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Posts Tagged ‘Instructional Systems’

Implications for educator preparation programs considering competency-based education

The competency-based educational (CBE) model has been implemented in numerous colleges and universities across the United States since its inception. While some of these institutions have elected to adopt CBE within a limited number of academic departments or programs, others have chosen to build their entire curriculum in such a way that requires all students […]

Elements of satisfactory online asynchronous teacher behaviour in higher education

In this study, differences were analysed between two groups of online teachers in a Master of Special Educational Needs program. One group scored high on student satisfaction and the second group received low student satisfaction ratings. Findings indicate that high satisfaction is associated with relatively long and pedagogically complex messages that are most often addressed […]

Competency-Based Education in a Traditional Higher Education Setting: A Case Study of an Introduction to Psychology Course

This paper presents a case study of a Competency-Based Education Introduction to Psychology course conducted in a small, private, traditional university in the western United States. Two competency-graded sections were offered, one online and one in the classroom. Eleven undergraduate students completed the online section, and 24 students completed the classroom-based section of the course. […]

Designing and Improving a Blended Synchronous Learning Environment: An Educational Design Research

In this study, a blended synchronous learning environment (BSLE) was created to support a group of graduate students when they were taking a course. Instruction was delivered to both face-to-face (F2F) and online students simultaneously. The purpose of this paper is to present how this BSLE was gradually designed, implemented, and improved by following the […]

Exploring Small Group Analysis of Instructional Design Cases in Online Learning Environments

The case-based approach is a constructivist instructional strategy that helps students apply their emerging knowledge by studying design problems in authentic real-world situations. One important instructional strategy in case-based instruction is to analyze cases in small groups before discussing them with the whole class. This study investigates the use of small-group structure to analyze case […]

Creating a Community of Inquiry in Large-Enrollment Online Courses: An Exploratory Study on the Effect of Protocols within Online Discussions

It can be difficult to foster focused and effective communication in online discussions within large classes. Implementing protocols is a strategy that may help students communicate more effectively, facilitate their learning process, and improve the quality of their work within online discussions. In this exploratory research study, a protocol was developed and improved over two […]

Thinking Skills by Design: Using a Capstone ePortfolio to Promote Reflection, Critical Thinking, and Curriculum Integration

A capstone ePortfolio is a digital space where students can gather and integrate their learning experiences from their undergraduate careers into a meaningful whole, demonstrate their growth as learners, and connect their learning to the world. The process of creating a capstone ePortfolio equips students with the digital composition skills necessary for creating a professional […]

Factors that Contribute to ePortfolio Persistence

This study examined factors that contributed to persistent use, or discontinued use, of ePortfolios beyond the program of study, as perceived by former educational technology students in a graduate program. The related literature points to contemporary research that choice, ownership, voice, and authentic learning are growing trends emerging as persistent factors that contribute to ePortfolio […]

A Comparison of Learning Outcomes for Adult Students in On-Site and Online Service-Learning

As noted by Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning theory, adults learn best through experiences.  Typically delivered in a traditional, face-to-face classroom setting, service-learning integrates the knowledge learned in the classroom with real-world experience and community service.  E-service-learning, service-learning delivered in part or entirely online, is uniquely positioned to provide adult students in online programs with access […]

Does Online Learning Deliver? A Comparison of Student Teacher Outcomes from Candidates in Face-to-Face and Online Program Pathways

Although a growing number of students are accessing online learning programs, there are concerns about the quality of these programs. Multiple reports examined online program quality, but many of those studies had methodology and design issues that make it difficult to interpret the findings conclusively. This study attempted to address the methodological concerns by comparing […]