Online and Distance Education Commons^™

Fostering Future Professional Contemporary Collaboration, Rene'e M. Huth, Jordan M. Tucker

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Collaborative teamwork needs to be fostered early and often to meet contemporary practice ideals. This qualitative phenomenological designed study’s purpose was to investigate student physical therapists (SPTs) and student physical therapist assistants' (SPTAs) perceptions of an intraprofessional online activity reflective of contemporary home health and telehealth settings. A convenience sample of 25 SPTs from one program and 24 SPTAs from another program met synchronously online to view a video case of an ambulatory patient with dementia, develop a plan of care, and discuss appropriate interventions reflective of practice in Virginia. Following interactions, students wrote reflections on their experiences that were …

Enacting Project-Based Learning For Higher Education: An Autoethnographic Study Of Online Learning During The Pandemic, Somariah Fitriani

The Qualitative Report

This study is a reflection on my personal experiences with the higher education online teaching and learning process. It is an autoethnography study in which data were garnered from virtual participant observations, journals, an open-ended questionnaire and interviews about student projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. I leveraged project-based learning as pedagogical device. Thus, the students worked collaboratively on an online training project (webinar) as part of a course on education and training management. I served as both a teacher and a participant in the online training performed by the students. Through virtual participant observation, this project allowed me to learn …

Responding To The Needs Of Early Literacy Teachers: Designing Online Professional Development To Improve Writing Instruction For Multilingual Learners, Katie M. Crook, Lindsey W. Rowe, Hazel Vega, Emily Howell, C C. Bates, Kavita Mittapalli, Amlan Banerjee

Publications

While the population of multilingual learners (MLs) in the United States has grown rapidly in recent years, many teachers feel unprepared to teach them. The professional development (PD) teachers receive is often misaligned with their particular needs and experiences. This design-based research study examined the development and impact of online PD designed with teacher input to improve writing instruction for young MLs. Data were collected over twelve months from 25 teachers in six Southeastern U.S. school districts. Researchers evaluated the impact of the PD on teachers’ knowledge and self-efficacy for teaching writing to MLs. Findings highlight how teachers made instructional …

Opening The Door, But Not Entering: Adult College Students Who Apply, But Do Not Enroll, Juliette Punchello

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study used a mixed method research design and employed an explanatory sequential design, which collected, analyzed, and combined both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore why adult, non-traditional students would apply to a college, but not enroll. This disconnect affects not only the applicant, but also the institution, as multiple resources for both parties will be utilized and not recovered. The quantitative component of the study included data from an established segment of applicants who did not enroll at Thomas Edison State University (TESU). The qualitative component utilized a phenomenological approach and included the data gathered through interviews with …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of The Transition To Online Learning And Remote Work On The Army Congressional Fellowship Program, Jason Edward Roberts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative case study is to investigate the extent to which the compulsory transition to online learning and remote work affected the academic and workplace performance of select personnel in the Army Congressional Fellowship Program (ACFP). This study also aims to better understand the role of classroom and workplace socialization in supporting desired academic and professional outcomes. The sample consisted of twelve Army personnel selected as part of Cohort FY2021 of the ACFP. Each participant was asked to express how online learning and remote work affected their ability to perform their duties as a fellow in …

Who Drops Back In? An Investigation Into Non-Traditional Post-Secondary Students Who Return After Time Away, David Comolli Jr

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Non-traditional students are adult learners that begin working on an undergraduate degree after their 25th birthday, many of whom enroll in a flexible baccalaureate program. These are programs that involve some component of learning outside of a traditional classroom (i.e., online, a job-site, etc.). The purpose of this research study was to investigate the like-experiences that exist among non-traditional students that left education and later returned, and to investigate desirable alternatives for students considering dropping out (taking time away). Three research questions guided this study, they were as follows:

1. To what extent do personal events contribute to students choosing to …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …

Navigating Artificial Intelligence: How Traditional Midwestern Four-Year Higher Education Institution Distance Learning Programs Are Addressing Artificial Intelligence, Eric Samaritoni

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

AI's rapid evolution and integration into society has had and will continue to influence how distance education programs teach their students profoundly. This study aimed to explore the opinions of higher education distance education Provost administrators, program managers, directors, department chairs, and other subject matter experts on the perceived impact of AI in the classroom. This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach to examine how AI impacts students, faculty, program delivery, institutional policies, and university budgets. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 13 faculty members meeting the criteria to answer research questions based on their experience or observations. The study used …

A Teacher Preparation Program's Stakeholders' Perceptions Since Campus Closure Due To Covid-19, Laurie J. Mccormick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

