This dissertation discovered the factors influencing how students value asynchronous Web-based courses through the use of qualitative methods. Data was collected through surveys, observations, interviews, email correspondence, chat room and bulletin board transcripts. Instruments were tested in pilot studies of previous semesters. Factors were identified for two class formats. The asynchronous CD/Internet class format and the synchronous online Web based class format. Also, factors were uncovered for two of the instructional tools used in the course: the WebCT forum and WebCT testing. Factors were grouped accordingly as advantages or disadvantages under major categories. For the asynchronous CD/Internet class format the advantages were Convenience, Flexibility, Learning Enhancement, and Psychology. The disadvantages included Isolation, Learning Environment, and Technology. For the synchronous online Web based class format the advantages were Convenience, Flexibility, Human Interaction, Learning Enhancement and Psychology, whereas the disadvantages included Isolation, Learning Environment and Technology. Concurrently, the study revealed the following factors as advantages of the WebCT Forum: Help Each Other, Interaction, Socialization, Classroom News, and Time Independent. The disadvantages uncovered were Complaints, Technical Problems and Isolation. Finally, advantages specified for the WebCT testing tool were Convenience, Flexibility and Innovations, and its disadvantages were Surroundings Not Conducive to Learning, and Technical Problems. Results indicate that not only classroom preference, learning style and personality type influence how students value a Web based course, but, most importantly, a student's lifestyle (number of personal commitments, how far they live, and life's priorities). The WebCT forum or bulletin board, and the WebCT testing or computerized testing were seen mostly by students, as good tools for encouraging classroom communication and testing because of the convenience and flexibility offered. Still, further research is needed both quantitatively and qualitatively to ascertain the true weight of the factors discovered in this study.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Self-directed learning is a teaching and learning strategy considered important in fostering lifelong learning. Students take responsibility for their own learning with or without the help of others. It is expected of higher education institutions to prepare students for the dynamic world of work so that graduates are multi-skilled individuals capable of working and the same time be lifelong learners. The aim of this study was to assess the readiness to engage in self-directed learning of radiography diploma students at the Technikon Witwatersrand. Assessing the students' readiness to engage in self-directed learning is the first step in the planning and implementation of self-directed learning. The Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale was the instrument used to assess the students' readiness to engage in self-directed learning. The instrument is widely used to assess students' perceived attitudes towards self-directed learning. The scale was administered to a total of 133 students registered for the National Diploma Radiography: Diagnostics at the Technikon Witwatersrand in the year 2003. Of the 133 students, 51, 36 and 46 were in first, second and third year respectively. Data analysis revealed that the first year students' mean score on self-directed learning readiness was relatively higher than those of second and third year students. Assessment practices and prior exposures to self-directed teaching principles were identified as factors that had an influence on how the students perceived themselves to be ready to be self-directed. Results obtained from this study provide valuable information for the Department of Radiography at the Technikon Witwatersrand and any other institution in the preparation, implementation and conceptualization of self-directed learning as a teaching and learning strategy. Recommendations were that lecturers should assume self-directed learning approaches to the first year students from the onset while gradually introducing self-directed learning strategies to the second and third year students. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Selfgerigte leer is noodsaaklik om 'n klimaat van lewenslange selfontwikkeling te bevorder. Hierdie leerstrategie verplig leerders om verantwoordelikheid vir hul eie vordering te aanvaar, met beperkte hulp van ander. Daar is 'n verwagting dat Hoër Onderwys studente sal voorberei om hul plek vol te staan in dinamiese werkstituasies. Daar word ook van gekwalifiseerde beroepslui verwag om op verskeie terreine 'n bydrae te maak tot hul gekose beroep en hulself lewenslank te ontwikkel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die diplomastudente in Radiografie by Technikon Witwatersrand se gereedheid tot selfgerigte leer te evalueer. Hierdie evaluering word algemeen beskou as die eerste stap in die beplanning en implementering van so 'n leerstrategie. Die Gereedheidskaal vir Selfgerigte Leer (Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale) is gebruik om die studente se houding teenoor hierdie onderrigmetode te evalueer. Altesaam 133 geregistreerde Radiografie studente het aan die navorsing deelgeneem. Van die 133, was 51 eerstejaar-, 36 in hul tweedejaar- en 46 finalejaarstudente. Data analise het getoon dat die eerstejaars 'n hoër graad van gereedheid getoon het vir selfgerigte leer as die tweede- en derdejaars. Die toepassing van bepaalde beginsels van evaluerings en vorige blootstelling aan hierdie leermetode is geïndentifiseer as faktore wat tot hierdie resultaat gelei het. Die resultate van hierdie navorsmg het die Radiografiedepartement aan die Technikon Witwatersrand van waardevolle inligting voorsien in die beplanning, implementering en konseptualisering van selfgerigte leer. Daar word aanbeveel dat dosente 'n selfrigtinggewende benadering met eerstejaarstudente moet volg, terwyl die selfgerigte leerbenadering geleidelik in die tweede en derde studiejare ingefaseer word.

