This study sought to determine whether there was a difference in subject matter knowledge as measured by a pretest and posttest, a difference in final course grade as a numeric score, and a difference in attitudes toward computers between students in a competency-based ("hands-on") computer applications course taught in an electronically-expanded classroom compared to students taught in a traditional classroom setting. In addition, students taught in the electronically-expanded classroom completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward the presentation method. Another purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of applying distance education techniques to teach what was, in essence, an on-campus course. The vehicle for this investigation was an electronically-expanded classroom. The electronically-expanded classroom utilized distance education technology (video, audio, and computer networking) to connect two classrooms in the one building. Students in these two classrooms were the treatment group. Students taking the course in a traditional setting functioned as the comparison group. A total of 109 participants completed the study. Results of the study revealed no significant difference in scores on the subject matter posttest, the final course grade as a numeric score, and attitudes towards computers posttest between students taught the course in an electronically-expanded classroom and students taught the course in the traditional classroom. Results of the survey to measure satisfaction with the presentation method revealed that students in the receive room were slightly more satisfied than students in the send room with the presentation method, but the difference was not significant. The survey indicated that participants in the study were sensitive to technical problems, especially audio-related difficulties. While participants noted some dissatisfaction with audio quality, it had no apparent effect on learning outcomes and attitudes for this study. The study concluded that students taking a course in an electronically-expanded classroom have learning outcomes and attitudes toward computers comparable to those students taking the course in a traditional classroom.

This research was conducted to determine why two-year community college instructors teach over the Internet. By understanding why these instructors teach over the Internet, colleges can recruit more instructors to teach using the Web thus allowing colleges to offer more Internet courses. They can also use the information to keep the instructors who are currently teaching over the Internet satisfied, and motivate them to continue to teach. To gather this information, a questionnaire was created and evaluated for reliability and validity during a pilot study. It was then sent to those instructors who taught over the Internet, and had their e-mails available on their campus Website. A 30.5% response rate (N=100) was achieved. The survey was divided into two sections, a demographics section and a Likert scale dealing with motivation. The Likert scale had six choices ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree and 31 statements. The demographic data were reported and summarized. The Likert items were examined using factor analysis techniques, and a number of components were discovered. Eight components, made up of the 31 variables from the Likert scale were found using the factor analysis. The eight components in order are labeled: Technical and Computer Challenges, School Promotion, Student Preferences, Personal Benefits, Receiving Computerized Assistance, Growth and Knowledge, Textbook Company Assistance, and Pay.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many schools were forced to interrupt in-person delivery of educational services and switched to delivery of instruction in a remote setting. The educational impacts of school closures and remote instructional delivery have become a concern for the impact on an entire generation of students. Although delivery of behavioral interventions remotely is a topic that has been reported on in behavior analytic literature for over 15 years before this pandemic, few studies directly compared delivery of equivalent services across in-person and remote settings. Further, no studies included in recent literature reviews included comparative analyses between acquisition of novel instructional objectives across in-person and remote settings. Additionally, no studies are reported using verbal behavior developmental measures to identify potential prerequisites for benefitting from remote instruction. I therefore present a series of experiments to investigate the relative effectiveness of in-person and remote instruction as well as comparing outcomes for students grouped by level of verbal behavior development. In Experiment I, I conducted a carefully controlled experiment to compare rate of learning, rate of instructional presentation, and maintenance of objectives mastered across in-person and remote settings. I used a reversal design across 6 preschool aged participants with disabilities. The results indicate that some participants reliably mastered objectives and completed instruction faster in-person for 3 of 6 participants while the results for the other 3 participants were mixed. Overall, participants mastered objectives and completed instruction faster in-person in approximately half of the comparisons while showing no difference or learning faster remotely in the remaining comparisons. No consistent difference was shown in 14 and 21-day follow up maintenance measures. No consistent difference in the outcomes of students who demonstrated Naming compared to those who did not demonstrate any Naming. In Experiment II, I extend the findings of the previous experiments by comparing system wide educational outcomes of a hybrid in-person and remote educational model to the outcomes of the same model in a pure in-person setting in terms of fidelity of instruction, educational outcomes, and a cost analysis to determine how much the transition to remote provision of instruction costs stakeholders. Further, I compared educational outcomes across students categorized by level of verbal behavior development. The results indicate that the total number of learning opportunities and objectives mastered are significantly higher during a fully in-person model when compared to a hybrid educational model containing a remote instructional component. Further, when comparing educational outcomes across groups of students categorized by level of verbal behavior development, the results indicate that the rate of learning and objectives masted are significantly increased once students demonstrate joining of the listener and speaker repertoires as indicated by the presence of the Naming capability. The implication of the results are discussed in terms of feasibility of remote instruction as an alternative to in-person instruction as well as the importance of identifying and establishing the Naming capability for students to best benefit from remote instruction.Keywords: Telehealth, COVID-19, remote instruction, virtual instruction, verbal behavior development

