Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Griggs Ownership Transferred To Andrews, Keri Suarez

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Integrating Second Life Into A Chinese Language Teacher Training Program: A Pilot Study, Hsiu-Jen Cheng, Hong Zhan, Andy Tsai

Publications

Second Life (SL), a 3-D Multi-User Virtual Environment, has been found beneficial to foreign language education because of its immersive and interactive environments. This cross-continental study explored feasibilities of using Second Life to provide field experiences to pre-service Mandarin teachers in a program of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language in Taiwan. This study also investigated pre-service teachers‘ insights of teaching Chinese in such a virtual environment, as well as the difficulties these teachers encountered when integrating Second Life in teaching Chinese. The study found that the more teaching experience the pre-service teachers gained in teaching Chinese in Second Life, …

From Walls To Steps: Using Online Automatic Homework Checking Tools To Improve Learning In Introductory Programming Courses, Dwayne Towell, Brent Reeves

School of Information Technology and Computing

We describe the motivation, design, and implementation of a web-based automatic homework checker for Programming I and Programming II courses. Motivated by a problem-based-learning approach, we redesigned our first course to have over 70 short programming assignments. The goal was to change conceptual "walls" into "steps", so that students would not feel overwhelmed at any point in time. At each step along the way, it must be clear where the student is and the next step must feel attainable. Over the last 3 years, we have learned much about proper "step-size" and sequencing of problems. We describe how current computer …

A Framework For The Comparison Of Virtual Classroom Systems, Daniel Mcsweeney

Conference Papers

The increase in demand for open and distance learning has resulted in many higher education providers investing in virtual classroom systems. These systems can be an essential component in the delivery of flexible and online courses. While many institutions correctly place a greater emphasis on the pedagogical development of flexible courses, poor selection or implementation of virtual classroom software can reduce the pedagogical effectiveness of such courses and in some cases render them unworkable for both lecturing staff and students.

Changes in vendor offerings, the continual evolution of end user technology, developments in mobile devices and improvements in internet infrastructure …

A Glance At Institutional Support For Faculty Teaching In The Online Learning Environment, Gary Stark, Rob Lion

Journal Articles

• A survey of higher education institutions in a 12-state region investigated how they support faculty with the design and development of web-based classes.
• The literature on best practices guided the creation of the web-based survey questions, which targeted the chief academic affairs officers on each campus or the appropriate delegate.
• The study found that institutions offer a variety of support services to online faculty, such as requiring training prior to teaching online and including web-based learning in institutional goals and strategic plans.
• The next step implied by the study findings is for institutions to look at strategies that influence the …

Evaluation Of Olpc Programs Global : A Literature Review, Dita Nugroho, Michele Lonsdale

Digital learning research

This literature review was undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with the intention of identifying existing approaches to the evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) programs globally. It was expected that there would be few examples, partly because the OLPC program is a relatively recent initiative, and this has proved to be the case. The knowledge base is expanding, however, with more evaluations of OLPC deployments and one-on-one computing in general being conducted.

Technology Integration In Secondary Physical Education: Teachers’ Attitudes And Practice, Anne Gibbone, Paul Rukavina, Stephen Silverman

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Technology has influenced teaching, yet we know little about physical educators’ predispositions and use. This study investigated secondary physical education teachers’ attitudes and practices regarding technology integration and relationships between attitude and practice. The data collection instrument measured teachers’ attitudes and technology use. Results suggest that teachers had positive attitudes, yet a limited use of technology. Teachers reported a number of barriers influencing technology use including budget, class size, and training. All attitude factors correlated with technology use. Physical educators may be willing to apply technology for teaching if given opportunities to prepare, practice and utilize appropriate resources.

A Predictive Study Of Wiki Interaction: Can Attitude Toward Wiki Predict Wiki Interaction In High-Context Cultures Groups?, Hung-Ling Twu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Wiki technology is more than a technical mechanism to support language learning. It should be seen as an attitude toward social learning technology with consideration for social and cultural factors of the learners. It is not appropriate to assume all students would perceive the social functions of Wikis in the same way and be equally eager to engage in the technology. Learners from different cultural groups may perceive and interact differently in Wiki-based learning environments because the influence of their cultural perceptions regulates their interaction. This study purposes to examine the predictive relationship between attitude toward Wiki and Wiki interaction …

Social Media Tools As A Learning Resource, Youmei Liu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Social media tools have become ubiquitous. You can see our students use them all the time. Among them most popular tools are Facebook, Wiki, YouTube, bulletin board, LinkedIn, blogging, and twittering. The advancement of modern technologies tries its best to accommodate the needs from people, especially the younger generation. As educators, how can we take advantage of this momentum? This paper will share a research study that was conducted in fall of 2009 at the central campus of the University of Houston. The study investigated student’s use of different social media tools, their perceptions and attitudes towards these tools, and …

Collaborative Learning Problems And Identity Salience: A Mixed Methods Study, Feihong Wang, John K. Burton

