Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Bias And Trends In Student Evaluations In Online Higher Education Settings, Cheryl Lynn Marcham, Ann Marie Ade, Patti Clark, James Marion

Publications

End-of course evaluations have been frequently used to assess teaching effectiveness and influence critical decisions about faculty contract renewal, future course assignment, tenure and promotion in higher education. This quantitative study sought to determine whether there are differences in student perceptions of faculty performance based on gender or faculty status (full-time vs. adjunct) in an online higher education environment. It also sought to answer these questions: 1) Do adjunct faculty tend to grade more leniently than full time faculty, and as such, do adjunct faculty receive higher evaluation ratings than full time faculty, who may be more stringent in grading? …

Perspectives On Undergraduate Research Mentorship: A Comparative Analysis Between Online And Traditional Faculty, Emily K. Faulconer, Zachary Dixon, John Griffith, Laura Faulconer

Publications

With an increase in distance faculty, it is important to understand how faculty perceptions of undergraduate research mentorship differ between distance and traditional faculty. Perceptions were examined in a medium sized, not-for-profit university with both residential and distance faculty. Residential faculty were more likely to mentor or were very interested in undergraduate research, but overall interest in mentorship was similar across campuses. Faculty status or career experience was not correlated to interest or engagement in research mentorship. Traditional faculty were more likely to report time commitment as a significant barrier than distance faculty. Other barriers and benefits were aligned between …

Student Engagement In Aviation Moocs: Identifying Subgroups And Their Differences, Jennifer Maddin Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to expand the current understanding of learner engagement in aviation-related Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through cluster analysis. MOOCs, regarded for their low- or no-cost educational content, often attract thousands of students who are free to engage with the provided content to the extent of their choosing. As online training for pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and small unmanned aerial system operators continues to expand, understanding how learners engage in optional aviation-focused, online course material may help inform course design and instruction in the aviation industry. In this study, Moore’s theory of transactional distance, which …

Comparing Online And Traditional Student Engagement And Perceptions Of Undergraduate Research, Emily K. Faulconer, John Griffith, Zachary Dixon, Donna Roberts

Publications

Undergraduate research benefits students by strengthening skills, providing professional growth, and improving retention. Yet significant barriers exist, including low awareness of opportunities, restrictive cultural norms, and resource constraints. The proliferation of online education potentially increases barriers, both real and perceived. This study compared participation rates and perceived barriers between undergraduate distance and traditional students. Survey results indicated no significant differences in self-reported participation or overall interest in research. Despite inherent structural limitations of online education, there were no significant differences in the respondents’ perceptions of access to opportunities, physical resources, or human resources. Significant differences were seen regarding awareness of …

Book Review: High-Impact Practices In Online Education, Emily Faulconer

Publications

This document is Dr. Faulconer’s review of High-Impact Practices in Online Education, 2018. 221p ISBN 978-1-62036-847-3 (paperback), $35.00.

Leading The Charge To Implement Strategic Engagement Initiatives To Capture Enhanced Online Learning Opportunities, Peter O'Reilly

Publications

Presentation objectives:

• Making Online Courses Feel More Like In-Person Courses
• Discussion on Various Effective Engagement Activities
• Results of Engagement Activities Pilots
• Next Steps…

Penn State’S School Of Public Affairs Security-Related Academic Programs Amid The Novel Coronavirus Catastrophe, Alexander Siedschlag

Publications

Due to its large OL student population, Penn State’s School of Public Affairs had (unintended) applicable crisis contingency protocols in place prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the support of our college’s Center for Teaching Excellence, many traditional F2F residential courses had already been set up on our learning management system (LMS), Canvas. As a result, many of our school’s traditional students and faculty had a handle on using Canvas and remote learning technology. The center enhanced and focused its services to faculty as COVID-19 evolved (Center for Teaching Excellence, 2020). As the COVID-19 crisis hit Penn State during the …

Measuring Person–Job Fit And Career Paths Of Distance Learning Librarians, Jennifer J. Rundels, Anne Marie Casey

Publications

While person–job fit has been used to determine satisfaction in many professions, no research has been done among distance learning librarians. This study investigates person–job fit among librarians with primary distance learning responsibility compared to librarians with some distance learning responsibility and examines whether a common career path exists among the two groups. Responses indicate that librarians who work primarily in distance learning perceive a slightly better fit with their positions and the work itself while those with some distance learning responsibility experience a slightly better fit within their library organizations. Career advancement is a common motivator for both groups.

