Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Factors Associated With Attitudes Toward Learning In An Online Environment: Transactional Distance, Technical Efficacy, And Physical Surroundings, Jodi Elizabeth Pettazzoni

Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between a student's environment in an online course and their academic achievement. This study surveyed students who completed world literature classes in an online format that were part of their universities' general education curricula. Students responded to items assessing several constructs and personal demographic variables that together defined their learning environments: content, delivery, assessment and feedback, technical support, learner experience with technology, learner experience with distance learning, interaction, physical space, support network, characteristics of adult learners, and major. Academic achievement was the dependent variable and was defined as anticipated grade in the course. Using Spearman …

Online Delivery At Traditional Institutions: Faculty Concerns And Knowledge About Intellectual Property Rights, La Toya Monique Hart

Dissertations

This study was designed to provide information to administrators about concerns faculty might have with online delivery and to assess their overall knowledge about intellectual property rights at traditional institutions. Faculty from the eight institutions under the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning were invited to participate in the study regardless of whether they participate in online delivery or not. The results of this study will allow administrators and faculty an opportunity to address concerns and explore putting written policies.

Faculty reported low levels of concerns about legal issues and rewards. Of greatest concern were those issues regarding workload/effort where there …

Digital Learning: An Australian Research Agenda, Gerald K. White

Digital learning research

The purpose of this paper is to provide some suggestions for consideration of directions for Australian educational research about ICT in education, more recently being called digital learning. A number of agencies in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA have already embarked on developing research agendas and undertaking research into the use of digital learning. This report highlights some of the significant areas in which research has been undertaken and isolates those areas where there may be a need for further research or where there are gaps in the research agenda for Australia. This paper is …

A Framework For Process Reengineering In Higher Education: A Case Study Of Distance Learning Exam Scheduling And Distribution, M'Hammed Abdous, Wu He

Distance Learning Faculty & Staff Publications

In this paper, we propose a conceptual and operational framework for process reengineering (PR) in higher education (HE) institutions. Using a case study aimed at streamlining exam scheduling and distribution in a distance learning (DL) unit, we outline a sequential and non-linear four-step framework designed to reengineer processes. The first two steps of this framework – initiating and analyzing – are used to initiate, document, and flowchart the process targeted for reengineering, and the last two steps – reengineering/ implementing and evaluating – are intended to prototype, implement, and evaluate the reengineered process. Our early involvement of all stakeholders, and …

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 …

A Digital Education Revolution : Realising The Possibilities, Managing The Realities, Linda Rosman, Gerald K. White, Kerry-Anne Hoad

Digital learning research

This report presents the outcomes of the series of Symposia 'A Digital Education Revolution; realising the possibilities, managing the realities'. ACER initiated the Symposia, developed the program, delivered research content and managed the promotions and coordination for each event. ACER proposed the series of Symposia in response to the current interest, conversations and debate within schools and systems. The goals of the Symposia were to illuminate the possibilities and the realities of the DER initiative through informed presentations, discussions, debates and conversations, and to provide feedback to DEEWR on the school based concerns and key issues that emerged. ACER initially …

Tallying The Chad Marks In The Ballot Box: A Survey Of Distance Learning Library Services In Florida’S State Universities, Sarah J. Hammill

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

As distance education continues to grow in Florida, libraries are developing the resources and services to meet the needs of faculty and students. This article identifies what distance learning library services the Florida’s State University System (SUS) Libraries are providing. It concludes with recommendations for additional and improved services and identifies areas for future research in the state of Florida.

Protecting Children Online, Deborah J. Weitzenkamp Dr.

Kimmel Education and Research Center: Faculty and Staff Publications

This publication explains potential Internet hazards and how to protect children from them.

In an age where children are using the Internet on a daily basis, parents need to be aware of how children use it, potential online hazards, how to recognize signs that their children might be at risk, and steps that they can take to safeguard their children. While it is important that parents be proactive regarding their children’s use of the Internet, it also is important that parents not overreact to potential threats. Instead, parents need to take a proactive approach toward protecting their children in a …

Ict Trends In Education, Gerald K. White

Digital learning research

The use of information and communications technology (ICT) in education is a relatively new phenomenon. Educators, researchers and thinkers have taken up the challenges of using ICT since the 1980s with varied success. The advent of the internet and the World Wide Web has pressured new productivity and service demands as well as expectations on these endeavours although research to guide best practice remains scant and elusive. This discussion about the trends occurring in ICT in education and research begins with a brief history. The brief history of ICT raises a number of issues that provide options for thinking about …

Adopting Cell Phones In Efl Teaching And Learning, Guoqiang Cui, Shuyan Wang

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Though Mobile Learning (ML) has a brief history of no more than four decades, the medium is developing rapidly with the upgrading of different mobile devices. Among all the devices, cell phones have great potential in language teaching and learning. This article explores the different devices especially cell phone use in ML. The paper also reviews teaching and learning of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in China and discusses potential applications of cell phones in Chinese EFL teaching and learning.

