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The efficacy of two online instructional methods, guided inquiry and video, were experimentally examined for learning and change of misconceptions regarding learning styles; the relationship of student characteristics to outcomes was also examined. Learners’ mindset interacted with instructional method for learning; additional learner characteristics also indicated some relationship to the efficacy of these instructional methods for learning. Misconceptions, however, were generally resistant to change. Implications for online instruction and future directions for research are explored

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In this time of human disconnect brought on by technological advances and cultural changes involving communication, educators sometimes struggle to create communities of engaged learners in the online environment. Davis, Sumara, Luce-Kapler (2008) wrote, “teaching is not about replication but about creating something new through moments of connection and reconnecting with one another, with the past, and with the environment” (p. 13). We will discuss, strategize, and develop plans to create online courses that move beyond asking students to “comply” with evaluation criteria or to repeat information found in instructional materials. During this session, participants will develop course, assignment, and/or lesson plans, focusing on ways to increase instructor presence as well as active, engaged, and authentic teaching and learning via projects, student-to-student interactions, and faculty-student interactions.

This research explored the existence and importance of interaction in online courses as perceived by online learners and instructors. The study was based on data from online students and instructors in the fall 2002 semester at Mid-Atlantic Community College(1). Two web-based surveys were used to collect data. Eighty-eight of 267 online students completed the survey, for a response rate of 33%. The study was based on constructivist theory which suggested that students learn by actively participating in the learning process through interaction with the instructor, other students, and course materials. This interaction was measured by different online interaction modalities and a five-step interactivity model developed by Salmon. This model suggested that the intensity of interactivity involves five steps: access and motivation, online socialization, information exchange, knowledge construction, and development. In addition, student characteristics (age and gender) and pedagogical variables (online experience and learning preferences) were included. Findings of the survey revealed that students perceived a moderate to high level of availability in a majority of the interactivity modalities. The highest interaction was reported between students and instructor through email communication and feedback on students? work by instructors. In addition, student ratings of the availability of different interaction modalities in online instruction were correlated with their perceptions of the importance of these modalities. Students reported satisfaction with the level of interactivity in their online courses. In contrast, responses to Salmon?s model revealed a high level of unavailability of the various interactivity criteria. The result of instructor survey, based on 13 responses, revealed that online instructors perceive interaction with students through email communication and providing feedback on their work were important. They did not perceive many of the interactivity criteria introduced by this research to be important. Therefore, they reported these criteria as unavailable in their online courses. This study is important because the extent of systematic research on availability and importance of online interaction is limited. (1)- To preserve the anonymity of respondents, this name is a pseudonym. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of student discourse in asynchronous computer-mediated communication and its relation to student learning. From in-depth investigation of teacher design, facilitation and direction for asynchronous discussion, implications for high school online instruction guidelines and the need for evaluation standards of online courses and teacher instructional practice are made. Examining student discourse provides information related to the social construction of knowledge. Teacher presence and its relation to higher levels of student discourse provides information for best practices in online teaching. This information can be used to determine specific standards and guidelines for evaluation of online instruction which can contribute to quality online high school courses. The context of this study was two high school online AP English courses. The multiple case study approach analyzed student discourse within asynchronous discussion forums and the relation to student learning outcomes. Observation of teacher facilitation and course documents were examined in relation to levels of student discourse and student learning outcomes. Triangulation of data sources included discourse analysis, interviews with teachers, and archival documents. Results from comparing and contrasting multiple cases are presented as basis for implications to guide course design, facilitation and evaluation. / Ph. D.