Collaboration Between Faculty And The Library Using Oer For Curriculum Development, Kelly Whealan George, Anne Marie Casey

Publications

• High Cost of Textbooks
• $1,240 – expected cost of textbooks in 2018-2019 for 4-year college students (CollegeBoard, 2019)
• 43.8% of Florida students spent $301 or more on textbooks in Spring 2018 (Florida Virtual Campus, 2018, p. 9)
• 63% of ERAU students surveyed in summer 2018 found textbooks more expensive than expected

• Case Study to explore textbooks in online courses
• Collaboration between the Library and the Faculty create value for the university and student population by incorporating OER into the course development process.

Formative Assessment Techniques For Online Learning, Emily Faulconer, Beverly Wood

Publications

While most faculty think of assessments as used to measure learning after the fact, formative assessment classroom techniques (FACTs) give an instructor a snapshot of where students are in their learning so as to address any gaps in their understanding. Online instructors have a variety of tools at their disposal to incorporate engaging FACTs into their courses that will improve learning outcomes.

Interaction By Design: Exploring The Impact Of Communication Channel Selection On Social Presence In Asynchronous Online Learning Environments, Rachel Vigness

Publications

Building Small Commercial Airport Clusters to Increase Marketing Capability was presented at MBAA International, Chicago, IL in April, 2019.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Grades And Learning Modes In An Introductory Research Methods Course, Donna L. Roberts, John C. Griffith, Emily Faulconer, Beverly L. Wood, Soumyadip Acharyya

Publications

Education researchers have conducted studies on the relationship of learning mode to student performance, but few studies have evaluated pass rate, grade distribution and student withdrawal rate in an introductory research methods course. In this study, researchers examined 2,097 student grades from the 2015-2016 academic year to determine if such a relationship existed. In this study, learning mode was significantly related to failure rate, grade distribution and withdraw rate. Synchronous video home students had a significantly higher failure rate than traditional In-Person or online students. Online student grade distributions were significantly different than In-Person classroom, synchronous video home or synchronous …

Undergraduate Research For Online Students, Emily K. Faulconer, Amy B. Gruss

Publications

Since the term “high impact educational prac-tices” (HIPs) was coined in 2008, it comes up often in SoTL research and professional devel-opment. Undergraduate research is one of the commonly listed HIPs. The profes sional and personal benefits to studentsP are numerous, including increased perAsistence, self-confi-dence, career preparation, enhanced mentori©ng relationships, development of transferable skills, networking opportunities, and balancing of intellectual independence and collaboration skills (Council on Undergraduate Research, 2017; Lopatto, 2006, 2010; Madan & Teitge, 2013).

Arriving At A Better Answer: A Decision Matrix For Science Lab Course Format, Emily K. Faulconer, Laura S. Faulconer, James R. Hanamean

Publications

At first glance, scientific laboratory experiences might appear to be challenging to move to the cloud. Skeptics may point to sensory feedback limitations and inequivalence of student outcomes. However, emerging data increasingly provide evidence that scientific laboratory courses are not only amenable to online learning, but also can deliver student outcomes at or above traditional in-person courses. In identifying a science lab format, each institution weighs factors like lab course goals, budget, program growth, access, and safety. This article presents a single case study and a decision matrix for how one institution informed their choice for the modality of a …

Evaluating The Way Forward In Online Student Engagement., Patricia Schmaltz, Julia Carpenter, Dan J. Petersen

Publications

Several factors make up the successful instructional experience in online higher education classes. With the advanced offerings in online learning, educational institutions are compelled to innovate all aspects of their online classes (U.S. Department of Education, 2016). The innovation can lead to a higher caliber learning environment. This paper advances a simple model for Instructors to follow, an Instructional Online Model (IOM), with the intent of improving student engagement, knowledge retention, leading to increased business profit. Instructors who model the discussed techniques may find increased student’s satisfaction with their courses, leading to the students pursuing further online education. Technological advancement …

Motivating Students To Learn A Programming Language: Applying A Second Language Acquisition Approach In A Blended Learning Environment, Lulu Sun, Christina Frederick, Caroline Liron, Li Ding, Lei Gu, Andrew Calvin Griggs Ii, Paula Sanjuan Espejo

Publications

Learning a programming language typically involves acquisition of new vocabulary, punctuation, and grammatical structures to communicate with a computer. In other words, learning a programming language is like learning a human language. A recent study showed that programmers use language regions of the brain when understanding source code and found little activation in other regions of the brain devoted to mathematical thinking. Even though programming code involved mathematical operations, conditionals, and loop iterations, researchers found that programming had less in common with mathematics and more in common with human language.