A national survey was conducted to assess student perceptions of the helpfulness of specific instructional development factors in a distance education print-based program. Participants were all students who had successfully completed at least one distance education correspondence course with Global University or were currently enrolled in their first course. Instructional development factors studied included lesson openers, lesson outlines, lesson artwork, written objectives, amount of information presented before a study question is asked, typographical features, graphic art, study questions, answers to study questions, self tests, and unit progress evaluations. Basic demographic information was collected and survey respondents located their perceptions of instructional development factor helpfulness both on a Likert scale and on a rank-order scale. Respondents also were asked for comments on the instructional development factors studied. Differences among respondent groups were examined. Major findings include a tiered ranking by all groups showing formative evaluation factors to be the most helpful, content organization and presentation factors next most helpful, and visual enhancement features (graphic art, typographical design) the least helpful. Overall, perceptions of the facilitative nature of the instructional development factors were similar among most groups. Older students seem to focus more on organization while younger students exhibit a balance between their perceptions of the facilitative nature of content and testing. Students enrolled in their first course perceive several of the formative evaluation factors to be less helpful than do more experienced students while at the same time perceiving content pacing to be more helpful than do more experienced students.

nÃo hà / Em um contexto de redefiniÃÃo do papel do Estado, avulta a importÃncia da profissionalizaÃÃo da gestÃo pÃblica. Em abril de 2009, foi criada a Escola de GestÃo PÃblica do Estado do Cearà â EGP, para preencher, segundo seus mentores, uma lacuna na formaÃÃo do servidor em GestÃo PÃblica. Ao realizar a sua missÃo de formaÃÃo do servidor pÃblico, a EGP usa a estratÃgia do Ensino a DistÃncia, por meio do NÃcleo de EducaÃÃo a DistÃncia Governamental - @NEDGOV. Sob tal realidade, avaliar-se-Ão os resultados do Ensino a DistÃncia da EGP como estratÃgia na formaÃÃo do servidor pÃblico do CearÃ, verificando a coerÃncia de propÃsitos no Ãmbito onde foi criada, como tambÃm sua aÃÃo prÃtica. No intuito de alcanÃarmos os nossos objetivos traÃamos uma metodologia avaliativa que consistiu em uma ampla pesquisa bibliogrÃfica sobre o tema EducaÃÃo a DistÃncia, considerando a perspectiva, das categorias maiores, diretamente envolvidas, sejam elas, EducaÃÃo e Trabalho. Coletamos e sintetizamos, os dados fornecidos pelo Sistema de CapacitaÃÃo gerido pela EGP, para obtermos os Ãndices gerais de aprovaÃÃo, reprovaÃÃo desistÃncia e abandono dos seis cursos, realizados no ano de 2011 na modalidade EAD, exclusivamente pelo @NEDGOV, bem como analisamos as avaliaÃÃes reativas aplicadas aos alunos concludentes, verificando a resposta imediata no Ãndice de satisfaÃÃo dos alunos, logo apÃs o fim do curso. Desenvolvemos ainda, uma pesquisa com os alunos egressos destes seis cursos, em busca de identificar se o desempenho profissional do aluno melhorou em funÃÃo da participaÃÃo nos referidos cursos. Em nossas consideraÃÃes finais expomos o grave problema dos elevados Ãndices de evasÃo nos cursos, relatamos que de acordo com os resultados apresentados na pesquisa, houve uma melhora no desempenho profissional apÃs a participaÃÃo nos cursos na modalidade à distÃncia, realizados exclusivamente pelo nÃcleo governamental. Sugerimos algumas estratÃgias a EGP, para o enfrentamento do problema da evasÃo, sugerimos ainda, para futuras pesquisas um trabalho capaz de medir o impacto das aÃÃes da EGP para o cidadÃo, sujeito final das aÃÃes de todas as polÃticas pÃblicas.

