My research is concentrated on applications of linear algebra in engineering, including wavelet analysis and structured matrices and (currently) approximation of large dense matrices by a mosaic of low rank blocks. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

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These days WebCT, Learning Space, FirstClass and other learning spaces are used very wide. There is controllable content: storing, renewable, additional. Content in every learning space is released in different formats. There are widely defined tools of computer learning. Every virtual class runs in virtual learning space and only some of them have video conference mode. Hypertext creation tools are used widely. Apply to world wide web all study material is storing in study center server. All learning enviroment courses are administrated by network administrators or tutors. All virtual learning enviroments are relative directly with computer network. The most important condition of virtual learning – right selection of virtual learning enviroment.

Background Leadership is the process of directing the behaviour of others toward the accomplishment of some common objectives. Leadership is influencing people to get things done to a standard and quality above their norm - and doing it willingly. Leading others is not simply a matter of style, or following some how-to guides or recipes. Ineffectiveness of leaders seldom results from a lack of know-how or how-to, nor is it typically due to inadequate managerial skills. Leadership is even not about creating a great vision. It is about creating conditions under which all your followers can perform independently and effectively toward a common objective. Leadership is also a never ending process of self-studies with the purpose to know yourself and your behaviour as individual and in a group better. Understanding group dynamics is essential in order to inspire employees into higher levels of teamwork. It could be argued that for any improvement, leadership forms the main resource basis on which success of change relies. Gotland University has during several years carried out well frequented distance courses in leadership. The typical student is a person with a degree working in some organisation, often in a managerial position. Course assessments have indicated appreciation and a high level of student satisfaction. Purpose The question is if leadership theories and methodologies learnt really are put into use when the course is finished. The main purpose of this research is to explore how current leadership teaching is transferred into practical use in organisations. Another purpose is to see how current management attitudes correspond with the main theories. The results will help to improve the understanding of the practical relevance of different parts of leadership theory. Additionally the role of pedagogy and contextual factors when putting leadership theory into practise are highlighted. Methodology/Approach An alumni database for former students is used for sending a questionnaire asking for the relevance of different topics. Focus is on seeing what parts of theory have been used and to what extent. Based on the first results from the questionnaire a number of interviews are carried out to find out more detailed areas of improvement relating both to what theory to focus on and how to learn. Additionally randomly chosen written reports from courses are used to identify current managerial behaviour. Findings Preliminary findings indicate that theories are being used, but that there is improvement potential (study is still in progress). Limitations The study is limited to the theories used in the current courses. Students are practically all mature students already working. Value Leadership is a practical issue and it is important to know that what is taught is relevant and that it is being used. This paper gives a good indication of the practical relevance of important parts of current leadership theory.

This study investigated the impact of motivation on students’ participation and academic performance in distance learning. Distance learning continues to grow in popularity as more and more students enroll in distance education courses. These courses require more responsibility on the part of the student. Some students are unaware of the amount of work that is involved with these courses which can cause them to become overwhelmed and discouraged, possibly leading them to drop the course. Students need to be able to rely on their own individual abilities to be successful in distance learning (Hodges, 2005). At the same time, educators must also modify their instructional design when transitioning from face-toace instruction to web-based instruction (Lei & Gupta, 2010). Improved technologies can provide the means for instructors to increase the quality of learning in distance education. Technologies, such as asynchronous discussion boards allow instructors to become facilitators of learning while providing students with the opportunity to learn from one another through interaction. The use of asynchronous technologies has been known to provide several benefits for students. Those benefits include: (a) increasing student learning by helping students develop high-level concepts and skills, (b) decreasing the likelihood of procrastination, and (c) strengthening students’ self-motivation and responsibility (Abrami & Bures, 1996; Barker, 2003; Kitchen & McDougall, 1999). Twenty-nine upperclassmen and graduate students participated in this study during the summer of 2012. Using data gathered from the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) and discussion board content, the researcher found student motivation to be associated with participation but not with academic performance. Also, associations were found to exist between participation and academic performance. In addition, self-efficacy, intrinsic and extrinsic goal orientation was found to be predictors of participation. The results indicate that some motivational constructs are contributing factors of student success in distance learning. Instructors and instructional designers should seek to include tools that can allow students to help themselves remain motivated while actively participating in the course. Future research should examine other learning strategies variables to determine if they may have an impact on participation and academic performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine (a) what differences, if any, exist between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) students enrolled in distance learning and traditional courses during 2004 with regard to their satisfaction with course quality and (b) the level of satisfaction of distance learning students with regard to online delivery technology and administrative services provided to them in distance learning. Data were gathered using information from 400 distance learning undergraduate students using the Distance Learning Student Response Questionnaire (DLSRQ) and 400 traditional undergraduate students using the Student Survey Form (SSF). These students were enrolled in at least one of the four courses selected from the general education competency areas of Communications, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Sciences during 2004. It was concluded that distance learning and traditional classroom students experienced a high level of satisfaction in regard to almost all aspects of course quality. It was also determined that there was very little difference in the levels of satisfaction between the two groups. Unlike traditional classroom students, distance learning students did not express a high level of satisfaction with the timeliness of instructor feedback. They did, however, express a high level of satisfaction with online delivery technology and administrative services. Implications and recommendations addressed a mentoring program, expanded quality control and professional development initiatives. Recommendations for future research were also offered.