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Peer collaborative learning that emphasizes collaboration among peers has attracted a great deal of interest since the last two decades of the 20^th century (Dornyei, 1997; Martin, 2007). Other than proved academic advantages, many collaborative groups were ineffective and failed to generate any collaborative actions (Hardy, Lawrence, & Grant, 2005; Johnson & Johnson, 1996). Identities are motivators of human actions (Stryker, 1968), which impact students’ behavior tendencies to be contributing or preventing to the occurrence of the collaborative learning problems. The purpose of this study was to explore students’ behavioral tendencies in dealing with collaborative learning problems in relation …

Designing Online Collaborative Location-Aware Platform For History Learning, Xiaojun Chen, Jea H. Choi

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The emergence of geographic visualization and location aware technologies provides educators and teachers with an opportunity to design more effective instructional materials. Visible Past is an innovative learning and discovery project that integrates mapping services with a content management system and 3D virtual reality capabilities. In addition, the system allows for the connection of physical locations or objects such as books and digital artifacts and documents through 2D codes. Similar to barcodes, they can be read by any camera enabled cell phone triggering information retrieval from the web. This adds an element of portability and of meshing up print based …

Asynchronous Network Discussions As Organizational Scaffold Learning: Threaded Vs. Flat-Structured Discussion Boards, Chih-Hsiung Tu, Michael Blocher, Lawrence Gallagher

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Threaded and flat-structured discussions to support online learning present online educators with new and challenging dilemmas. Both formats apply different interfaces, structures and require different organization techniques for presenting postings which may affect the ways students participate. Both formats may impact online learning differently in terms of the organizational scaffold of learning. The purpose of this study was to examine experiences of online students and compare the impact that threaded and flat-structure discussion boards exerted on learning. This study concluded that both formats critically enhanced and inhibited students’ online discussions. Both formats may empower discussion participants differently and with strategic …

P2p: Assessing A Peer Evaluation Strategy, Ching-Wen Chang, Cathy J. Pearman, Nicholas W. Farha

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of peer evaluation in a performance-based, Web-enhanced undergraduate instructional technology course. The results of a survey administered at the end of three semesters indicated that learners believe the peer evaluation process helped them improve the quality of their own work, both as a result of being a peer evaluator themselves and from the quality of the feedback received from their classmate-evaluators. Higher quality final projects with fewer mistakes corroborated the students’ assessment. These findings provide valuable information for instructors who are currently utilizing or considering the implementation of a peer …

Qr Codes In Education, Ching-Yin Law, Simon So

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

QR codes, developed by a Japanese company, have been around for over fifteen years. With the advent of smart and Web capable mobile devices, we witness a steady growth of interesting commercial applications using QR codes. As the movement of using QR codes in education is still in its infancy, this paper serves to be one of the first comprehensive papers in journal publication to fully delineate (a) the user characteristics of QR codes, (b) the processes of making and reading QR codes, (c) the survey of commercial applications using QR codes, (d) the literature review of educational applications using …

Is One Life Enough? Delivering A Module In Second Life, John O'Connor, Claudia Igbrude

Conference Papers

The potential of online virtual environments, such as Second Life for delivering remote learning continues to be debated by academics. It would appear to offer particular opportunities to support remote learning in art & design, where there is a particular requirement for live visual interaction.

The School of Art, Design & Printing at the Technological University Dublin (DIT) received funding to develop a module for undergraduate students to test this theory. A five-credit module (under the European Credit Transfer System) received formal approval from the Institute in 2009 and was delivered as a pilot to academic staff who were interested …

The Relative Value Of Online Learning Environments As Perceived By High School Teachers, Daryl Joe Scoggin

Dissertations

Online learning environments have become more popular for use in education from year to year. This medium for teaching and learning has been successfully used in higher education for years. Only within the past decade has this instructional platform made its way into the P-12 arena. With the expansion of online learning environments becoming more popular, this type of lesson delivery may eventually make its way to the building or site level. As in a face-to-face classroom, teachers have an effect on the success of the students. The perceptions of teachers regarding dimensions of implementation and use of online learning …

The Effects Of Cooperative And Collaborative Strategies On Student Achievement And Satisfaction In Blended And Online Learning Environments, Christine E. Nickel

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cooperative versus collaborative strategies used for a group project had differential effects on students' achievement, process and solution satisfaction, value and preference for collaboration, and perceptions of community of inquiry in online and blended environments. The study sample consisted of teacher education students enrolled in a technology integration course. Students' age, academic level, online experience, and teaching experience were used as covariates in an effort to identify differential effects associated with student characteristics. Cooperative and collaborative strategies were differentiated by the amount of structure imposed by the instructor as well as …

Using Podcasting For Blended Learning, Sherry Robinson, Hans-Anton Stubberud, Carsten Blom-Ruud

International Journal for Business Education

Blended learning is a hybrid learning format combining some of the best features of distance learning and traditional face-to-face classes. Through the use of online course management sites and other media, students can access material at their convenience and attend a reduced number of classes that then emphasize interaction. This educational opportunity is especially valuable for working adults who cannot attend traditional classes. However, the lack of lectures can be a challenge for students who learn best by hearing. Podcasting, which involves the creation and distribution of audio and/or video files, is one tool that can help students to learn …

2010 Ijbe Front Matter, Tamra Connor

International Journal for Business Education

1. Editorial Board
2. President's Letter
3. SIEC-ISBE International

Editorial Board

Perspectives In Learning

This is the document on the editorial board

Invited Essay: Philosophy Of Teaching, Rebecca Alexander

Perspectives In Learning

No Abstract

Table Of Contents

Perspectives In Learning

This is the table of contents.

