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Posts Tagged ‘Instructional Systems’

Online STEM Courses Need More Real-World Interactivity

What do students want in the learning activities for their online STEM courses? They’d prefer more real-life problems to solve and instructional resources such as simulations, case studies, videos and demonstrations. Campus Technology 

Differences of Instructor Presence Levels in Predominately Online Versus Predominantly Not Online Courses within the Community College Setting

The increase in the number of students enrolling in online courses (Allen & Seaman, 2013; Bennett, Evans, & Riedle, 2007; Seide, 2016) and students’ concern of the level of instructor presence in the predominately online course (Jaggars, 2014; Queiros and de Villiers, 2016; Tichavsky, Hunt, Driscoll, & Jicha, 2015) are reasons this research is necessary. […]

Instructor Feedback on a Formal Online Course Quality Assurance Review Process

This case study explored the impact a quality assurance course review had on instructors at University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (UWL). This in-house created rubric is used to conduct formal course reviews of online classes developed by instructors at this medium-sized Midwestern public university. Also included in this case study, are results from a […]

Educators’ Preparation to Teach, Perceived Teaching Presence, and Perceived Teaching Presence Behaviors in Blended and Online Learning Environments

Teaching in blended and online learning environments requires different pedagogical approaches than teaching in face-to-face learning environments.  How educators are prepared to teach potentially impacts the quality of instruction provided in blended and online learning courses. Teaching presence is essential to achieving student learning outcomes, yet previous research has focused on student perceptions of teaching […]

A Learning Design Methodology for Developing Short Learning Programmes in Further and Continuing Education

Over the past 5 years, teaching staff at the School of Continuing Education, VIA University College, Denmark, has been designing digitally supported teaching within diploma programmes and tailor-made courses in the fields of health, education, social sciences and management. More and more of these programmes and courses are designed as blended learning and are characterised […]

Current Practices of Online Instructor Evaluation in Higher Education

As enrollment of students in online courses has steadily increased over the last few decades, very little attention has been given to online instructor evaluation. This is an area of online education that needs additional research to better ascertain the current state of online instructor evaluation as well as discover ways to improve its effectiveness. […]

Students’ Perceptions of Quality Across Four Course Development Models

Four course development models were used within a three-year time frame, allowing for an evaluation of the different models based upon students’ perceptions of the integration of the Quality Matters (QM) Standards, course structure, and quality. The study compared (a) faculty training, (b) instructional designer supported, (c) additional QM training course, and (d) no training […]

Online Course Design and Development among College and University Instructors: An Analysis using Grounded Theory

In this study, a grounded theory approach was used to investigate the process college and university instructors undergo to design and develop online courses. Fourteen instructors who created online courses for four-year colleges and universities were interviewed about their experience designing and developing online courses. Results showed that participants begin the process with objectives and/or […]

Understanding the faculty perspectives influencing their innovative practices in MOOCs/SPOCs: a case study

Learning in environments such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and its variations have become a turning point in the design and range of university courses offered, although there is some difficulty in transforming their pedagogical discourse. Additionally, flexible and skillful faculty are required to respond to the diversity and continuous social changes to ensure […]

The Rhetoric and the Reality of Student Outcomes in Competency-Based Schools

The exploration of the rhetoric and the reality of student outcomes is a fascinating topic. We use the rhetoric of “college and career ready,” but few states and districts have actually taken the time to clarify what that means, how they will know if students reach it, and actually updated their graduation requirements to reflect […]