COVID-19 closed colleges and forced faculty and students to learn a new way of teaching and learning. Like most institutions, Marshall University’s College of Education and Professional Development struggled to provide the practicum experience required for teacher preparation when most public schools shifted to remote learning. This qualitative study investigated the reactions of, and ongoing impact on, a university’s college of education’s administrators, faculty, undergraduates, the institution’s instructional designers, and the Counseling Center’s director when the campus closed spring of 2020 due to the pandemic. Initial and ongoing challenges faced, and strategies implemented were categorized by the four themes that …

Factors Contributing To Technostress In Nursing Education: A Study Of Master Of Science In Nursing (Msn) Education Students, Jennifer Weber

Nursing Dissertations - Archive

This mixed-methods study examined factors contributing to technostress among Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Education students enrolled in a fully online program. Guided by the Technostress Trifecta Model, the study explored the relationships among age, grade point average (GPA), years of nursing experience, and self-rated technical skills, as well as students’ perceptions of technology use in learning.

Data were collected from 94 participants using the Technostress Scale by Upadhyaya and Vrinda (2021). Quantitative analyses showed that self-rated technical skill was significantly associated with lower perceived technological complexity, while age was significantly associated with both techno-invasion and techno-uncertainty. GPA and …

Lgbtq+ Maine Timeline (Sources Included), Megan Macgregor

USM Libraries & Learning Scholarship

This timeline is in no way complete. If you would like to add something to the timeline please reach out to Megan MacGregor ([email protected]) with the event AND a source showing that it happened.

Investigating The State Of Graduate Education In The Philippines: Challenges, Opportunities, And Policy Implications, Anne K. Candelaria, Eric Arthur N. Dio, Jovelyn G. Delosa

Political Science Department Faculty Publications

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the graduate education sector, revealing that it is highly privatized, NCR-centric, and dominated by enrollment in Education and Business/Administration fields. The analysis confirms that the primary driver for this high demand, particularly in teacher education (which accounts for over half of all enrollment), is the use of graduate degrees as a key requirement for career advancement and promotion within agencies like the Department of Education (DepEd). This policy-driven demand, however, is linked to systemic issues, including the proliferation of “diploma mills” that undermine quality, extremely low on-time completion rates (averaging 18.77% for Master’s …

Navigating Recovery: Insights From Distance Learning Human Services Students' Abstinence Experience, Chaniece Winfield, Jill Kivikoski, Catalina Kraft

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

With the rise in overdose and problematic drug use in the United States, it is crucial to develop competent human service practitioners in addiction treatment and recovery settings. This qualitative study explores the virtual abstinence experience of distance learning human services students, using Mezirow’s transformative learning theory to examine how a 21-day experiential abstinence prompts critical reflection and perspective transformation. The study investigates the socio-emotional and physiological factors influencing participants' progress toward sobriety, including cravings, withdrawal, isolation, and relapse triggers. Findings highlight how participants' critical reflection leads to a deeper understanding of addiction and recovery, as well as an enhanced …

Ally With Ai: An Icebreaker To Unlock Career Aspirations For Online Or Hybrid Organizational Behavior Cohorts, Jyro B. Triviño

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

Modern organizational behavior classroom, which are increasing in size, diversity, and complexity, are shifting to online and hybrid learning environments, challenging the use of traditional icebreaker activities. This paper introduces a 15-minute icebreaker designed to address these issues while integrating the principles of Kolb's experiential learning theory and fostering social capital through peerr engagement in an online setting. By leveraging the availability of generative AI, students prompt a template code to unlock their career aspirations and stimulate social connections among their classmates. This provides an innovative teaching model for meeting the foundational icebreaker goal while serving a suitable tool for …

Impact Of Digital Courseware Use On Online Student Sense Of Belonging And Potential For Building An Online Community Of Inquiry, Kat Klement

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Though interest in online education is rising, online programs have a lower retention rate than do in-person programs and a correspondingly higher dropout rate. One factor that drives online student retention is the degree to which students feel a sense of belonging in their online courses. As more interest in online education leads to larger course sizes and more online sections, instructors may turn to digital courseware offered by publishing companies to increase student engagement and provide formative assessment. Yet research shows little consistency in the impact of digital courseware use on course grades. The studies in this thesis explored …

Language-Related Episodes In Individual Observations Versus Collaborative Interactions: The Case Of Advanced Learners Of Spanish, Emilia Alonso-Marks, Mariche G. Bayonas, Diana Marysol Contreras-Licea

International Journal of the Linguistic Association of the Southwest

The pandemic forced many students to complete tasks individually either at home or in virtual classrooms. This study compares individual task performance with small group collaborations in terms of Language-Related Episodes (LREs) and the honing of pronunciation. Two groups of advanced Spanish learners from India and the USA participated in the study. Results note that having more than one learner does not increase LRE productivity; individual learners produce more affective/metacognitive LREs; and linguistic forms focused on by individual learners are more memorable than those discussed collaboratively. Pedagogical recommendations are proposed for both types of learning scenarios.

