The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between individual student differences and academic success in three pedagogical methods (traditional classroom, computer-aided instruction (CAI) in an on-campus setting, and CAI in a distance education setting) for developmental mathematics classes at the community college level. Locus of control, math anxiety and learning style were the individual differences examined. Final grade, final exam score and persistence were the indicators of success. The literature review focused on developmental mathematics, pedagogical techniques and variables contributing to academic performance. Two parallel research populations consisted of 135 Beginning Algebra students and 113 Intermediate Algebra students. The Rotter I-E Locus of Control Scale, the Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale, the 4MAT Learning Type Measure, and an instrument to gather demographic data were used. It was the conclusion of this study that the instructional methods were not equal with respect to achievement. In Beginning Algebra, the CAI students received significantly higher final grades than did the traditionally taught students. In Intermediate Algebra traditional students scored significantly higher on the final exam than did the CBI students. There were more students persisting than expected in traditionally taught Beginning Algebra and no significant difference in attrition in Intermediate Algebra. There was no significant prediction of achievement in Beginning Algebra. For Intermediate Algebra math anxiety was a significant predictor for final exam percentage and locus of control was a significant predictor for final grade percentage. Only the instructional method contributed significantly to the prediction of attrition. While these findings are statistically significant, they account for only a small part of student success. However, the results had implications for the future. In particular, further study should be given to the question of whether CAI, and its associated expenses, is prudent for developmental mathematics instruction.

Esta tese estuda as concepções de avaliação da aprendizagem em cursos a distância, pois tendo em vista a crescente oferta de cursos nesta modalidade de ensino, a partir do desenvolvimento das tecnologias de informação e comunicação, acreditamos ser o tema relevante para que cursos a distância possam, de fato, contribuir, para que superemos, enquanto nação, a desigualdade de acesso à educação. Consideramos como aporte teórico os princípios da avaliação formativa, uma vez que um de seus principais objetivos é oferecer informações para que professor e aluno possam repensar e fazer os ajustes necessários nos processos de ensino e aprendizagem. O estudo feito sobre a História da Educação a Distância e os meios de comunicação utilizados nesta modalidade de ensino objetivou compreender o status que ocupa nos dias de hoje, para então entender as prováveis concepções que norteiam a legislação vigente sobre o tema. Também analisamos três documentos de instituições de ensino superior que oferecem cursos a distância, buscando identificar a concepção de avaliação da aprendizagem. Como contribuição, podemos destacar dois pontos: a análise de instrumentos de avaliação da aprendizagem que podem ser utilizados em cursos a distância e um conjunto de princípios que podem gerar inúmeras práticas pedagógicas que favoreçam a construção do conhecimento e a aprendizagem. As críticas apontadas à legislação vigente objetivam criar espaços para debates produtivos que possam contribuir para a elaboração de um projeto nacional de educação. / This thesis studies conceptions of the learning valuation whenever long distance education courses are applied, since we have noticed the growing offering and supply of distance learning for education and training courses lately. Taking into account the development of information and communication technologies, we firmly believe that this subject is relevant in order that distance education courses may, as a matter of fact, contribute to overcome, as Nation, the great disparity of access to education we undergo. We have considered, as theoretical support, the principles of formative valuation, once one of its chief objectives is to offer reliable information so that the teacher and student are capable of rethinking and adjust whatever and wherever necessary the teaching and knowledge processes. The research and study done about the History of Distance Education as well as the means of communication employed by this path of teaching has aimed to understand the status in which it is placed presently, so that we may know and comprehend the probable conceptions which guide and direct the legislation in force about this theme. We have, also, analysed three dossier and records of college education institutions which offer long distance education and learning courses, attempting to identify the conception of learning gain valuation. As contibution, we were able to put in relief two aspects: the analysis of which instruments and tools of valuation may be used in long distance education courses, as well as a set of principles that might generate uncountable pedagogic practices which may enhance and benefit the knowledge and learning process construction. The review and criticism pointed to the legislation in force aim to create spaces and make room to productive debates which may contribute to the elaboration of a national education project.