This study compared student satisfaction and academic performance in online and face-to-face classes. 105 ITT Technical Institute students who were simultaneously enrolled in one online course and two on-campus courses were surveyed and interviewed. Factors examined included student to instructor communication, student to student interaction, content selection for online courses and course management for online courses. Sixty-four percent of the students did not pass their online courses and expressed dissatisfaction with the learning process. Course components and processes that could be improved were identified.

This study investigated the use of alternative performance instruction delivery methods on student achievement in a Principles of Marketing course taught at New River Community College during the 1993 fall semester. The study sought to determine if alternative delivery methods of performance instruction would influence students' achievement in the course. The design of the study was quasi-experimental. Two treatment groups were engaged by this study. One group received performance instruction using group-directed lecture methods. The other group received performance instruction using distance-learning methods. The planning and evaluation of course content goals were held constant utilizing an expert system, artificial intelligence (AI) application software suite developed by Instructional Performance Systems, Inc. Delivery of course content goals was controlled, in that, the same instructor taught both sections of the course. Student achievement in the course was measured with teacher developed criterion-referenced mid-term and final examinations. The study tested the null hypothesis that performance instruction delivery methods have no significant effect on student achievement at the 0.05 level. The study was enhanced by the collection and analysis of qualitative student data. A Student Profile Data Survey was developed and piloted. The student data provided the basis to profile the student groups and accent study habits. Descriptive statistics and unpaired t-tests were used to analyze student achievement on the mid-term and final examinations. The analysis found no significant difference in student achievement resulting from performance instruction delivery methods. Descriptive statistics and unpaired t-tests were also used to profile student groups and accent study habits. It was concluded, if course syllabi and evaluation are held constant; and delivery is controlled, one can reasonably expect achievement will be the same for group-directed and distance learners. / Ph. D.

The primary question for this dissertation was: Does online professional development increase novice itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual impairments' (TVI) efficacy for assessing learning and literacy media for students with multiple disabilities including visual impairments? The literature suggested novice TVIs might experience low efficacy when implementing strategies unique to their job after leaving teacher-training programs. Working in an itinerant position can intensify perceptions of low efficacy. One area of low efficacy was conducting and reporting on the assessment of learning and literacy media (ALLM). Using a quasi-experimental pre/post-design, data were collected from pre/postintervention knowledge questionnaires about the assessment process and pre/postintervention written ALLM reports. Eleven participants with 1-5 years of experience as TVIs were divided into control and intervention groups. Four online modules were delivered to the intervention group. The data were analyzed using two dependent and two independent sample t tests. The results indicated the change scores between the control groups pre- and post-submissions did not improve. The change scores between the intervention groups pre- and post-submissions did significantly improve after participation in the online modules. The change scores overall between the intervention and control groups' pre/post submissions were statistically significant. The intervention group completed an acceptability rating scale regarding the feasibility of the modules and the results had an average score of 3.5 (4 = strongly agree). The primary limitation of this study was the small sample size and, therefore, did not allow for generalization.

