacher and community support, and socioeconomic status. Data was collected through structured interviews and focus groups with students and parents engaged in virtual education. Key findings indicate that …

Perceptions Of Implementation From Higher Education Participants In Online Course Design Professional Development, Scott B. Thesen

All Capstone Projects

Many higher education instructors treat online teaching as a modern form of correspondence, believing students learn on their own when content is placed in a learning management system, but learning also takes place through other forms of interaction beyond solely with content. To show best practices for the online modality, instructors at a Midwest regional mid-sized higher education institution participated in professional development using the Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshop from Quality Matters™ (QM), a globally recognized authority in best practices for online course design. Level 3 of Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation was used to evaluate the …

Technology-Enhanced Professional Development For Early Literacy: A Comparative Study Of Online Teacher Learning Models In Kenya, Constanza Uribe-Banda

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Growing recognition of early literacy as essential for lifelong learning, along with evidence that teachers’ mastery of foundational literacy instruction influences student outcomes (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; UNESCO, 2020), has led to increased investment in teacher professional development. Despite these efforts, many educators face significant challenges in accessing high-quality training, particularly in resource-constrained settings where geographical barriers and limited institutional support persist. This is especially true in rural Kenyan communities, where teachers often work in under-resourced schools with unreliable electricity and internet connectivity yet bear responsibility for laying critical literacy foundations. The present study examines the potential to deliver effective …

Exploring Vr User Experiences, Sarah Ferguson, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Brett Cook-Snell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) has unique potential for simulating environments and situations beyond real-life experiences. This study investigates the limitations of VR equipment design for learning spaces, specifically online environments. Presented are the findings of an exploratory study that examined the immersion, ease of use, and physiological and emotional experiences of seven university students participating in a 30–60 min VR session. Given the small sample size, the findings were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively. The results revealed that participants recognized the potential of VR as a teaching and learning tool, while also identifying certain limitations associated with health and safety. …

Spotlight: Tako Lako, Diverse Russian, & Professional Russian, Margaret Godwin-Jones

Russian Language Journal

The Digital Resources Corner (DRC) offers reviews of new digital resources that could be beneficial in the teaching and/or learning of Slavic languages. It is intended for instructors looking for or evaluating different materials to use in the classroom.

Saudi And American Students’ Motivation And Anxiety In Online Collaborative Learning In The United States, Nawal Alqarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study aims to explore motivation and anxiety Saudi and American students in online collaborative learning environments through online courses in U.S. universities and how they relate to their academic performance.

The study utilized a quantitative approach for data collection through an online survey of 99 Saudi students and 39 American students who were enrolled in U.S. universities. The results showed that there was no significant difference in motivation scores between undergraduate Saudi students and their American counterparts. Nor was a significant difference observed in motivation scores between graduate Saudi students and graduate American students. The data also indicated …

College Instructors’ Experiences Of Online English As Second Language (Esl) Teaching And Learning Environments, Jianan Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates college ESL instructors' experiences in teaching online ESL courses. It explores the differences in teaching focus and online modes for teaching speaking, listening, reading, and writing courses. It also investigates how ESL instructors' perceived level of technology competence varies across different online teaching modes and examines how teaching and learner engagement strategies differ depending on the instructional modality. Key findings include the observation that both BICS and CALP were prevalent in online reading courses. Although no significant difference in technology competence between asynchronous and synchronous modes was found, it was shown that instructors used more synchronous modes …

Teaching Sociology Through Reality Tv: Understanding Society Through The Small Screen, Monica Bixby Radu

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

This article explores reality TV’s value in teaching sociological concepts and theories for a better understanding contemporary society. Reality TV serves as a rich canvas for illustrating key tenets of major sociological theories such as structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. By analyzing reality TV through a sociological lens, insights into societal dynamics emerge, revealing how individuals navigate social norms. Additionally, reality TV serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting and shaping societal values. Globally, it influences cultural attitudes and social dynamics, transcending geographical boundaries through adaptations and social media engagement. …

Fall 2024 Introduction, Nichelle Frank

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

An introduction to the Fall 2024 issue of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 8, Issue 2, Fall 2024

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2024 issue (Volume 8, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2024 issue presents practical ideas and prompts for those who teach at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. Articles ways to use popular culture (in this case, reality TV) to teach higher-level concepts; strategies for adapting Lesson Study techniques for preservice teachers; and a review of McNair et al.'s 2022 book on creating student ready colleges.