The Road To The White House: Using Experiential Learning In The Classroom, Gregory Domin

Perspectives In Learning

This case study presents a first hand account of experiential learning undertaken by the author and 16 Mercer University students during the 2008 presidential nominating season. The author was able to arrange a seminar entitled “The Road to the White House” which included an observation trip to South Carolina for the Republican Primary, 16-21 January, 2008, where students both witnessed and participated in the unfolding events of the 2008 presidential campaign

Building Innovation : Learning With Technologies, Kathryn Moyle

Australian Education Review

AER 56 explores national and international policy priorities for building students' innovation capabilities through information and communication technologies (ICT) in Australian schools. Section 1 sets out the Australian policy context for digital education and highlights some of the emerging challenges. It provides an overview of two Australian school education policy priorities: that of how to meaningfully include technologies into teaching and learning; and how to build innovation capabilities in students. Section 2 critically examines the education and economic policy contexts for digital education in Australia, their intersections with international economic priorities, and the role of commercial technologies markets in schools. …

Evaluation Of One Laptop Per Child (Olpc) : Trial Project In The Solomon Islands, Acer

Digital learning research

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was commissioned by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) to undertake an evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) trial in three schools in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province. The evaluation was to be conducted in a very short timeframe and would consist mainly of interviews with teachers, students, parents and community members, together with a questionnaire distributed to a small number of MEHRD officers and other OLPC personnel. The key purpose of the evaluation was to identify the impact of the OLPC program and its strengths and …

Optimistic Bias In The University Classroom, Harvey Richman Ph.D.

Perspectives In Learning

This research investigated the prevalence of “optimistic bias” (unrealistic performance expectations) among low scoring students. Possible causes and remediations are discussed. Two hundred seventy four undergraduate students were surveyed after their first course exam, and again after their second exam, to assess the effects of optimistic bias. At both survey points, each student provided (1) a performance estimate for the recently taken exam, (2) actual score for that exam after receiving it, and (3) an estimate of future exam performance. The sample was divided into quartiles based on first exam actual scores. Lowest quartile students were overly optimistic regarding their …

Taking The Lead Role In Intern Supervision: The Mentor Teacher Intern Project, Melissa Sullivan

Perspectives In Learning

Classroom teachers participate in many university teacher education programs as partners in the education of teacher candidates. The Mentor Teacher project was initiated in 2003 to allow teachers a voice in the school internship or student teaching process. This study investigated the strengths and weaknesses of the program through individual interviews and open-ended surveys. The program was perceived as very successful by the Mentor Teachers as they moved into a new level in their profession.

Using Wimba Live Classroom For Student Engagement At A Distance, Larry Moore

Perspectives In Learning

Synchronous online classes are becoming more common in education. Students are demanding quality educational opportunities outside the traditional classroom that are flexible and engaging. This article explores the virtual learning environment of Wimba Live Classroom that was incorporated into CougarView Vista at Columbus State University. Wimba Live offers the conduit that allows teachers and students to interact in a virtual classroom closely resembling the traditional face-to-face class. Students enrolled in two separate classes were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions concerning the Wimba Live experience. This article discusses the pedagogical, technical and interaction issues related to the Wimba Live classroom, and …

The Teacher’S Role In Enforcing Hand Washing Techniques Among School-Aged Children In The Midst Of The H1n1 Pandemic, Tara Redmond

Perspectives In Learning

The endeavor of increasing health literacy among school-aged children is a vital role for teachers to play during these turbulent times of pandemic viruses. This essay will address the vital role that teachers have in enforcing proper hand washing techniques in the classroom among their students in order to prevent the spread of influenza and other illness within the community. The document will also provide information related to the historical perspective of the influenza virus and findings associated with the history of hand washing as a mechanism to prevent the spread of disease and illness among human populations.

Considerations Regarding Leadership Training In A Tofflerian Era Of Change, Thomas Mccormack, Paul Hackett

Perspectives In Learning

In 1970, sociologist and futurist Alvin Toffler predicted a future characterized by experience and information overload. This overload, said Toffler, would be caused by an exponential increase in the amount of knowledge being produced and our inability to cope with both the volume of information and the rate at which knowledge was being produced. In this article, the authors make the case that we are presently living in a Tofflerian Era that includes constant change in terms of amount of knowledge and the rate at which it is transmitted and collected due to the proliferation of new technologies. In this …