Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Editorial Board

Perspectives In Learning

This is a listing of the members of the Editorial Board.

Brain-Based Learning: Revolutionary Science Or Common Sense?, Sheena Baker

Perspectives In Learning

The purpose of this article is to examine the brain-based approach to teaching and learning. The approach is defined, and common misconceptions and criticisms of brain-based learning are explored. Also presented are implications for classroom teachers striving to meet accountability demands while attending to the diverse needs of all students. Justification for implementing brain-based strategies is provided in light of the ever-changing landscape of 21^st- century learning.

The Role Of Emotions In The Classroom, Miracle Underwood

Perspectives In Learning

Emotions play a large role in the classroom. However, teachers often do not consider the important role that emotions play. Student behavior is regulated by emotions. To perform effectively, students need a classroom that is safe. They need to feel free to be themselves and take risks. Students need to have a relationship with their teacher that is based on the foundation of respect and expectation. By coupling academics and emotions as the focus of a classroom, teachers will see a great improvement in both achievement and behavior.

Multicultural Counseling Issues: Practicing Outside Boundaries Of Competence, Patricia G. Hays

Perspectives In Learning

This article examines issues of practicing outside boundaries of competency with regards to multicultural counseling. Using current research from the fields of counseling and psychology, the significance to the field of counseling, attributes of a multicultural counselor, and training necessary for competent multicultural counseling are addressed. Briefly outlined are the three dimensions of counseling competencies needed to be a culturally skilled counselor as well as consideration of the problems in the field of counselor education. This article concludes with a summary of researchers’ suggestions on how to ensure counseling students acquire the appropriate training in developing multicultural competencies to practice …

Understanding And Encouraging Student Diversity: Involving The Community, Rochelle Ripple, José A. Villavicencio

Perspectives In Learning

The Committee on Diversity in the Collegeof Educationof ColumbusStateUniversityhas been involved in several programs since 2004 to increase the diversity in the college, both with students and faculty/staff. This has been accomplished by involving the community in and around Columbus, Georgia. This article addresses the committee’s work to adapt several strategies to develop a three-pronged approach: (1) acceptance of diversity within our ranks, (2) partnering with One Columbus, a community organization to promote diversity, racial harmony, and unity in Columbus, and (3) participation with CHISPA, a Hispanic organization intended to recruit and retain Hispanic students at CSU and to build …

You Are What You Eat: Healthy Practice For Young Children, Vikki K. Collins, Sallie A. Miller, H Marguerite Yates

Perspectives In Learning

All young children can benefit from proper nutrition and physical activity. Because children spend so much time in schools, teachers can play important roles in educating children about nutrition, dietary behavior, and physical activity to foster their optimal growth and health. Eating healthy, nourishing food fosters physical growth, enhances emotional stability, and improves school performance. By planning and implementing developmentally appropriate integrated lessons, teachers can help promote healthy practice for young children.

Support Network Involvement, Rebekah Byrd

Perspectives In Learning

Support can be derived from a variety of relationships as a way to encourage clients in therapy. It is capable of providing significant furtherance in a client’s search of becoming empowered to make autonomous decisions during therapy and after therapy is terminated. This article examines various support networks in current literary research including family, friend, and religious/spiritual/community involvement. The studies presented examine the amounts these support networks were involved with the client during and after treatment in an attempt to determine a positive effect. Research suggests that support network involvement is associated with positive outcomes for the client.

Counselor Emotional Intelligence: A Look At Counselor Impairment Issues And The Importance Of Assessment, Sarah Haase

Perspectives In Learning

This article examines the importance of Emotional Intelligence in assessing and managing counselor impairment. The signs and symptoms of counselor impairment, the importance of assessing impairment, and Emotional Intelligence as a way to judge and manage possible impairment are discussed. Emotional Intelligence identifies an individual’s ability to look at the emotions of self and others and can, therefore, be used as a tool for the assessment of counselor impairment.