Performing Wechat Recording Tasks In Mixed-Ability Study Abroad Content Courses, Hong Zhan, Leeann Chen

Publications

This case study explores the use of WeChat’s recording tool as a solution to the challenges of teaching mixed-ability students in content courses offered in study abroad programs. The tool successfully reduced anxiety and boredom, created opportunities for students to engage in personalized learning tasks in real time, enabled instructors to provide individualized feedback, and helped course curriculums stay on track. Data was collected from an online survey, email interview, and students’ recordings of topics and instructor’s feedback. The study determined that using WeChat’s recording function to complete linguistic tasks is a useful instructional tool for a mixed-ability classes in …

A Review To Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Online, Remote, And Distance Science Laboratory Experiences, Emily Faulconer, Amy B. Gruss

Publications

The effectiveness of traditional face to face labs versus non-traditional online, remote, or distance labs is difficult to assess due to the lack of continuity in the literature between terminology, standard evaluation metrics, and the use of a wide variety non-traditional laboratory experience for online courses. This narrative review presents a representative view of the existing literature in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of non-traditional laboratories and to highlight the areas of opportunity for research. Non-traditional labs are increasingly utilized in higher education. The research indicates that these non-traditional approaches to a science laboratory experience are as effective …

A Comparison Of Online And Traditional Chemistry Lecture And Lab, E. K. Faulconer, J. C. Griffith, Beverly L. Wood, S. Acharyya, D. L. Roberts

Publications

While the equivalence between online and traditional classrooms has been well researched, very little effort has been expended to do such comparisons for college level introductory chemistry. The existing literature has only one study that investigated chemistry lectures at an entire course level as opposed to particular course components such as individual topics or exams. Regarding lab courses, only one study is available and it involves moderating variables that are largely uncontrolled. In this work, we compared the student pass rates, withdrawal rates, and grade distributions between asynchronous online and traditional formats of an introductory chemistry lecture as well as …

Virtual Community Of Practice: Connecting Online Adjunct Faculty, Cristina Cottom, Angela Atwell, Lisa Martino, Sara Ombres

Publications

There is an increasing trend in higher education to hire adjunct faculty to teach online courses. While faculty at a traditional campus location can meet to collaborate with their peers, globally dispersed faculty, specifically adjuncts, who are teaching online may not be afforded this opportunity. To respond to this concern, the researchers conducted a grant-funded mixed-method study. The researchers created a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) to determine whether participation increased sense of belonging among online adjunct faculty. Findings revealed an increase in connection among peers. The results from this study are noteworthy, and research in this area should continue.

A Comparison Of Online, Video Synchronous, And Traditional Learning Modes For An Introductory Undergraduate Physics Course, Emily K. Faulconer, John C. Griffith, Beverly Wood, Donna Roberts

Publications

While the equivalence between online and traditional classrooms has been well-researched, very little of this includes college-level introductory Physics. Only one study explored Physics at the whole-class level rather than specific course components such as a single lab or a homework platform. In this work, we compared the failure rate, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates in an introductory undergraduate Physics course across several learning modes including traditional face-to-face instruction, synchronous video instruction, and online classes. Statistically significant differences were found for student failure rates,grade distribution, and withdrawal rates but yielded small effect sizes. Post-hoc pair-wise test was run to determine …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Grades And Learning Mode In An English Composition Course, Debra T. Bourdeau, Kelly V. Griffith, John Griffith, John R. Griffith

Publications

The education community has conducted studies on failure rates and withdrawal rates between learning modalities in the past, but few studies have evaluated grade distribution between learning modes or focused specifically on English Composition. Using 2,919 student grades from the 2015 – 2016 academic year for an English Composition course, researchers examined failure rates, grade distribution, and withdrawal rates between In-Person learning, Online learning, and Synchronous video learning modes. In this study, learning modes and failure rates were related. Synchronous video modes of instruction had higher failure rates than traditional In-Person classes. Synchronous video classroom students failed at a higher …

Udl And What It Means For Online Instructors, Angela Atwell

Publications

While designing an inclusive online learning experience is critical for student success, so too is effective implementation. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) goes beyond the initial course design to focus on best practice for delivering content to ensure understanding, providing multiple means of student expression and encouraging active engagement. These are all components of the online classroom determined and enhanced by the instructor. In this informational session, we will explore strategies you can begin using in your online class to best meet the needs of all students.

