Online and Distance Education Commons^™

The Role Of Instructor Presence And Class Size In Promoting Engagement Among Adults Pursuing Undergraduate Degrees Online: A Preregistered Study., Ken S. Muessig

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adult learners who pursue undergraduate degrees online are an understudied group who have characteristics that separate them from traditional younger students or graduate students who might be the same age. These characteristics could give them a different experience in online courses. Do adult learners experience instructor presence in a way that makes them engage in their courses more? Is that measurable by a validated measurement of student engagement? This preregistered study seeks to answer how the student engagement of adult learners seeking an undergraduate degree in a 100% online environment is effected by the presence of the instructor. The data …

Advisor-Student Communication In Preparation For Online Education, Jennifer Clare Hoelzeman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The University of Arkansas System eVersity was established in 2014 by the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees. More than 80% of the student population at the institution is non-traditional, with time or location restrictions that prevent participation in on-campus degree programs. eVersity Engage is a required orientation course completed by all students before enrolling at eVersity. Engage is intended to introduce students to institutional policies and resources, set student expectations for online learning at the institution, and provide the foundation for academic success as an online student. After completing Engage, students schedule an appointment with their Academic Success …

Using Online Education To Address The Challenges Of Small, Multigrade Schools, Lori Imasiku, Michael Gayle, Michelle Bacchiocchi, Melanie Kartik

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Student Perceptions Of Hybrid Courses In Higher Education, Sanne Unger, Carrie Simpson, Alanna L. Lecher, Shara B. Goudreau

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

Online open-ended and closed-ended surveys were conducted in 2014-2016 among 191 students at a small, private university located in South Florida. Our main goals were to evaluate student perceptions of in-class and out-of-class assignments in hybrid courses, determine what students value most about these modes of learning, and recommend ways to maximize advantages and minimize disadvantages of each. We discovered that students value instant feedback and interacting with their peers when they are in class as in-class assignments were rated significantly higher than out-of-class assignments (p < 0.05) and higher ratings were significantly associated with responses associated with student-student interaction (p < 0.05). However, the time and place constraints of in-class work limits their ability to formulate their thoughts. Out-of-class assignments were appreciated for their flexibility of pace, time, and place, although students reported time-management problems as well. Like for in-class work, students valued the opportunity of reading their peers’ answers as higher assignment ratings for out-of-class assignments were significantly associated with students’ ability to read the responses of others. Although participants did not report an effect from specific learning differences, having to write for out-of-class work (as opposed to speaking in class) was reported as a hurdle. We discuss strategies for improving in-class and out-of-class assignments based on our study results.

Study Of Use Of An Additional Reading Material In Swayam Mooc Platform In India And Need Of Learner Centric Personalized Adaptive Real-Time Reading Material In Moocs, Sangeeta N. Dhamdhere Dr, Vaidehi Dhamnikar Ms, Anand Gaikwad Mr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Technology-based education is the need of time. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of India is giving freedom to reframe the present structure of higher education like syllabi and examinations and assessment in colleges. Due to the pandemic outbreak, many educational and research institutions are engaged in building the knowledge & skill-based curriculum and designing new credit-based courses, also motivating their students to attend online courses available to cope up with the recommendations of NEP. Any e-learning platform or online course has four basic components – Videos, Activities, Additional reading material, and Discussions. Additional Reading is one of the important components. …

Changes In Obstacles To Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic For University Students And Recommended Solutions, Becky Williams, Sunshine L. Brosi

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to student learning from K–12 to universities and continues to manifest negative effects on students. To better understand the challenges our students face and how those obstacles have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we surveyed our undergraduate ecology students who ranked obstacles to learning they experience in technology, learning environment, and economic security. The majority of respondents report conditions have worsened since the onset of the pandemic. Surveys identified the largest challenges on average were being unfamiliar with technology, using a smartphone or tablet for …

Student Stories Of Online Learning, Carrie Lewis Miller, Michael Manderfeld

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

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Instructional designers at a Midwest university piloted a survey based on the Quality Matters general standards asking students about their online course experience prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were asked to indicate whether they experienced a specific course design element and whether they considered that element to be important to their learning experience. Follow-up interviews with some participants were also held. Data from the survey indicated students perceive their online course experience to be good based on course design elements they encountered. Implications for providing additional faculty development programming based …

Jete Fall 2022 Introduction, Jason Olsen

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

An introduction to the Fall 2022 issue of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 6, Issue 2, Fall 2022

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Fall 2022 issue (Volume 6, Issue 2) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