Proctored Versus Unproctored Online Exams: Studying The Impact Of Exam Environment On Student Performance, Kimberly Hollister, Mark L. Berenson

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Increasing numbers of universities are offering courses in online and hybrid formats. One challenge in online assessment is the maintenance of academic integrity. We present a thorough statistical analysis to uncover differences in student performance when online exams are administered in a proctored environment (i.e., in class) versus an unproctored environment (i.e., offsite). Controlling for student grade point average (GPA), no significant differences in mean overall course performance or exam performance between the two groups were found, nor were there any differences in the mean vectors of individual exam scores. The study reveals that the group taking online exams in …

Teaching In An Online Environment: Group Work For Critical Thinking, Aimee Dechambeau

Aimee deChambeau

Working in groups online has a wide variety of benefits for both learners and instructors. Understanding how students' critical thinking skills benefit from group work can motivate us as instructors to create group projects specifically for online learning situations.

The Effectiveness Of Post-Secondary Web Based Communication In The University Of Central Florida's Online Educational Settin, Brandon Hinchman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While technology continues to advance, so do methods of learning. In post-secondary education during the twentieth century, the traditional classroom setting was geared toward auditory instruction and face-to-face peer interaction. Not only was this the most efficient means of instruction for the time period but the only means. Along with the advent of communication technology came the concept of Web courses. Web courses have expanded the means by which students can experience course lectures and have beckoned the use of updated media by which such lectures can take place. Such media include threaded discussions, chat rooms and e-mail. At the …

Pedagogical Re-Mediation In Hybrid Courses: A Case Study Of Five First-Year Composition Instructors, Rebecca Middlebrook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the move to increase availability of composition courses in the online environment continues, it is important to understand the ways in which composition instructors have taken on the challenges associated with moving their teaching online and how they modify, or re-mediate, their pedagogy for the this new teaching and learning environment. This study takes on the task of examining re-mediation as it occurs in the pedagogical practices used by instructors to facilitate peer review activities in hybrid, first-year composition courses. At the same time, it is important to understand the varying factors that may influence the degree to which …

Identity, Gender, And Language In Synchronous Cybercultures: A Cross-Cultural Study, Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena, Ahmed Idrissi Alami, Gayathri Jayatilleke, Fawda Bouacharine

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The integration of the Internet into contemporary society worldwide has had a profound impact on the way we communicate, relate to ourselves, and to each other. Different users, depending on various characteristics such as age, gender, education, and sociocultural background, access the Internet for various communication needs such as exchanging emails, making new friends, or engaging in a serious discussion. Whatever the goal, users need to adjust to this new computer-mediated interactive environment, and they do so either in ways that reveal native cultural values, or reflect the creation of new cultural norms and conventions.

Engagement In Active Learning With Brazilian Adult Educators, John A. Henschke Edd

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

Partners of the Americas was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, who in 1963 launched the Alliance for Progress, a program of government-to-government economic cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, Kennedy also called for a parallel people-to-people initiative, one that would allow private citizens to work together for the good of the Americas. Today, it is a private, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization, enjoying the support of many individuals, international corporations, and foundations. Every US president since Kennedy has endorsed the Partners' program, as have government leaders throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. There are 60 'partnerships' that …

A Perspective On The History And Philosophy Of Andragogy: An International Sketch, John A. Henschke Edd

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

This paper on the History and Philosophy of Andragogy is mainly limited (with a few exceptions) to a chronological history and the accompanying philosophy of andragogy, in line with when the English language documents were published and personal descriptions of events were written down. Some of these documents, however, present aspects of the events and ideas which recount the years and contexts in which they appeared in published form. This will not be an exact history of the events and philosophy as they appear in chronological order. But, this will be presented in the general sequence of the years that …