A Theoretical Basis For Learning In Massive Multiplayer Virtual Worlds, Stephen W. Harmon

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

One of the most compelling affordances of information communications technologies for education is the combination of social interaction, simulation, and creative play offered by online games. Although massive multiplayer online games have been in existence for some time, only with the widespread adoption of highspeed Internet access has their potential has begun to be realized. This article focuses on the affordances of massive multiplayer virtual learning environments (MMVLEs) for education by examining the benefits of a theoretical understanding of learning, and then discussing the concept of affordances. An exploration of the theoretical framework supporting learning in MMVLEs as seen the …

Being Ethical In Instructional Technology Co Nsulting, Charles Xiaoxue Wang

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

As new technologies merge everyday and become part of our lives, instructional technology consulting that provides professional services to help clients use technologies for learning and performance improvement becomes more popular and important. Being ethical in consulting has been recognized as a crucial and important part of consulting services by many professional organizations, consulting firms, consulting professionals, and their clients. Corresponding to the theme of AECT Convention 2008, professional ethics, the paper examines the meaning of being ethical in instructional technology consulting from the lived experiences of instructional technology consultants and discusses implications for promoting the ethical practice of instructional …

Student Response Systems In Higher Education: Moving Beyond Linear Teaching And Surface Learning, Harry L. Dangel, Charles Xiaoxue Wang

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Over the past decade, instructors in colleges and universities increasingly have used Student Response Systems (SRSs)--typically in large classes to increase the level of student engagement and learning. Research shows that both students and instructors perceive SRSs to be beneficial, although evidence of improved learning has been less clear. Experts emphasize that instructors must consider how technology might enhance good pedagogy in order for increases in learning to occur. SRSs do increase student engagement and provide prompt feedback—two key practices that promote learning. However, professional groups propose goals for students in higher education that focus on deep learning rather than …

Students’ Online Interaction Styles: Can They Change?, Dazhi Yang, Jennifer C. Richardson

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Past studies indicate that students demonstrate different online interaction styles, which consist of the ways or habits students acquire knowledge from computer-mediated discussions (Sutton, 2001). Such interaction styles include the active interaction style (Beaudion, 2002), the vicarious interaction style (Sutton, 2001), and the mixed or balanced-interaction style. The purpose of this exploratory study was to further investigate whether students’ online interaction styles changed during a course utilizing asynchronous computer-mediated discussions; and if so how and why they changed. Results indicate that such changes did take place as 44% of participants adjusted to more active learning styles as the courses progressed. …

Teachers’ Belief Changes In A Technology-Enhanced Pedagogical Laboratory, Yuxin Ma, Guolin Lai, Douglas C. Williams, Louise Prejean

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Preservice teachers who were enrolled in a technology integration course facilitated student-centered lessons to K-12 students in a pedagogical laboratory. A quantitative instrument, Teachers’ Beliefs Regarding Technology Use Survey (TBTUS), was employed to measure the impact of the pedagogical laboratory experience on preservice teachers’ beliefs regarding technology integration. The impact was largely insignificant. The qualitative data suggest that changes might be incremental and TBTUS might not be sensitive to the changes that occurred after 22-hour treatment, with only six hours of real teaching experience. Moreover, unlike vicarious experiences, personal teaching experiences may be different for each candidate, so they might …

A Study On The Acceptance Of Mobile Phones For Teaching And Learning With A Group Of Pre-Service Teachers In Hong Kong, Simon So

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Ubiquitous devices offer new teaching and learning opportunities from K-12 to higher education settings. The integration of mobile facilities and Web technologies allows researchers and educators to explore different possibilities in m-Learning. In this study, a group of pre-service IT teachers in Hong Kong were introduced to the field of m-Learning by participating in a series of m-Learning activities. Three applications were designed and programmed with XTHML-MP/ WAP 2.0 technologies and supported by server-side Web technologies of PHP and MySQL. The research aimed at providing the opportunities for the teachers to explore this new trend in teaching and learning and …

A Guide To Publication In Educational Technology, Steve Chi-Yin Yuen, Patrivan K. Yuen, Xiaojing Duan

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This guide provides journal information to over 40 journals that are appropriate for the publication of articles in educational technology. Also, it discusses the process of planning and writing a journal article, submitting to journals, the peer reviewing process, and steps toward publishing in academic journals within the field of educational technology. Furthermore, the guide provides tips to getting published and offers helpful suggestions.