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the emerging field of electronic distance education CEDE) so as to improve and enhance the delivery of educational programs utilizing EDE. The study was conducted at Utah State University, using an EDE-method (COM-NET) as the research setting. Thirty-seven instructors taught 45 courses over the COM-NET system from Fall quarter, 1985 through Summer quarter, 1986. The design of this study was based upon simple correlation coefficient matrices and the subsequent prediction models of multiple regression analysis. Contextual data were gathered from a solicited instructor self-reporting instrument. The objective was to identify potential relationships between teaching styles and instructional utilities employed on student satisfaction and student performance in an EDE-based learning system. Teaching style data were gathered using the Gregorc Style Delineator (GSD). Instructional utilities data were gathered using the Instructional Utilities Inventory (IUI). Student satisfaction was measured using the USU course evaluation form and student performance assessments were made by using mean grades for those courses taught via COM-NET during the time period of concern in this study. The Abstract/Random teaching style had an effect on student satisfaction. Discovery techniques had an effect on student performance. The Abstract/Random and the Abstract/Sequential teaching styles utilized abstract devices. Instructors were generally enthusiastic about their COM-NET teaching experience. The need for improved on-campus administrative awareness and support in terms of released time and money were identified as measures to improve the system. Instructional flexibility was stressed as important. The COM-NET students performed as well as on-campus students, due in part to their maturity and experiences. It was concluded that instructional presentations have a significant effect on student outcomes. Given the emerging EDE methods more study is necessary to determine precise instructional procedures which result in improved student performances when learning via an EDE system.

This study focused on opinions of diagnostic medical sonography program directors concerning online education within an allied health field that is clinically based. Although the study is centered around sonography, the findings can be applied to many online programs with clinical aspects. There was limited information concerning online education within a clinically based healthcare field, therefore the literature review focused on distance or online education in general. The participating program directors used online/distance learning terms interchangeably. The objective of this study was to identify factors that attributed to or hindered the progress of an online program in diagnostic medical sonography. The question that guided this research was: What are the program directors’ perception of face-to-face versus online program delivery in a clinically based subject? Individual interviews were conducted with three directors of online sonography programs. The responses showed that these directors saw improved overall outcomes in their online programs. This was ultimately attributed to a supportive staff and ease of access to resources. Resources and communication are easily accessed due to the improved technology seen in today’s online classroom.

Distance learners are expected to conduct research in fulfilling their coursework. However, they possess varying skill levels and many lack the information literacy skills necessary to access, locate, evaluate and use the information effectively. Numerous academic libraries are increasingly using nontraditional methods such as computer-assisted instruction (CAI) designed to provide instruction. This dissertation aims to address the following research questions: How successful are CAI methods in equipping distance learners with the skills necessary to become information? What are the attitudes of distance learners regarding information literacy? To what extent are they able to locate resources relevant to a research topic? To what extent are distance learners able to identify and cite sources correctly? The study included a sample size of 114 distance learners drawn from writing, communications, psychology, sociology, and business courses. Each of the courses selected had multiple sections which were randomly assigned to the two groups. Participants in the treatment group received computer-assisted instruction, while similar classes from each discipline served as the control group with no change in their instruction. Four instruments were selected to address the research questions. A questionnaire was utilized to gather data on the learners’ attitudes and perceptions regarding information literacy and their own skills. Each participant completed a bibliography which was examined to determine the extent to which students are able to locate, identify, and cite sources correctly. A test was administered to measure the baseline levels of information literacy of distance learners and the extent to which their information literacy knowledge improved upon completion of the Web-based tutorial. The data were analyzed using a number of statistical procedures. SPSS and Excel software were used to obtain descriptive statistics and t tests of independent means. In addition, the one-parameter Rasch model of item response theory (IRT) was conducted to determine the average information literacy skill levels of participants. The findings support the belief that computer-assisted instruction is effective in developing information literacy competencies of students. The results of the test indicated that there are diverse levels of information literacy knowledge and skills among distance learners at the college and that pedagogical intervention is necessary. The participants who took the online information literacy tutorial demonstrated substantial improvement in their information literacy skills, as reflected in the SAILS test and bibliography scores. The survey, when compared with the results of the Critical Thinking Rubric and the SAILS test, confirmed the hypothesis that students overestimate those skills. The findings indicate that the students’ perceptions of their information literacy competencies are not accurately aligned with their demonstrated competencies.