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

The Fall 2022 issue presents research and guidance on topics related to reflective practice and learning. The first article examines the impact of the SOAP Notes tool on teaching, learning, and instructor reflection. The second article provides guidance for faculty on how to collect, explain, and showcase their efforts in a teaching portfolio. Article three shares the findings of a student survey to identify students' experience with the design elements found in the Quality …

Instructional Systems Design And The Diffusion And Adoption Of Technology: (Volume 1), Miguel Ramlatchan (Author & Editor), Mark Parsons (Author), Meghan Soldani (Author), Josie Joswick Mendoza (Author), Maria Satre (Author), Brittany Spitz (Author), Jasmine Bundy (Author), Amanda Kline (Author)

Distance Learning Faculty & Staff Books

Instructional designers, instructional systems designers, and other educational technologists are, by their nature, innovators. These professionals apply and extend the applied science of learning, systems, communication, and instructional design theory to help students learn. Technology in some capacity is used to make the connections between subject matter experts, teachers, instructors, and their learners. It is common for instructional designers to seek new tools, techniques, and innovations for the improvement of learning, access, quality, and student satisfaction. However, the adoption and diffusion of new educational technology and innovation is a complex process that depends on many variables. Understanding these processes and …

Strategies For Creating Inclusive Learning Environments Through A Social Justice Lens, Beverly Araujo Dawson, Whitney Kilgore, Renee M. Rawcliffe

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Culturally situated and cross-cultural approaches to instructional design and research have become increasingly important in higher education, particularly in online learning environments. As higher education becomes increasingly racially and ethnically diverse, learning environments must be structured and facilitated to meet the learning needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) students. Based on the Community of Inquiry (CoI) and culturally inclusive pedagogy, this paper provides an overview of inclusive teaching practices and the necessity to take a holistic approach to online teaching with BIPOC students. This paper provides an overview of key instructional design elements to achieve equity-minded instructional design.

Effects Of Remote Learning On Mental Health And Socialisation. Literature Review, Anna Dabrowski, Pru Mitchell

School and system improvement

This literature review focuses on the effects of remote learning on mental health, including acute mental health issues and possible ongoing implications for student wellbeing and socialisation. It provides an overview of some of the challenges that can impact on the mental health and relationships of young people, many of which have accelerated or become more complex during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the light of concern about rising antisocial behaviour and extremism there is a focus on socialisation and self-regulation on return to school post-pandemic. In the face of limited Australian research on these topics, the review takes a global …

Social Presence As A Predictor Of Social Construction Of Knowledge In Discussion Forums In Asynchronous Online Higher Education Courses, Austin Megli

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

The three research papers completed and compiled to make up this dissertation explore the relationship between social presence and social construction of knowledge in asynchronous online discussion forums in higher education courses in the instructional technology field. Paper 1 is a literature review of the interaction analysis model (IAM) (Gunawardena et al., 1997) as a methodology, which is used to measure and determine the social construction of knowledge in online discussion forums. This literature review identified and highlighted the need to determine how the social environment of online learning influences the social construction of knowledge. This led to the second …

The Effects Of Online Learning Experience During The Covid-19 Pandemic On Students’ Satisfaction, Adjustment, Performance, And Loyalty, Michal Wilczewski, Oleg Gorbaniuk, Terry Mughan, Ewelina Wilczewska

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

This research investigates the student online learning experience (SOLE) during the 2020 spring Covid-19 pandemic. We collected quantitative data through an online survey from 362 international and 488 domestic students at a large Polish University. Correlation and path analysis within a conceptual model of SOLE and its academic outcomes established that (1) SOLE explained adjustment, performance, satisfaction, and loyalty, (2) academic adjustment predicts performance, satisfaction, and loyalty, (3) that academic performance and satisfaction predict student loyalty, and (4) that academic performance predicts satisfaction. Interestingly, time spent in quarantine/self-isolation did not exert any effect on academic outcomes in SOLE. Moreover, qualitative …

Instructional Message Design: Theory, Research, And Practice (Volume 2), Miguel Ramlatchan (Author & Editor), Elisa L. Shaffer (Author), Marissa A. Jimenez (Author), Spyridoula Tsouganatou (Author), Yolanda Montague (Author), Maria Satre (Author), Brittney Heath (Author), Bradley Sanders (Author), Jim Shifflett (Author), Meghan Soldani (Author), Shuree Altantsetseg (Author), Melissa Hatfield (Author), Casey Kohler (Editor)