R2d2 Model: Creating Diverse Online Instructions, Ke Zhang

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

With the increasing applications of online learning at all levels in training and education in Chinese-speaking countries and regions, together with the diversity of online learners in terms of age, background, and learning style, educators are faced with a critical challenge: how to design and implement online learning experiences to meet the varied needs of highly diverse online learners. This article introduces a highly practical, easy-to-apply model, the R2D2 model (Bonk & Zhang, 2006, 2008) to the Chinese readers in particular, for the creation of diverse online learning activities. R2D2 (Read, Reflect, Display, and Do), is a new model particularly …

Engaging Diverse Secondary Students In International Collaborative Networked Learning, C. Candace Chou, Chi-Syan Lin, Mark Van ‘T Hooft, Yi-Me Lin

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the processes of engaging a group of highly diverse 7th and 8th grade students in the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) for collaborative activities through a global networked learning environment called APEC Cyber Academy. Thirty-six middle school students went through a nine-week project-based learning program that aimed at improving ICT skills and promoting international peer learning. Although students showed strong interest in learning about ICT, the findings suggest that students need to be coached in collaboration skills, given appropriate roles to ensure proper division of labor, and supervised closely to ensure the completion of tasks.

Predicting Student Performance In Web-Based Distance Education Courses Based On Survey Instruments Measuring Individual Traits And Technical Skills, Michael Clyde Hall

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two common web-based surveys, "Is Online Learning Right for Me?' and "\Vb.at Technical Skills Do l Need~", were combined into a single survey instrument and given to 228 on-campus and 83 distance education students. The students were enrolled in four different classes (business, computer infonnation services, criminal justice, and early childhood development) on three different regional campuses of a mid-western community college. :Multiple regression equations were developed with the survey scores and the type of class to determine the extent to which the survey scores predicted final semester grade percentages. Although distance education students scored significantly higher on the survey …

Excellence In Online Education: Preceptions Of Needs, Barriers And Catalyst, Kimberly B. Sinclair

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Through a review of literary resources and individual interviews with USM faculty and administrators this paper aims to identify both factors that motivate and inhibit faculty from teaching online, as well as assess interest among USM’s population in expanding online offerings. This paper also aims to determine areas of concern among faculty and administrators, as well as identify some areas for new and continuing investments in online education at USM. It is hoped that this work will assist USM in developing an institutional policy for online educational offerings at USM that serves both the community and the institution well. It …

Teaching Icwa Online: Undergraduate Child Welfare Student Learning, Paul Force-Emery Mackie, Mackenzie Collin

Social Work Department Publications

The "ICWA Online" class was developed to provide a critical learning experience to Title IV-E students who will likely work with Native American children and families sometime in their careers and social workers. This presentation is designed to outline and show how we are attempting to do this using current technology and platforms - to keep the promise established by ICWA 30 years ago... Today.

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.

Investigating The Impact Of E-Learner Cognitive Style On The Predictive Value Of Student Success In Online Distance Education Courses, Heather Butler

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Currently, online professional development is growing rapidly in business and industry. The purpose of this study was to determine whether learners' cognitive styles influenced the learners' online course satisfaction and the possible relationships with student demographic characteristics. 83 participants of a Southeast Florida public school district completed the data-gathering instruments. Data was entered into a Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) computer program for statistical analyses. Results suggest that cognitive learning styles influence a learner's online course satisfaction. Furthermore, certain student demographic characteristics effect online course satisfaction. Successful experience in an online learning environment increases student achievement.

Taylor University Fort Wayne Online Course Catalog 2008, Taylor University Fort Wayne

Institute of Correspondence Studies

The 2008 catalog of Taylor University Online at Taylor University Fort Wayne.

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 …

Distance Education Library Services Assessment, Judy Block

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The primary purpose of assessment in academia is to support high-quality learning. To accomplish this tracking, monitoring and documenting student activity is important to providing excellent library service. By gathering information on student learning, assessments can pinpoint areas for improvement. Ideally, assessment should be quantitative, qualitative, and ongoing and have the ability to address different skills. Assessment is most effective when based on faculty teaching and student learning. Outcomes assessments are the only credible assessment for the distant learner. They are necessary to improve student learning results and are a means of gathering information about student learning that is …

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 …