Strong Networks Grow Distance Learning, Pankaj Shah, Kate M. Carey

Administrators/Executives/Staff Scholarship

This article presents a snapshot of one state’s experience with connectivity from the early 1980s to the present and illustrates how distance learning has utilized that infrastructure to grow to serve more than 100,000 Ohioans. In early 1980s, most of Ohio’s telecommunications traffic traveled on dial-up connections. Ohio’s history of formidable statewide networking began in 1987, when Compuserve and OARnet (Ohio Academic Resources Network) were among few regional networks in existence. Through various mergers and acquisitions, Compuserve became Worldcom, AOL, MCI-Worldcom, and, finally, Verizon. OARnet became the Third Frontier Network (TFN) in 2004 and now is referred to as OSCnet …

A Case Study Of Student Engagement In Collaborative Group Learning In A Blended Community Based (Service) Learning Module, John G. Mcgarrigle

Research Theses

Abstract: A participatory action research case study employed mixed methods to examine student collaboration and engagement in a Community Based (Service) learning module. A quasi experimental testing of Coates (2007) typology of student engagement found low agreement between students and lecturers in assigning the terms, passive, intense, independent or collaborative to student postings to discussion fora. Evidence from this case study found greater student collaboration in discussion fora when linked to practical course activity. Qualitative analysis of discussion threads using conversation analysis provided evidence for collaboration in deeper knowledge construction when supported by lecturers’ contributions. Discourse analysis examined interviews with …

Faculty Preparation For Teaching And Learning In Second Life, Robin Ashford, Scot Headley, Anita Zijdemans Boudreau

Faculty Publications - George Fox University Libraries

No abstract provided.

Immersive Virtual Worlds In Educational Practice: Introducing Educators To Second Life, Anita Zijdemans Boudreau, Scot Headley, Robin Ashford

Faculty Publications - George Fox University Libraries

This paper reports outcomes of the second iteration of a longitudinal action research study on the affordances of Second Life for enriched online teaching and learning. Introduction to Second for Educators was a professional development opportunity offered to graduate students, faculty, and administrators as a distance course in spring 2009. Participants’ wiki reflections and exit questionnaires were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of a constructivist instructional design using guided discovery within a supportive Community of Inquiry [CoI]. Results indicate that the constructivist design ensures a level of facilitation requisite to successfully scaffolding novices’ experiential learning inworld. The CoI model is …

Do Educators Need A Second Life? Exploring Possibilities For Enriched Technology-Based Distance Learning, Anita Zijdemans Boudreu, Scot Headley, Robin Ashford

Faculty Publications - George Fox University Libraries

This paper reports outcomes of our first Action Research study involving implementing Second Life [SL] in a graduate distance course on exploring community online. Participant blog entries and transcripts of ‘in-world’ class sessions were analyzed to determine: how well the participants learned to be successful SL residents; whether observations and meeting discussions reflected themes of community and experiential learning; and how participants evaluated their experiences and the educational potential of SL. Results indicate that SL is a complex environment requiring much practice to develop competencies for navigating inworld. Once accomplished, however, participants reported that although SL did not replicate real …

Adaptation Of Art History Courses To The Online Environment: Problems And Perspectives, Anahit Ter-Stepanian

Art & Design Faculty Publications

Distance learning poses new problems for instructors and changes the traditional understanding of instructional design. The adaptation of traditional, face-to-face courses to asynchronous online format entails redefining pedagogical practices and presents new challenges for designers and instructors resulting from the lack of direct student-instructor interaction. This is particularly pertinent in art history courses, where critical thinking, group discussions, critiquing works of art as well as assessment methods heavily rely on student’s physical presence in the classroom. Faculty members are skeptical of the effectiveness of distance learning and voice their concerns. The paper questions whether it is possible to ensure students’ …

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 …

A Comparison Of Instructional Delivery Methods Based On Student Evaluation Data, John Hackworth, Carol Considine, Vernon Lewis

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Distance Education is an increasingly common educational delivery method. At Old Dominion University, all junior and senior level engineering technology courses are offered via distance education at least once every two years. A majority of courses in the distance education system at this university have three simultaneous delivery methods: on-campus, televised (receiving the course at an off-campus site via satellite video/audio), and internet-based video-streamed.