Instructional Message Design, Volume 2

Message design is all around us, from the presentations we see in meetings and classes, to the instructions that come with our latest tech gadgets, to multi-million-dollar training simulations. In short, instructional message design is the real-world application of instructional and learning theories to design the tools and technologies used to communicate and effectively convey information. This field of study pulls from many applied sciences including cognitive psychology, industrial design, graphic design, instructional design, information technology, and human performance technology to name just a few. In this book we will visit several foundational theories that guide our research, look at …

A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Teachers’ Experiences With A Mandated Transition To And From Synchronous Online Instruction, Susan P. Lyman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand secondary teachers’ experiences with an unexpected transition between in-person teaching and virtual modalities for secondary educators in New York public schools. The theory that guided this study was Schlossberg’s transition theory which provided a lens through which to understand the shared experiences of making an unplanned transition from face-to-face teaching to online platforms. The study was qualitative and followed a phenomenological research design. The setting for this study was multiple public school districts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, New York. The sample was 10 secondary public school teachers …

Cognitive Load In Asynchronous Discussions Of An Online Undergraduate Stem Course, Emily Faulconer, Beverly Wood, Charlotte Bolch

Publications

Purpose

As online course enrollments increase, it is important to understand how common course features influence students' behaviors and performance. Asynchronous online courses often include a discussion forum to promote community through interaction between students and instructors. Students interact both socially and cognitively; instructors' engagement often demonstrates social or teaching presence. Students' engagement in the discussions introduces both intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load. The purpose of this study is to validate an instrument for measuring cognitive load in asynchronous online discussions.

Cognitive Load In Asynchronous Discussions Of An Online Undergraduate Stem Course, Emily K. Faulconer, Beverly Wood, Charlotte Bolch

Publications

Purpose – As online course enrollments increase; it is important to understand how common course features influence students’ behaviors and performance. Asynchronous online courses often include a discussion forum to promote community through interaction between students and instructors. Students interact both socially and cognitively; instructors’ engagement often demonstrates social or teaching presence. Students’ engagement in the discussions introduces both intrinsic and extraneous cognitive load. The purpose of this study is to validate an instrument for measuring cognitive load in asynchronous online discussions. Design/methodology/approach – This study presents the validation of the NASA-TLX instrument for measuring cognitive load in asynchronous online …

Collective Proving Activity In A Synchronous Online Environment, Tenchita Alzaga Elizondo

Dissertations and Theses

Given the well documented fact students often struggle with proof and proof-related activity for various reasons, more educators have shifted to incorporating pedagogies involving collaborative learning given their benefits to student learning. However, there is still surprisingly little research focused on the nature of students' collaborative proving activity. Moreover, the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent shift to remote learning, forced educators and students to adapt and learn how to work within a new learning environment. In this dissertation project, I investigate how students engage in collaborative proving activity in a synchronous online introduction to proofs course. In the first paper, …

Imposter Participants: Overcoming Methodological Challenges Related To Balancing Participant Privacy With Data Quality When Using Online Recruitment And Data Collection, Jacqueline M. Roehl Ph.D., Darci J. Harland Ph.D.

The Qualitative Report

In this paper we describe the lessons learned when untrustworthy participants were included in a qualitative interview study. In online research, participants can more easily misrepresent their identity and volunteer for studies even if they do not meet inclusion criteria. The term “imposter participant” refers to dishonest participants who completely fake their identities or simply exaggerate their experiences to participate in qualitative studies. Untrustworthy participants are a threat to data quality, yet little has been published on how qualitative researchers should prevent and handle this unique methodological challenge. In this paper, we provide a detailed account of how specific issues …

Creating Meaningful Connections In Online Counselor Education, Latoya D. Smith

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

In this conference summary brief, the author discusses the importance of creating meaningful connections between counselor educators and students in online teaching platforms. The author connects this discussion to ethical standards throughout the conference brief. Finally, the author provides strategies for counselor educators to implement and suggestions to consider using to monitor their effectiveness, model self-care practices, and model boundaries for students.

Creating Connection With Online Learners, Wendy M. Helmcamp, Tara Fox

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Many counselor education programs are now offered online due to convenience and accessibility. The pandemic has forced educators to learn how to connect with students on an online platform genuinely. Some online college students report feeling disconnected, lonely, and isolated. However, online educators can reach these students through creative mediums, which helps them feel more engaged and increases their learning experience. This conference proceeding will discuss the importance of connection for students, how to creatively promote communication and connection with students, technology platforms, and ways to safeguard ethics during supervision, training, and teaching.