V1804 Table Of Contents

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

table of contents

Otolaryngology Applicants' Preferences For Virtual Vs. In-Person Interviews During The 2023-2024 Application Cycle, Taylor S. Erickson, Robert Frederick, Steven D. Pletcher, Aileen Dowden, Dana Dunleavy, Eric J. Dobratz

Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) Faculty Publications

Background Since the shift to virtual residency interviews, applicants and programs have reported difficulty distinguishing themselves in a virtual format, reduced exposure to medical campuses, and limited opportunity to establish personal connections. The 2023-2024 application cycle was the first time virtual and in-person interview formats were available in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS). Programs offered one or both formats, and in some cases, applicants were given the choice between the 2.

Objective To assess the perceptions of OHNS applicants regarding virtual versus in-person interviews during the 2023-2024 application cycle.

Methods A 20-question survey was distributed via email through the Association …

Effects Of Active Learning In An Undergraduate Physiology Class Using Hands-On And Simulation Labs, Ainsley C. Frayer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Increasing student engagement has shown positive effects on students and can be achieved by incorporating active learning strategies in the lab. Currently, the undergraduate human physiology lab at Missouri State University utilizes simulations to practice physiological concepts. The proposed project aims to evaluate if incorporating hands-on labs would improve student learning and/or their engagement. The hypothesis is engagement will be increased in hands-on labs, but grades will not differ significantly, based on previous literature. Three simulations were replaced with hands-on lab software to evaluate engagement and learning. Student engagement was assessed using a voluntary, anonymous survey. Exam average scores were …

Nontraditional Students Enrolling In Online Education: Assessing Outcomes And Barriers To Success, Kua Vang

Master's Projects

Online education has significantly reshaped how colleges and universities define and evaluate academic achievement. In March 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the U.S. government enforced social distancing regulations that affected operational continuity for higher education institutions. The need to transition from traditional classroom instruction to online was unavoidable. Institutions were not prepared, however, and their shortcomings in providing high-quality online learning for students were exposed. The inadequacy can be due to higher education institutions decade-long mindset of seeing online education as a less credible alternative. As a result, institutions are more eager than ever before to invest …

Exploring Vr User Experiences, Sarah Ferguson, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Brett Cook-Snell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) has unique potential for simulating environments and situations beyond real-life experiences. This study investigates the limitations of VR equipment design for learning spaces, specifically online environments. Presented are the findings of an exploratory study that examined the immersion, ease of use, and physiological and emotional experiences of seven university students participating in a 30–60 min VR session. Given the small sample size, the findings were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively. The results revealed that participants recognized the potential of VR as a teaching and learning tool, while also identifying certain limitations associated with health and safety. …

Uncovering Third Space In Virtual Transnational Partnership: Transdisciplinary And Transcultural Transformation, Soyoung Han, Seongryeong Yu

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This qualitative case study explores how two English language teachers from South Korea and Taiwan developed transcultural dispositions as they participated in a virtual professional development program. The study employed third space as a conceptual framework and the third generation of cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT-3rd) as an analytical framework to uncover the teachers' learning experiences. Findings from this study reveal the dynamic and complex process of becoming a trans-educator through transforming one's professional identity and teaching practices. This study contributes to inclusive and responsive educational practices that reflect the complexities of globalized teaching and learning environments.

Living Our Principles: Designing An Accessible And Inclusive Virtual Conference, Theresa Evans, Kevin E. Depew, Amy Cicchino, Cat Mahaffey

English Faculty Publications

The articles highlights the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators' (GSOLE) innovative approach to virtual conferences, emphasizing their role in fostering professional development in online literacy education. Topics include GSOLE's strategies for engaging worldwide educators across time zones, its commitment to accessibility and anti-racist practices, and efforts to lower costs to include underrepresented and underserved teachers, tutors, and administrators.