Supporting English Learners In Your Online Courses, Cristina Cottom

Publications

Research shows that approximately a quarter of post-secondary students are enrolled in online courses (Smith, 2016). As online education continues to grow, so does the need for differentiated instruction in the online environment. Differentiating content, product, and/or processes can enable teachers to meet the language needs of English Learners (ELs) in their online course. ELs can vary from international study students to immigrant refugees students. In addition, the educational backgrounds and English proficiency can differ. Due to this variation of English skills, ELs often have increased needs in an online course because they are navigating two languages as well as …

Virtual Faculty Learning Community Implementation Framework, Angela Atwell, Cristina Cottom, Lisa Martino, Sara Ombres

Publications

This framework is meant to be a useful guide for those interested in creating a V-FLC. You may skip around to the various sections or read the framework from start to finish. The framework consists of twelve questions to ask as you begin developing a V-FLC, answers to these questions based on our experience, as well as a visual representation of the framework.

Learning: It's Personal, Angela Atwell

Publications

If you have any questions about this presentation or would like a copy of the handout, please contact Angela Atwell. Her information can be found at the end of the presentation.

Contrary to popular belief, teaching and learning in an online environment is not easier or less work than a traditional classroom. It takes intentionality, discipline and commitment from both the instructor and the student. However, the flexibility offered by online programs makes this option increasingly appealing. With this growing demand, online instructors must think critically about the content, strategically plan activities and align outcomes with diverse student goals. All …

Online Classroom Culture Best Practices, Lisa Martino

Publications

Overcome challenges - create an online classroom culture.

In 2013, over five million post-secondary students enrolled in online courses in America (National Center for Education Statistics, 2016). Many universities strive to meet student demands for this online course modality. Challenges for online students continue to exist with (1) social isolation; (2) coursework confusion; and (3) lack of teacher presence (Milheim, 2012). Studies show that by creating an online classroom culture, faculty can overcome these challenges to foster and motivate online student engagement (Ladyshewsky, 2013; Milheim, 2014; Vesely, Bloom, Sherlock, 2007). In this conference presentation, the participants surveyed online classroom culture …

Inclusive Strategies For The Global Virtual Classroom, Angela Atwell

Publications

In today’s digital age of global enterprise, higher education is focused on delivering high quality experiences in virtual learning environments. Instructors must be armed with the knowledge and skills to use online learning tools effectively in order to deliver an engaging learning experience for all students.It is crucial to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment, possibly even more so in a virtual classroom. Students who feel welcomed and respected are more likely to engage, contribute to the course and add richness to the content. Instructors must facilitate student learning by encouraging cooperation, collaboration and professional networking. Students and instructors …

You’Ve Got Mail: Examination Of A Brief Online Email Training, Jake R. Mathwich, Keaton A. Fletcher, Wendy L. Bedwell

Human Factors and Applied Psychology Student Conference

Many companies train employees on writing emails in seminar-style training sessions. However, in-person, seminar-style trainings are costly. This study aims to create a training program, rooted in the science of training to address these needs. We examine the mechanisms of action by which the training influences performance and intent to transfer. To do this, we call upon several models of training effectiveness (see Alliger, Tannenbaum, Bennett, & Traver, 1997; Baldwin & Ford, 1988; and Kirkpatrick, 1959). Taken together, these models suggest that individual differences will predict affective reactions, which will lead to utility reactions, ultimately leading to learning. We aim …

Faculty And Student Issues With Group Work: What Is Problematic With College Group Assignments And Why?, Joanne P. Labeouf, John C. Griffith, Donna L. Roberts

Publications

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers analyzed 811 (118 faculty and 693 student) comments to determine perceptions of group work in the academic setting. The biggest issue noted by both groups was allocation of grades for group members. Students perceived that all students received the same grade in a group project, regardless of effort. Most faculties did not share that perception, but noted difficulties in assigning group grades as well. Faculty and students described difficulties encountered by students when working on group projects in online or distance learning settings due to limited interaction and time zone differences and/or different work schedules. Faculty …