This paper explores the results of student course evaluation surveys for trends, in particular those trends which can be a result of the mode of delivery. Results of these surveys for 23 courses over a 4-year …

Today’S Student And Virtual Schooling: The Reality, The Challenges, The Promise, Michael K. Barbour

Education Faculty Publications

Introduction:

In 2008 I was approached to deliver a keynote address at the biennial conference of the Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) in Wellington on the topic of today’s student and K–12 distance education. Several months ago, Mark Nichols asked me if I would be interested in putting some of the ideas that I discussed as a part of that August 2008 presentation into a manuscript for the Journal of Distance Learning. This paper represents my best efforts to summarise and expand on those ideas.

As in my 2008 keynote, I want to discuss three main themes …

Taylor University Online Course Catalog 2009, Taylor University Fort Wayne

Institute of Correspondence Studies

The 2009 catalog of Taylor University Online at Taylor University Fort Wayne.

Student Approaches To Learning: An Exploratory Study, Leila Halawi, Richard Mccarthy, Nenna Muoghalu

Publications

In this study, the partial least square approach (PLS) is applied to investigate students’ approaches to learning in the framework of online or hybrid courses. A total of 140 valid responses from students who have finished or are currently enrolled in at least one MIS online or hybrid course were analyzed using a structural equation model and the results are presented herein.

Case Study Of Connected Knowing In An Online Learning Environment, Jaya Kannan, John Laurence Miller

CTL Publications

This paper reports a single-subject case study designed to investigate the role of group discussion in student learning. The group discussion took the form of contributions to a series of online discussion boards. And our analysis focuses on the contribution of one group member. We argue that this individual came to serve as a catalyst to learning for many group members because of the concomitant roles that she came to occupy.

Cyberbullying, Phyllis I. Schoenholz, Deborah J. Weitzenkamp, Jennifer S. Nixon

Kimmel Education and Research Center: Faculty and Staff Publications

Technology now allows people — often children — to bully online. Social messaging sites can open up the user to a variety of bullying techniques outside of the playground. How parents and other adults can help reduce bullying over the Internet is examined in this NebGuide. ...

What can a parent do about cyberbullying? First, it’s important that parents and youth not reply or respond in any way to cyberbullies. Research indicates that being responsive may, in fact, escalate the activity. Instead, parents will need to think like a detective or lawyer. Document the activity with dates and times and …

Beginnings Of The History And Philosophy Of Andragogy 1833-2000, John A. Henschke Edd

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

Andragogy had a very slow beginning over a period of almost one century as a term referring to the theory and practice of adult education. Numerous elements were involved in the seventy years it took to establish its foundation: starting in England and the USA; andragogy and human resource development (HRD); andragogy and self-directed learning (SDL); conflict between supporters and detractors; comparing European and USA perspectives; trust in learners' abilities; scientific foundation of andragogy; skepticism and its counter-balance; and, antecedents of andragogy. Trends in usage and considering its possible benefits set the tone for the future of andragogy from 2000 …

A Productive Decade Of Andragogy's History And Philosophy 2000-2009, John A. Henschke Edd

IACE Hall of Fame Repository

With the foundation of andragogy having been laid, there was a serious attempt at investigating its value. Some felt that a broad scope was established in the practice to support growth in learners, with any mention of adult learning needing to include andragogy. Others perceived that andragogy produced unproductive debates along a binary path, with its being too caught up in individualization, the politics of exclusion, conformity, and de-contextualizing adult learning. However, some research revealed numerous dimensions of andragogy. The connection with distance learning became very strong and solid. New applications of andragogy were spawned into foreign language learning, internet …