Online coursework is common in Special Education Programs that train teachers for rural areas. Does every student have the potential to learn well online? This session will discuss a study where half of the students were face-to-face and the other half were online. The two sections will be compared.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Educational Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / The primary aim of this study was to investigate the growing rate of dropout phenomenon within the ambiance of higher education and to develop a support model for lower-postgraduate students. Anchored within Maxwell’s (2012) model of qualitative design, this case-study research has employed the deficit theory and the theory of transactional distance to guide the investigation. While the theoretical evidence was garnered through the application of traditional (narrative) literature review design, the empirical evidence was achieved by targeting lecturers, administrative officers and dropout students. These participants were only those who have respectively taught an advanced communication research (COM4809) module which is offered in the department of communication science as part of the honours programme, who have been involved into the administration of the module in the same department and who have dropped out of COM4809 between 2011 and 2016. Purposive selection technique was used to sample distinct units of analysis at various levels. At the first level, the University of South Africa (Unisa) was used as a case ODL university. At the second level, COM4809 was used as an ideal module to demonstrate that dropout is prevalent at an honours postgraduate level within the ODL domain. At the third level, lecturers were also purposively included into the study since they were key informants. With regard to administrative officers, a census approach was adopted to include the only two administrative officers who have been involved in the administration of COM4809 between 2011 and 2016. Dropout students were selected using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. While the purposive selection of dropout students from the given dataset (statistical information) of 219 dropouts, which was requested from the information and communication department (ICT), was used, the snowball selection method came into play when lecturers identified twenty-one dropout students from their personal records and furnishing the researcher with detailed contact information about them. However, the researcher has managed to hold focus-group interviews with a group of six dropout students and telephonic interviews with ten dropout students, summing up to 16 participants. Focus-group interviews were also undertaken with a cohort of eight lecturers while another seven lecturers have participated in the in-depth interviews. Data were analysed through the use of qualitative content analysis method, and O’Connor and Gibson’s (n.d) design viii    to analyse qualitative data was used. To ensure the credibility and dependability of findings, a triangulated approach to data collection and analysis were used. The study unveiled four major themes on dropout factors, namely: dropout factors associated with students’ personal circumstances, with lecturers’ personal circumstances, with institutional (academic) circumstances and with those factors which are determined by circumstances of other units of analysis (other research contexts). The study has further revealed that while the majority of factors can be controlled, others cannot. Based on the findings and the literature, an integrated honours student-centred support model (IHSCM) was developed to serve as a framework within which to understand dropouts of lower-postgraduate students in an ODL institution. Findings have demonstrated the importance of providing support services in an ODL environment and advocate for a holistic approach towards addressing attrition. The proposed model is envisaged to better expound dropout attributes, which lead students to discontinuing their studies in the ODL environment, and to assist ODL institutions to effectively address the concern. ODL institutions, which want to apply the proposed IHSCM, should do that with caution in mind owing to the fact that the model is not yet tested. Hence, it is inferable to suggest that future research should focus on its impact in the reduction of dropouts of honours students in ODL contexts.   Key words: Student dropout (attrition), dropout student, open and distance learning (ODL) institution, Higher education institution, distance education, student support intervention (services, intervention, mitigation strategy) and student support model (framework).

The purpose of this case study was to describe and further understand how faculty are being prepared and developed to teach web-based courses at a college in Florida. The study examined practices used by the college in preparing their faculty to teach online. Faculty preparation and development were defined as any activity which expands knowledge about how to teach web-based courses. Broward College was chosen as the site of study. Utilizing the qualitative case study approach, the researcher collected and analyzed data during the Fall 2009 academic semester. Data collection methods included interviews, observations of faculty development workshops as well as online classrooms, and document analysis. The study revealed Broward College's method of preparing faculty to teach online. Faculty are prepared to teach online through the Instructional Technology Department. This method focuses heavily on professional development workshops that directly correlate with the types of online classes offered at the college. Faculty are also prepared to teach online through the use of consultants, known as e-associates, as well as other follow-up support. This was an educational leadership study that focused on preparing faculty to teach online. Florida's community colleges are becoming baccalaureate degree-granting colleges, and as enrollments increase, so will the demand for online classes. In turn, college faculty need to be prepared to teach online. This study emphasizes the importance of leadership, administration, and support needed in order to successfully prepare faculty to teach online. / by Stephanie Arsht. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography.

This dissertation examines the contribution that media make in quality distance education and seeks explanations for poor media selection processes. Distance education is viewed in policy documents as playing a crucial role in the development of South Africa and the provision of a wide range of education opportunities through distance methods has increased rapidly. There are however grave concerns about the quality of much of this provision. This reflects global disappointment where many technology-based educational operations failing to meet expectations. In Part One, the study scrutinizes the role of media in distance education and concludes that conceptually and in practice technology is indeed viewed as a crucial component of distance provision and consequently decision around the selection and usage of media will be significant in quality distance education. Thereafter the study analyses possible reasons for poor media choices, highlighting aspects such as over-enthusiastic beliefs in technology, a neglect of educational issues and an under theorized approach. Given that there has been considerable research activity into media usage, the study then examines why previous research has not been influential in media decisions, concluding that the research is conceptually flawed and overly crude. Having identified and discussed bad practice, Part Two moves into the positive and identifies basic principles in making better choices (such as examining our own beliefs, conceptualizing the relationship between education and technology and mobilizing team approaches). Developing more sophisticated understandings of education and technology and ways in which can be utilized forms the bulk of this section and includes a focus on current notions of quality education. Rather than concluding with strong recommendations, two specific areas for consideration - convergence and media combinations- are suggested. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2000.