AGUIAR, Wagner Nery Moreira. O Ensino à Distância da Escola de Gestão Pública do Estado do Ceará – EGP como estratégia de formação de servidores públicos: uma avaliação de resultados. 2012. 131f. – Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-graduação em Avaliação de Políticas Públicas, Fortaleza (CE), 2012. / Submitted by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-10-01T12:43:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012-DIS-WNMAGUIAR.pdf: 1371635 bytes, checksum: c8e2d81d29fe3d7ccc36f8109bbe847f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo(marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2013-10-01T13:59:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012-DIS-WNMAGUIAR.pdf: 1371635 bytes, checksum: c8e2d81d29fe3d7ccc36f8109bbe847f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-01T13:59:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012-DIS-WNMAGUIAR.pdf: 1371635 bytes, checksum: c8e2d81d29fe3d7ccc36f8109bbe847f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Em um contexto de redefinição do papel do Estado, avulta a importância da profissionalização da gestão pública. Em abril de 2009, foi criada a Escola de Gestão Pública do Estado do Ceará – EGP, para preencher, segundo seus mentores, uma lacuna na formação do servidor em Gestão Pública. Ao realizar a sua missão de formação do servidor público, a EGP usa a estratégia do Ensino a Distância, por meio do Núcleo de Educação a Distância Governamental - @NEDGOV. Sob tal realidade, avaliar-se-ão os resultados do Ensino a Distância da EGP como estratégia na formação do servidor público do Ceará, verificando a coerência de propósitos no âmbito onde foi criada, como também sua ação prática. No intuito de alcançarmos os nossos objetivos traçamos uma metodologia avaliativa que consistiu em uma ampla pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema Educação a Distância, considerando a perspectiva, das categorias maiores, diretamente envolvidas, sejam elas, Educação e Trabalho. Coletamos e sintetizamos, os dados fornecidos pelo Sistema de Capacitação gerido pela EGP, para obtermos os índices gerais de aprovação, reprovação desistência e abandono dos seis cursos, realizados no ano de 2011 na modalidade EAD, exclusivamente pelo @NEDGOV, bem como analisamos as avaliações reativas aplicadas aos alunos concludentes, verificando a resposta imediata no índice de satisfação dos alunos, logo após o fim do curso. Desenvolvemos ainda, uma pesquisa com os alunos egressos destes seis cursos, em busca de identificar se o desempenho profissional do aluno melhorou em função da participação nos referidos cursos. Em nossas considerações finais expomos o grave problema dos elevados índices de evasão nos cursos, relatamos que de acordo com os resultados apresentados na pesquisa, houve uma melhora no desempenho profissional após a participação nos cursos na modalidade à distância, realizados exclusivamente pelo núcleo governamental. Sugerimos algumas estratégias a EGP, para o enfrentamento do problema da evasão, sugerimos ainda, para futuras pesquisas um trabalho capaz de medir o impacto das ações da EGP para o cidadão, sujeito final das ações de todas as políticas públicas.

This study examined the effectiveness of employing videoconferencing and Web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel. Due to the acute shortage of special education personnel, it was anticipated that the use of videoconferencing and online instruction would provide a convenient way for students to attend class without having to travel to the actual location of the educational site. Further, it was believed that this initiative would result in higher student enrollment in special education teacher certification programs, consequently leading to an increase of personnel in the field. Moreover, the increase in personnel would enhance the ability of educational institutions to address the dismal academic, social, and behavioral outcomes of students with disabilities. Information for the study was collected from surveys that investigated how students perceived the use of videoconferencing and web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel. Ninety-four graduate students responded to the videoconferencing surveys while 88 responded to the Web-based instruction surveys. Six respondents were randomly selected to participate in face-to-face interviews designed to investigate the effectiveness of both approaches. Findings indicated that videoconferencing and Web-based instruction are convenient ways for students to attend class although videoconferencing sites may not be conveniently located to all learners. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these media depends on several factors: the instructor, the course structure, the learners' learning styles, the quality and quantity of interaction between learners and the instructor, and whether technological problems interfere with the learning process. The study determined that the more structured and organized the course, the more significant the learning outcomes. Also, the maturity level of the students lends itself to accountability toward achieving the desired learning goals. Technological problems and the lack of user-friendly technology lower the effectiveness of videoconferencing and Web-based instruction. Further research will be valuable in improving theories and approaches currently used in the application of videoconferencing and Web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel.