This study evaluated the learning styles of undergraduate students completing selected online and traditional courses relating to food, nutrition, or exercise at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Data was collected from 93 students across five courses offered at the University of Massachusetts between Fall 2003 and Spring 2007. Results showed that all four Kolb learning styles were present in both the online and traditional classes. Although not significant assimilators were the most dominant learning style in the online classes and convergers were the most dominant learning style in the traditional classes. Matching a students learning style to an instructors training style had no effect on knowledge, attitude, behavior or satisfaction outcomes, however course format did have an impact on these outcome measures.

This dissertation examines distance learning within a local, particular context: UCF's English department. In order to fully examine distance learning in this specific environment, I employ institutional critique as my methodology, a rhetorical and spatial approach that allows me to map distance learning within UCF's English department. Drawing upon the work of David Harvey, I examine the experienced, perceived, and imagined spaces of distance learning in our department. Through an examination of the history of naming UCF, rhetorical analyses of institutional documents that reference technologies, analysis of survey results noting faculty attitudes and perceptions of online learning, and postmodern mapping of faculty members' perceived and ideal spaces, we can find local solutions for local problems related to distance learning.

Motivation in language learning has been studied for quite a long time. However, the main focus has been on motivation in face-to-face learning environments. Motivation in online learning can be different due to many factors. This study compared how a language instructor used motivational strategies in face to-face vs. Zoom classes; and how students reacted to these motivational strategies. For these purposes the Motivational Orientation of Language Teaching (MOLT) was used for observations. Results showed that while the teacher used many of the same motivational strategies in both sections, some categories like Social Chat, Referential Questions and Volunteering had significantly higher scores in face-to-face classes. Results suggest that good teaching is good teaching, however remote classes offer differ affordances and such courses require careful planning.

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The this study examined courses taught within a single College of Education over six semeters to compare face-to-face, hybrid, and online instructional methods as related to student achievement, persistence, and satisfaction. Additionally, a comparison of key student characteristics including sex, race/ethnicity, and residency status was conducted. This study extends the existing literature supporting “no meaningful significant difference” between instructional delivery methods by specifically focusing on courses of similar curriculum as offered within the specific discipline of educational studies. The results reinforce that administrators and instructors should continue to expand access to courses through the flexibility of online and hybrid learning. However, as programs expand their course offerings, further investigation is warranted into the barriers to hybrid and online learning for certain groups of educational studies students within this institution, including women, Asians, and out-of-state residents. / Educational Administration

The study investigated the effects of self-monitoring on students' academic achievement and self-regulation in an interactive television (ITV) classroom. High school students taking the Japanese courses via ITV were asked to engage in self-monitoring activities, including goal setting, self-recording, and self-evaluation for 6 weeks using online databases. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests. and two groups: control and experimental groups, were formed to examine the effects of self-monitoring. Students' test grades and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaires were used to measure academic achievement and self-regulation. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to analyze the data. While no significant difference was found between two groups, the study provided directions for future research. / Ph. D.

This study examines the theory of social presence and its relevancy to distance learning. Short, William, and Christie (1976) originally designed social presence to evaluate the difference between types of dyads (one-to-one interactions) and the quality of the communication media used for those interactions (Rafaeli, 1988; Rice, 1984; Walther, 1992). However, the theory of social presence was not design to explain mediated communication between multiple individuals. Although studies have investigated the effects of social presence in computer-mediated conferencing, little field research exist on the importance of social presence with multiple individuals communicating together within a Web-based instructional program. Moreover, it is evident from the body of literature that a universal meaning of social presence is lacking. For this reason, social presence in this study referred to the degree to which adult learners perceived that they had established some form of rapport with members of an online community. This includes interactions with other learners and support personnel (i.e., faculty, staff, technical support, graders, etc.). Social presence has emerged as an important social factor in the field of distance learning (Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; Rourke, Anderson, Garrison, & Archer, 1999). Recent field studies emphasize the importance of examining social and psychological factors that affect student satisfaction, impact learning, and influences the way people communicate in distance learning environments (Blocher, 1997; Gunawardena, 1995, Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; Hackman, 1990, 1996; Hiltz, 1997; Rourke, 1999; Walther, 1992). Researchers in the fields of education and human interpersonal communication have identified "interactivity" (i.e., interaction), "intimacy," and "immediacy" as attributes that enhance social presence (Christophel, 1990; Gunawardena & Zittle, 1997; McIsaac & Gunawardena, 1996; Mehrabian, 1989; Moore, 1989b; Short et al., 1976). Although social presence has been characterized as an important construct in distance learning (McIsaac & Gunawardena, 1996), little existing field research describes the value adult learners place on it, and whether it affects their satisfaction within a mediated learning environment. This descriptive study examined the adult distance learners' perceived value of social presence (based on interactions, intimacy, and immediacy), in addition to whether it existed within an asynchronous Web-based instructional program. / Ph. D.