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)

Este trabalho estuda os requisitos técnicos e operacionais para que um gestor de um Centro de Educação a Distância (CEAD), em seus estágios iniciais de implantação e estruturação, possa planejar e organizar suas atividades e fundamentar a decisão de seu planejamento estratégico, em particular aquelas relacionadas às diversas equipes multidisciplinares que compõem o setor. Trata-se de um estudo interdisciplinar, que agrega as contribuições das áreas de informática na educação, ensino a distância, educação profissional e tecnológica e gestão da qualidade, a partir de uma visão sistêmica de todos os elementos que constituem a educação a distância. Foi realizada pesquisa exploratória, tomando-se como estudo de caso as atividades de planejamento e implantação de um CEAD, em uma instituição de ensino superior, com vocação consolidada na educação profissional e tecnológica. Utilizou-se o método de Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD) como ferramenta para extrair as demandas de qualidade esperadas dos produtos e serviços ofertados, na visão dos clientes internos - equipes multidisciplinares - do CEAD. / This work studies the technical and operational requirements related to a center of distance education, in its early foundations, in order to improve management and strategic decision, particularly the ones related to the multidisciplinary teams that compose this sector. It is an interdisciplinary study, which aggregate the contribution of informatic in education, distance education, technological and professional education and quality management, for a systemic approach of all elements that constitute the distance education. It is presented an exploratory research, based in case study about activities of planning and implant of CEAD, in a college, acknowledged in technological and professional education. The Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method was applied to extract products and services quality requirements, through the eyes of internal clients - multidisciplinary teams - of the CEAD.

Tutors are key supporters within semi-distance education and as such comprehensive support of tutoring is necessary to provide the best possible support to learners. This case study investigates how tutoring can be better supported within a semi-distance part-time professional development course in environmental education. The course, aimed at adults working in environmental education fields, is seen as an important strategy for helping participants become critical, reflexive and active environmental education practitioners who can start working on solutions to environmental issues. This study found that most challenges to successful tutoring lay in the availability and competence of human resources within Namibia. Additionally improvement in the management of tutor and learner support systems, information, guidance and enrolment and finally of learning resources is seen as essential to better support a successful tutoring process. An alternative model of tutoring is offered as a way of overcoming the major tutoring challenges outlined in this study. / Educational Studies / M.Ed.

This study is a collective case study. It assesses the various aspects of distance teacher education in the five institutions. These are the University of Zambia, the Zambian Open University, the National In-Service Teachers’ College, the Nkrumah College of Education and the Copperbelt Secondary Teachers’ College. Distance education practitioners‟ and distance students‟ views on the management of distance teacher education in Zambia were elicited. The researcher collected data using semi-structured individual and focused group interviews, and observations. In addition, relevant documents such as reports, policy documents and statistics were used. Also, the researcher analysed instructional study materials (modules) to establish whether they were suitable for distance students. The researcher employed qualitative methods in the collection and analysis of data. Triangulation was used in order to verify the information given during this study. In terms of theory, a comprehensive literature review was carried out to determine the works other researchers had done in the area of open and distance education, especially in the field of the management of distance teacher education. The Literature review revealed that good management of distance teacher education depends on how the various aspects of distance education are managed. Furthermore, the evidence from the literature review indicates that good management of distance teacher education improves the quality of distance teacher education. Apart from ZAOU, the other four institutions are dual-mode institutions. They offer distance education programmes and full-time programmes. The same lecturers teach both distance and full-time students. The findings concerning the strengths of the management of distance teacher education in Zambia were: a recognition by providers and clients of the importance of distance teacher vi education, an awareness of the challenges of distance teacher education as displayed in their guidelines and a positive attitude towards distance teacher education. The findings concerning the weaknesses were: inadequate student support services, inadequate channels of communication, inadequate training and professional development, problems relating to integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in distance education delivery, problems concerning assignments and examinations, inadequate records management, inadequacy regarding interactive instructional materials, problems relating to staffing, and a lack of national policy on distance education in Zambia. The overall conclusion is that the management of distance teacher education in Zambia is reasonably effective. However, the areas of concern highlighted above should be given attention if institutions that offer distance teacher education programmes are to provide quality distance teacher education. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Education Management)