What Does It Mean To "Humanize" Online Teaching?, Dana L. Rognlie, Kathryn E. Frazier, Elizabeth A. Siler

Philosophy Faculty Publications

[Introduction] "Humanizing" the online classroom is widely acknowledged as a feminist goal (e.g., Pacansky-Brock et al., 2020). Yet the project of humanizing has a complex history in the academy and beyond, with elements of this history often misaligned or directly opposed to what might be considered "feminist" goals. Feminist philosophers have long critiqued the neutral-human-as-masculine default (Beauvoir, 2010; Irigaray, 1993; Lloyd, 1993), and decolonial and antiracist scholars have highlighted the racist legacy of projects that aim to qualify humanity (Cameron, 2021) and of programs designed to humanize the Other (Berenstain, 2020, Foucault, 1979; See Malone & Malone, 2015, on the …

Collaborative Online Interactive Laboratory On Software Defined Radio Fundamentals, Otilia Popescu, Dimitrie C. Popescu, Emanuel Puschita

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Teaching of fundamentals of communication systems varies widely across programs in US and abroad, mainly due to the type of undergraduate engineering programs and the depth of the communications field within the curricula. The variety is spread across electrical engineering and electrical engineering technology programs, and programs with focus on telecommunications or which only offer core or elective courses in communications. Adding to the variety, some programs include hands-on laboratory courses, others include simulation-based laboratories most of the time using Matlab, while others may only include lecture courses with no labs. The accessibility of the new software defined radio (SDR) …

Designing Tpack-Driven Mobile Learning With Digital Citizenship For Biology Education: Insights From Ngt And Ism Approaches, Cik Jamaliah Abd Manaf, Shakinaz Desa, Muhamad Ikhwan Mat Saad, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The rapid digitization of education and the complexity of scientific content demand the integration of digital citizenship in TPACK-based mobile learning for Biology. This study aimed to identify and prioritize relevant digital citizenship practices using a Design and Development Research approach. In Phase One, the Nominal Group Technique with 10 experts evaluated eight proposed practices. Phase Two employed Interpretive Structural Modeling with nine experts to structure hierarchical relationships. Seven practices were retained, with Ethical Use of Digital Resources as the top-level driver. The resulting framework supports ethical and discipline-specific mobile learning models, promoting responsible digital engagement in Biology education.

Demonstrating The Resilience Of Eportfolios In Times Of Disruption: Two International Case Studies, Shari Bowker, Amy Cicchino, Kevin Kelly, Kristina Hoeppner, Christina Mayes, Megan Mize, Christine Slade, Suzanne Schibeci, Sarah Zurhellen

English Faculty Publications

This chapter explores ePortfolios as a resilient practice in higher education during periods of disruption. Drawing on the Support principle from the Digital Ethics Principles in ePortfolios, developed by the Association for Authentic, Experiential, and Evidence-Based Learning’s (AEEBL’s) Digital Ethics Task Force, the authors argue that the student resilience fostered by ePortfolio practices can only be achieved successfully if ePortfolio programs are implemented and supported in a way that makes them resilient as well. Two case studies from Old Dominion University (ODU) in the United States and The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia demonstrate how both institutions embedded ePortfolio …

College Students' Identity Differences In Offline And Online Learning Environment And Their Effects On Achievement Motivation, Sang-Soog Lee, Jinhee Kim, Seung Won Yu, Na Li

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The unprecedented evolution of educational technologies has transformed the learning landscape, creating distinct experiences in offline and online learning environments (OLE). However, little attention has been given to exploring students’ identities in the online learning context and how they can influence academic trajectories, limiting the development of a holistic understanding of the nature, effects, and areas of improvement in students’ identity formation in OLE. This study aims to investigate how students’ identity subcomponents differ among offline and OLE students via propensity score matching (PSM) in China, which allows us to find a doppelganger to estimate the counterfactual situation for making …

Vietnamese Efl Lecturers’ Perceptions Of The Role Of Chatgpt In Facilitating Language Acquisition Among Their Students, Thanh Thao Le, Phuong Hoang Yen Dr, Trut Thuy Pham, Ngoc Bao Chau Tran, Thi Thuy Linh Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This qualitative study investigates the perceptions of Vietnamese EFL teachers regarding the role of ChatGPT in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Amidst the growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, this research focuses on understanding how educators at different career stages perceive the effectiveness of ChatGPT in enhancing language learning experiences. Employing semi-structured interviews, the study engaged nine teachers from two educational institutions in Vietnam. Thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Constructivist Theory of Learning, revealed multiple roles of ChatGPT in SLA. These include its use as a conversational partner, a tool for immediate feedback, …

Online Learning Challenges And Coping Among U.S. College Students During Covid-19 Lockdown And Two Years After, Hayaa Alhazani, Li-Ting Chen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

There is a lack of research on comparing college students’ learning experiences during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Moreover, little is known about the relationship between student coping and perceived online learning challenges in higher education. The present study aimed to fill in the gap. Online survey responses from 43 U.S. college students were used in this correlational study. Learning environment challenges were rated as the greatest challenges during the lockdown and two years after it. Students who had taken online classes before the lockdown rated higher levels of technological complexity during the lockdown than their counterparts. When comparing coping …