The purpose of this study was to examine students’ perceptions of quality of online courses as they relate to the IHEP Teaching/Learning Process Benchmarks, Course Structure Benchmarks, and Student Support Benchmarks. The research design for this study was correlational. Out of 3,310 students enrolled in online courses, 97 successfully participated in the study at an urban southeastern university. A survey instrument consisting of three parts was used in this study. Part I of the survey instrument contains 24 Likert Scale questions, examining students’ online learning experiences. Part II of the survey contained four Likert Scale questions, gathering students’ rating on the overall quality of the online course in which they were enrolled. Part III of the survey instrument sought to obtain demographic information from the participants. The research questions were designed to determine students’ perceptions of online course quality distance education and whether a relationship exists between online students’ perception of quality and the operational variables: peer interaction, instructor feedback, course structure, and student support services. Pearson’s r correlation was used to analyze the survey data. After the data were collected and analyzed, the researcher determined that peer interactions, feedback from the instructors, and course structure contribute to predicting students’ perceptions of online course quality in the online courses studied. Students rated the quality of online teaching, online learning and course structure above average to excellent. Students’ perceptions of the quality of student support services were rated the lowest. An examination of the relationship between student perception of course quality and, instructor feedback, peer interaction, course structure, and student support services was also conducted. The results of the examination indicated that moderately statistically significant relationships existed between student perceptions of course quality and each of the three variables. Conclusions and recommendations based on the findings in this study indicated peer interaction, instructor feedback course structures, and student support services contribute to students’ perceptions of online course quality.

This study argues in favour of the distance education student as being a decision-maker and scrutinised his choice criteria against the `open' education background. In particular, the study investigated the relative contribution of influential decision factors, as identified by previous research, in the choice students made when they chose between print-based and on-line modalities. A quantitative study, drawing data from 233 participants in two modules at the University of South Africa, was employed. The study showed that influential decision factors were transferable to a choice between printed or on-line instructional content, but their effects were less significant. Differences pertaining to previous experience with their delivery mode were apparent between students who selected the print-based option and students who selected the on-line option. The results also confirmed that of other research that a significant relationship exists between self-concept and optimal decision-making and self-concept and social environment. / Education Studies / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Academic advising for online learners has been identified in prior research as an important student service. However, little research exists to assist advisers in knowing how best to serve this growing group. The purpose of this study is to close that research gap by determining if and how online and on-campus learners differ in how they rate the importance of various functions of academic advising as well as determining if their frequency of access to academic advising and source of advising information differed. Additionally, the research examines if the types and levels of learning for online learners varied by frequency of advising, source of advising information, and satisfaction with advising received. Participants in the non-experimental, survey-based, exploratory research study include 6,368 undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor's degree at three public institutions including two four-year institutions and one community college. Participants received a survey asking them about their experiences with and attitudes towards academic advising. Results indicate that online and on-campus learners differ in how they rate the relative importance of the different functions of academic advising and that those differences are uniquely related to learners' status as online learners. Additionally, online learners reported more of the types of learning expected from academic advising when they received their advising from an adviser as opposed to advising tools (e.g., web sites, advising guidelines) or their informal social networks, when they were advised more frequently, and when they were satisfied with the advising they received. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

This study argues in favour of the distance education student as being a decision-maker and scrutinised his choice criteria against the `open' education background. In particular, the study investigated the relative contribution of influential decision factors, as identified by previous research, in the choice students made when they chose between print-based and on-line modalities. A quantitative study, drawing data from 233 participants in two modules at the University of South Africa, was employed. The study showed that influential decision factors were transferable to a choice between printed or on-line instructional content, but their effects were less significant. Differences pertaining to previous experience with their delivery mode were apparent between students who selected the print-based option and students who selected the on-line option. The results also confirmed that of other research that a significant relationship exists between self-concept and optimal decision-making and self-concept and social environment. / Education Studies / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)