The purpose of this case study research was to identify the factors and supporting strategies that contribute to the implementation of DL instruction in the two-way audio/video (A/V) electronic classroom (EC). A primary goal of this research was to develop an outline of a DL manual that identifies factors and strategies or subject areas that can be used to: (a) contribute to knowledge in the field of practice, (b) improve practice, and (c) improve the quality and success of DL teaching in the EC. Additionally, this study attempted to ascertain the differences and similarities in perceptions among students, facilitators, and training officers who participated in the EC. A list of recommendations are presented at the end of this study; the first list of recommendations suggest areas for the improvement of practice and to influence the quality and success of DL. The second set of recommendations suggest areas for further study to add to knowledge in the field as well as to improve practice. The case study was completed employing a qualitative methodology using focus group interviews, observations, and written feedback from EC participants. Focus group 1 (data set I) was conducted using a set of 13 pre-determined questions with a total of eleven participants. The EC observations (data set II) was conducted at the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC), Dam Neck, VA with 5 students in attendance. The second focus group (data set III) was conducted with a set of 15 different pre-determined questions with the same 5 students at the NMITC immediately after the observations in the EC. The FGIs and observations were video and audio taped for further review and analysis. Written information reported from two different distant site locations (same course and telecast) was analyzed, coded, and used as data set IV. This data set further clarified and corroborated data generated in data sets I, II, and III. This case study identified 10 key factors and supporting strategies pertinent to the implementation of DL in the EC. One of the findings in this study was that the roles of the instructor and the facilitator are interwoven; this arrangement is seen as a two-person "team" by this study's participants because the instructor and facilitator are dependent on each other in order to implement DL and ensure quality operations in the EC. This is a new paradigm shift in the instructor's role when compared with the conventional classroom instructor. In my examination of the literature, I could not find that this collaborative arrangement of a two-person "team" was addressed. Other findings were: (a) the importance of the student guide and supplemental materials that aided EC interactions and (b) the importance of the EC design as a quality indicator and how it can facilitate a good learning environment. Based on a synthesis of the data, there was considerable agreement among the users about the factors and strategies used to operationalize DL in the EC. The facilitators and training officers placed more emphasis on the administrative and return on investment aspects of DL -- cost savings, access to training at duty location -- versus the students who placed more stress on instructional strategies — questioning and interaction techniques -- that worked well for them in the EC and the importance of EC courses helping them to keep up to date with job competencies. / Ph. D.

This study examined the perception of teachers among Mississippi Community Colleges and Universities concerning online courses and distance learning. With the enormous expansion in the amount of technical information that has become available during the past few decades, the challenge of retrieving required data has assumed gigantic proportions. In today’s society there is a rapid growth of technology. A quantitative survey was conducted to identify the teachers’ perception of online education. Two community colleges and two universities were selected to participate in this study. These institutions are geographically located in a widespread chain. The questionnaire consisted of 36 items that addressed the demographics and the instructors’ perception of the quality of online education. Specifically, data was collected to assess the adequacy of the instructional, technical, and administrative support for teaching online courses, the problems encountered, and whether WebCT and Blackboard adequately serve the instructional needs of students and instructors.

This study investigated the influence of computer-generated reminders on the rate in which distance learners submitted assignments and completed courses. The computer-generated reminders, sent via email, served as a time management support strategy. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: control and treatment. Both groups received a list of target due dates for course assignments. The control group did not receive reminders. The treatment group received reminders when they failed to submit an assignment by a target due date. The results indicated no significant difference between the control and treatment groups in terms of assignment submission rates and course completion rates. However, results of this study did reveal that the number of assignments in a distance course influences the timeliness of assignment completion and the likelihood of course completion. / Ph. D.

There is a significant amount of literature on needs assessment group processes and distance learning. There is practically no literature on the affects of using distance learning technologies to facilitate needs assessment processes. This study takes a look at the participation of professionals in a needs assessment using distance learning technologies, the affect it has on their communication anxiety in small group settings using the Communication Anxiety Inventory, and their impressions of the process. Participants used a computer with internet connection and a telephone to take part in the assessment. Three small group needs assessments were conducted. Participants were administered a survey that measured their trait (typical) anxiety score, conducted through the needs assessment, and were administered a survey that measured their state (actual) anxiety score during the assessment and their impressions of the process. Those with low trait anxiety tended to experience an increase in anxiety in this environment while those with high trait anxiety had a decrease in anxiety. It was inconclusive as to whether or not anxiety was a factor in participants contributions to the group process. All participants were willing to participate in this type of needs assessment again. They found the assessment outcomes valuable and the method in which it was conducted convenient. This would seem to indicate that participants felt the impact of using 2-way audio and distance learning tools was minimal but a larger and more diverse study is necessary in order to make any generalizations. / Ph. D.