Elevating The Online Learners’ Experience By Cultivating Social Presence In The Online Learning Environment, Lori Doyle, Tanya M. Tarbutton

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

The online learning environment does not inherently offer opportunities for learners to experience the benefits of enhanced social presence. The lack of social presence can negatively impact students, the primary group of stakeholders that influence institutional success. On the contrary, research on the Community of Inquiry model, specific to social presence, has been shown to pay positive dividends. There has been an increase in online course offerings; therefore, an intentional push toward elevating the online learning experience is worthy of consideration. Virtual learning environments, if not deliberately cultivated, may be void of authentic relationships and opportunities to connect. In the …

Taking A Closer Look At Tpack: Examining Teacher Perspectives Of The Knowledge, Competencies, And Context Needed For Improved Remote Education In Grades 4-8, Jennifer Christine Buth Bell

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Though wrought with challenges, the COVID-19 Pandemic, which led to the closure of schools worldwide and forced educators into a rapid transition from traditional to Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT), held some promise for furthering the integration of digital technology in schools. But now, years following the crisis, policymakers, administrators, and teachers continue to grapple with how best to incorporate lessons learned and improve the future of teaching and learning in both traditional and remote settings. This mixed-methods study (n = 21; n = 6) followed an explanatory sequential design to collect and analyze data from a sample of 4th-8th …

Empowering Learning Networks: Insights From Social Network Analysis In Inquiry-Based Discussions, Ayesha Sadaf, Larisa Olesova, Hajeen Choi

School of Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigated the dynamics of complex interactions within inquiry-based discussions by visualizing patterns using social network analysis. Researchers explored network measures when learners participated in inquiry-based discussions with Practical Inquiry Model (PIM) questions and non-PIM questions while playing the weekly moderator’s role. The findings revealed that at the group level, purposefully designed inquiry-based discussions can create fairly cohesive, evenly distributed, and proportionally consistent networks. Discussions featuring both PIM and non-PIM questions resulted in a moderate level of interaction, as learners adhered to the specified requirements for the number of responses. While discussions with non-PIM questions appeared more interactive with …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

Understanding How Social Media Influences Student Engagement Within The Classroom: Middle Grades Students' Perspectives., Anthony Dawyne Myrks-Brewer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the concept of student engagement and participation through the lens of middle school students. Studies and research show that overall student engagement amongst middle school-aged students is the most unengaged period throughout students' K-12 educational journey. Today's students live in a completely different generation from their guardians and parents due to the technology component, including smartphones making the element of social media more accessible. Social media is a platform that helps people communicate through various applications, and middle school students engage and participate in various social media applications daily. Student engagement is a critical component within education …

The Apa Digital Bundle In Teaching Academic Writing, Vanaja Nethi, Jennifer Reeves, Steve Hecht

Learning and Educational Center Virtual Teaching and Learning Conference

Graduate programs require students to produce rigorous academic writing, often adhering to specific style guidelines, such as the APA. This presentation will demonstrate how the digital bundle consisting of the APA Student Workbook and the APA Manual can teach students the principles of academic writing, citation practices, and ethical scholarship. By leveraging the digital bundle at multiple points in the program leading to the capstone – a thesis or dissertation, we can provide a structured, consistent, and interactive approach to mastering APA style and ultimately improving the quality of students' academic writing.

In this session, we share how we integrated …

Triple Threat Or Triple Opportunity: When A Pop Culture Course Goes Online At A Community College, Lance Eaton, Alex Rockey

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Teaching popular culture comes with many opportunities and challenges in a traditional classroom, but equally interesting and valuable are the possibilities that teaching such a course online can provide. This article explores how “Popular Culture in the US,” an online course at a community college, embraces some key attributes of the digital world such as multimodal communication and Web 2.0 interactivity. Evolved from a face-to-face community college course, the online version has increasingly developed to move from an instructor-centered to a student-centered approach that relies upon various engagement strategies. By using student choice, OER-enabled pedagogy, and constructivist approaches, the instructor …

Exploring Zoom Fatigue Among International Students In U.S. Virtual Classes, Esther Son, Kristen Cvancara

Communication Studies Department Publications

Online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, are widely used for virtual classes. Zoom platforms bring flexibility and convenience but also contribute to fatigue, which is called “Zoom fatigue.” The purpose of this study is to investigate Zoom fatigue among international students at U.S. universities and its links to virtual classroom communication in the field of education. The study investigated how English competency and course engagement affected Zoom fatigue in virtual classes experienced by 152 international students. The results showed that English competency and course engagement had a negative relationship with Zoom fatigue. The study implied that when international students …

The Disconnect Between Student And Educator Perspectives On Effective Technology Usage In Higher Education, Matt Marino

Journal of Research Initiatives

This article explores the disconnect between student and educator perspectives regarding practical technology usage in higher education. As technology continues to play an increasingly prominent role in the educational landscape, understanding the differing viewpoints of students and educators is crucial for designing impactful technology integration strategies. Through a comprehensive literature review, this article examines the factors contributing to the disconnect and its implications for teaching and learning in higher education. Additionally, recommendations are provided to bridge this gap and promote a more aligned understanding of effective technology usage between students and educators.

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Gsep Research Symposium Proceedings - 2024

GSEP Research Symposium

The 8th Annual GSEP Research Symposium, was themed "Dismantling Barriers between Research and Practice: Shining a Light on Global Interdisciplinary Solutions," took place on July 18-19, 2024, at the picturesque Château d'Hauteville in Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Switzerland.

The annual symposium is hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP). The symposium served as a dynamic platform for students, faculty, alums, and staff to come together and explore innovative ideas across multiple disciplines. Featuring 69 selected presentations under five distinct tracks, the proceedings showcase groundbreaking research, foster meaningful discussions, and promote professional development.

The symposium aimed to bridge …

Mobile Devices As An Instructional Tool To Promote Teachers’ Metacognition: Insights From Pakistani Teachers, Zainab Shazadi Javed Ms, Fatima Javed Ms, Mehvish Mufti Ms

The Qualitative Report

The use of mobile phones as an instructional tool by teachers is not yet widespread, and there is a need to enhance the literature on how this experience affects their metacognition. While existing literature focuses on students' experiences, little is known about the experiences of teachers. This qualitative study utilized an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to examine the experiences of primary and secondary school teachers in Karachi, Pakistan, who used mobile devices for teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic for at least 12 weeks. Nine participants were interviewed to collect data, and two themes emerged from the research: "Employed Metacognition …

Stakeholder Perceptions Of A New Learning Management System Implementation At A South African University, Lazola Taho, Walter Uys

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Learning Management Systems (LMSs) investments are increasing in response to internal and external factors such as technology and market trends, laws, and regulations. Many LMS implementation initiatives fail despite decades of research on IS success. Challenges faced by sub-Saharan Africa Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) LMS implementations are becoming context-specific to each institution. Studying implementation success quantitatively has however not provided adequate contextual insights into the complex dynamics of implementation. Research often investigates lecturers and students at the exclusion of other stakeholders. Using Critical Hermeneutics (CH) as a guiding perspective, semi-structured interviews were conducted with decision-makers, administrators, support staff, students, and …

Investigating Mixed Effects Random Forest Models In Predicting Satisfaction With Online Learning In Higher Education, Jiaqi (Jackie) Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increasing prevalence and accessibility of online education. This trend has also introduced challenges for students, instructors, and institutions. This study examines factors affecting online course satisfaction, focusing on individual, instructor, and institutional level characteristics with clustered, separated train and test datasets across two terms. This study compares Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM), Non-clustered and Clustered Random Forest (RF & MERF) models to understand these impacts. This intention is to provide a comprehensive framework comparing traditional HLM with the latest developed MERF models while delving into the effectiveness of RF …

Beyond Gaming: Using Discord To Increase Communication In Your Courses, Christine I. Kugelmann, Carolyn Glasshoff

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Discord is a versatile, free communication platform that supports text, voice, and video interactions within customizable servers. This tutorial shows how to integrate Discord into educational settings, highlighting its ability to facilitate instantaneous communication and secure information sharing. By organizing course-related discussions into distinct channels, educators can enhance student engagement and collaboration. The platform’s compatibility with various devices, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops, ensures accessibility for all users. Additionally, Discord’s web-based option provides flexibility for those who prefer not to download the app. To comply with FERPA regulations, educators can set clear guidelines on the appropriate use of …

White Paper: Embracing Responsible Use Of Chatgpt In Education, Monica J. Weir

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper presents challenges and opportunities for integration of ChatGPT, an artificial general intelligence (AGI) model developed by Open AI, in education. Drawing parallels to prior technological innovations in education including handheld calculators, the author asserts that the primary solution lies in guiding students to develop skills for responsible use of available resources. While debates surrounding the use of ChatGPT and plagiarism, misinformation, and ethics are valid, this paper stresses the importance for open conversations and growth mindset. The proposed solution includes a responsible use policy for ChatGPT in the classroom, which emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, continuous feedback, ethical …

Future-Ready Digitalized Education: Unraveling The Dynamics Of Sustainable And Ethical Digital Transformation, Vaishnavi Rode

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Amid the brisk advancement of digital technologies, higher educational institutions and universities are finding themselves at a crucial turning point, with significant obstacles and new prospects in the realm of digital transformation. This culminating experience project delves deeply into the compounded terrain of digital transformation in higher education, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices in the face of rapidly evolving technical advancements. The research questions are: (Q1) What strategies can universities adopt to foster digital literacy among students and faculty while promoting sustainability values within their digital education programs and Why? (Q2) What ethical considerations, concerning data privacy and digital …

The Reach And Community Perspective Of Bt Radio Programs As Supplemental Teaching And Learning Platforms, Fernando N. Mangubat Jr, Naomi A. Bajao, Jae-An V. Sarucam, Alden Q. Gabuya Jr., Florieza M. Mangubat

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

In 2020, COVID-19 forced several communities to isolate, and radio stations stepped up as leaders in communication and media during the pandemic, especially in rural communities where internet access is lacking. This study examines the vital role for disseminating information among urban and rural communities and improving services for clients who do not have access to the internet or television news updates. Specifically, this study analyses the demographics of the listeners of Bulawanong Tinubdan (BT) Radio 98.1 FM, a radio station of the Cebu Technological University-Tuburan campus and an affiliate of the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), a government-owned network. It …

Adaptable Quantum Education Platform Using Learning Objects, Krishna Puja Anumula

Master's Theses

In recent years, the need to make classroom learning more interactive and engaging has become increasingly important. The lack of workforce in interdisciplinary fields such as quantum networking and quantum internet requires a new approach that addresses every learner’s individual needs. To address this challenge, this thesis introduces an adaptive learning platform rooted in the theory of learning objects and Kolb’s experiential learning model. The platform aids educators and learners in designing and utilizing various learning objects for quantum networking and quantum internet.

The platform enables educators and learners to build their own lessons and lesson plans using learning objects …

The Effect Of Using Interactive Digital Story On Academic Achievement And Motivation Towards Learning Digital Skills, Emad Jamal Jabali, Riyadh Alhassan

International Journal for Research in Education

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using interactive digital story on academic achievement and motivation in the digital skills course among first-level middle school students. The research population consisted of the first-level middle school students in the Sabia province in the second semester of 2022. A quasi-experimental approach was adopted with a sample size of 50 students from Al-Khalidiya School in Sabia; the control group consisted of 25 students who studied through the textbook, while the experimental group studied via interactive digital stories with the same sample size. Several interactive digital stories were designed as …

E-Learning Challenges Faced By University Teachers During Covid-19 Pandemic, Ayesha Noor, Sana Mumtaz, Fozia Malik, Sultan Maqsood

The Qualitative Report

The research has explored various challenges related to E-learning dynamics faced by high-education academicians during the COVID-19 period. To develop an in-depth understanding, qualitative research methods were used and the narrative inquiry method was integrated for collecting data from interviewees. Data were collected from 14 university teachers via focus group discussions in which respondents were required to provide written narrations about the teaching-related challenges as well. Data were narrated from the words of respondents using the thematic analysis approach. Based on the analysis, seven major themes were derived and characterized as the key challenges of e-learning during COVID-19 named as …