Ungrading An Online Counseling Course, Leah K. Clarke

Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision

Ungrading, or alternative assessment, is an educational practice that is growing in use and can be effective in online counselor education. Alternative assessment aligns with social justice, competency-based, and community of learning educational philosophies. Assessment that is meaningful for teachers and learners can increase engagement, openness to feedback, and intrinsic motivation for counselors-in-training. A counselor educator describes how one online course was ungraded.

2021 Ijbe V2 Front Matter, Tamra Connor

International Journal for Business Education

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

Using Markup Languages For Accessible Scientific, Technical, And Scholarly Document Creation, Jason J.G. White

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

In using software to write a scientific, technical, or other scholarly document, authors have essentially two options. They can either write it in a ‘what you see is what you get’ (WYSIWYG) editor such as a word processor, or write it in a text editor using a markup language such as HTML, LaTeX, Markdown, or AsciiDoc.

This paper gives an overview of the latter approach, focusing on both the non-visual accessibility of the writing process, and that of the documents produced. Currently popular markup languages and established tools associated with them are introduced. Support for mathematical notation is considered. In …

Ksu's Digital Course Repository (Dcr), Kimberly S. Loomis, Heather Hankins

All Things Open

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, KSU faculty saw an opportunity to teach in the digital space and developed many effective courses in online and hybrid formats. The KSU Distinguished Course Repository (DCR) was created to catalog, recognize excellence, and showcase these courses, and to provide access to others, all in support of ongoing student success. Submitted courses are required to have a Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International Public License, since they are expected to be shared and modified by future faculty. Publication in the DCR is beneficial to faculty, students, and programs, and the DCR itself is an excellent example of …

Deaf And Hard -Of -Hearing Students' Experience Of Distance Education During Covid-19: Advantages And Barriers, Nourah Ibrahim Albash Ph.D., Maryam Hafez Turkestani Ph.D.

International Journal for Research in Education

This study investigated the deaf and hard-of-hearing students' experience of distance education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 during the 2020 academic year. The authors followed a phenomenological approach, conducting an in-depth interview with 10 female teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Qualitative data revealed four main themes, which show students' experience of distance education. It was found that there is a general satisfaction among teachers in relation to the experience of distance education. Findings also revealed a set of advantages to the distance education experience (i.e., creating fun and increasing motivation, saving time, considering individual differences, and …

Parent Perspectives Of Digital Learning Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Keiyana Wilson, Kathryn Washington, Kelly Brown, Quentin Bellard, Tilisa Thibodeaux

School Leadership Review

Digital learning is a rising method of enhancing education for learners in the K-12 sector of learning. The growing approach to instruction has created a pathway for various backgrounds of learners to conveniently explore content from home. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine parent perspectives of K-12 digital learning programs in southeast Texas. More so, the study explored how parents’ perspectives of digital learning in relation to academic success influenced the selected mode of instruction for their child. Using a phenomenological approach, research questions were answered regarding parent perspectives of digital learning, as related to the …

School Leadership Assessment Of Teachers’ Work-Life Balance: Perceptions And Professional Learning Needs During A Global Health Pandemic, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Summer Pannell, Alissa Sasser, Katherine Fallon, Katarina Evans

School Leadership Review

The purpose of this study was to better understand the work-life balance of educators teaching students during the Covid-19 health pandemic. Teachers face a multitude of challenges during this unprecedented time with a rapid shift from traditional face-to-face class to online learning resulting in a cyclical phenomenon for many teachers as schools have shifted back and forth between virtual and in-person settings in response to constantly changing coronavirus messaging. The findings identified three overarching themes related to teachers’ needs including Boundaries with Time and Commitments, Mentally Processing Daily Stressors, and Healthy Lifestyle. Implications for practice denote that …

What Has Changed For Top Mba Schools Within A Decade In Terms Of Mindfulness?, Dr. Damla Aktan, Asst. Prof. Nilgün Gürkaynak

International Journal for Business Education

The concepts of “mindful consumption” and “sustainability” became indispensable parts of both academia and business life. Based upon an initial research conducted in 2012, this research aims to understand and compare the change within a decade in MBA curricula in terms of mindfulness content inclusion as well as sustainability and ecological orientation. The results compare the evolution of the integration of concepts to curricula since 2012 through the official websites of the top 100 MBA schools of the Financial Times Global Ranking in both 2012 and 2022. The study aims to summarize how the concepts of sustainability, mindful consumption and …