A common form of training or education evaluation involves the examination of course participant reactions towards various aspects of the course for summative evaluation purposes. Participant reactions have been examined within the framework of a comparison between online and face to face courses often with a slight positive weight towards online courses (Sitzmann et al., 2006). Past research on this topic has denoted a need for studies examining the relationship between objective course characteristics and participant reactions. This paper seeks to examine the relationship between participant reactions of a sample of geographically disbursed teachers enrolled in a large, national professional development company and objective course characteristics as communicated by course syllabi within a framework of comparison between online and face to face courses. The delivery format, knowledge base, specificity of course objectives, and student interaction levels were all related to some degree to various participant reactions, although the effect sizes were notably small. In many cases, an interaction between the delivery format and objective course characteristic in question influenced the participant reaction. Objective course characteristics as communicated by the syllabi appeared to be major predictors of participant reactions within the face to face courses that were examined, but not for the online courses. Course development stakeholders are recommended to pay attention to the course syllabus design process and craft quality syllabi that communicate relevant information while concurrently anticipating potential participant reactions. Organizations may be able to align the outline for instruction or “contract” as presented by the syllabus with recommendations as offered by participant evaluations so as to instill consistent expectations within the participants and maximize positive reactions towards the courses within which they are enrolled

No description available.

Veterinary students face the difficult task of learning to classify clinical laboratory data. In an effort to make this task easier, a computer and web based tool known as the Problem List Generator (PLG) was designed based on current literature dealing with learning theory and medical education which are reviewed in chapter 1. Chapter 2 describes the design and the development process for the PLG. The PLG allows the students to access any number of cases (determined by the professor) of increasing complexity which provide signalment, history, physical exam, and laboratory data for a number of patients. Using the PLG, students analyze the data, identify data abnormalities and mechanisms, arrange them in a problem list, diagnose the problem, and compare their problem list and diagnosis to an expert problem list and diagnosis. The PLG was evaluated using a four step evaluation process involving an expert review, one-to-one evaluations, small group evaluations, and a two-part field trial, and was evaluated in terms of clarity, feasibility, and impact. The PLG is usable, in terms of clarity and feasibility, though fixes are recommended. There is no evidence to infer, statistically, that the PLG has any effect on learning outcomes. However, trends in the quantitative data and logical inference based on the context of the evaluation suggest that the PLG might help students, particularly those of low and average ability to produce more accurate problem lists. / Ph. D.

Educators are struggling to meet the ever-increasing challenges of preparing students to meet the demands of a global society. The importance of collaboration and social interaction in online education has been well documented (Berge, 1998; Brown, Collins & Duguid, 1989, Fulford & Zhang, 1993; Gunawardena & McIssac, 2003; Kanuka & Anderson, 1998; Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1999; Sardamalia & Bereiter, 1994). Teachers and instructional designers are struggling to change the academic environment to meet the needs of millennial learners. The purpose of this study is to develop a theory driven process for designing computer-supported collaborative learning in an online environment. A careful analysis of the process for creating collaborative online instruction is conducted and a design strategy for the process is developed. The study provides suggested guidelines for practitioners to create collaborative online instruction. The design procedures emphasize social interaction to allow learners opportunities to explore, discover, and negotiate meaning in an authentic context. Online instruction requires the coupling of multiple areas of expertise to be successful. Although the pedagogical principles are the same, the global implications of "flat world" technology require an important weaving of collaborative interaction, graphic design, and pedagogy. Technology provides the transportation for achieving a collaborative environment; and, quality pedagogical practices provide the GPS (guidance positioning system) to direct collaborative instruction to its ultimate destination–knowledge building. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to understand how secondary mathematics teachers in underserved communities learned to teach online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used three different methods of data collection: surveys, critical incident questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. The survey sample consisted of 51 participants, with 20 of those participants opting to complete the critical incident questionnaire in addition to the survey. 39 of the 51 survey participants volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. The researcher conducted approximately 18 hours of interviews with 20 of these volunteer participants. The findings were analyzed using inductive and deductive coding techniques, as well as within and cross case analysis to identify trends and themes across participant data. Teachers learned to teach their respective secondary math content in an online setting during the pandemic through a mostly self-directed, trial-and-error process with some support from colleagues. Teachers were given limited guidance and direction as to how to approach facilitating their content online from school administrators and district leaders. Teachers and students in underserved communities faced many barriers in the transition from in-person to online instruction during the pandemic, including limited access to the necessary tools and technology to fully engage with online learning content, a lack of adult supervision in home learning environments, and a lack of experience with online learning for both teachers and students alike. In addition to these barriers, teachers and students endured extreme personal stress throughout the pandemic, stress that may have been exacerbated by the scarcity of resources available to schools in underserved communities. Teachers were able to find some success in translating their specific math content areas and practices to an online setting. Through personal research and experimentation, teachers discovered online tools and learning platforms that empowered them to engage in the transition. The ability for teachers to teach effectively, however, was limited by low student attendance rates and low rates of student engagement and participation throughout the pandemic in underserved communities. In addition to these challenges, teachers were unable to translate specific secondary math content standards and units to the online setting, and in some cases, were forced to completely remove these topics from their curriculum during the unit. The combination of these challenges may have led to the gaps in student learning that emerged throughout the pandemic, particularly among underserved communities. Recommendations included for current and prospective teachers to gain experience with specific online tools and platforms that may have applications to both in-person and online teaching, for school administrators and district leaders to develop more detailed emergency plans and support systems for teachers in the event of a future crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, and for teacher preparation programs to include at least one course in the curricula devoted to training candidates on how to teach and use online tools and learning platforms.

No description available.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is an investigation into the four year implementation period of WebCT as web-based learning support and content management system, within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences in order to: • Identify the critical success factors related to the success of the implemented system. • Review the relevance of these critical success factors by means of literature study, along with reference to case studies of similar WebCT implementations. • Review the initiatives undertaken by both the university and the faculty in order to adhere to the identified critical success factors. • To test, by means of a faculty questionnaire, whether these critical success factors have in fact been met. • To make recommendations for the way fonward based on the literature review, the faculty review and the results obtained from the faculty questionnaire. Reviewing e-Iearning derives various definitions and understandings of the concept of e-Iearning within the modem e-Iearning environment and expands into the basic activities of e-Iearning as practised within traditional universities to establish an understanding of e-Ieaming application of e-Iearning within the University of Stellenbosch. A further investigation reveals how the leaming and content management system (WebCT) was implemented at the University of Stellenbosch as supportive e-Iearning systern as supported by various advantages and subjected to several criticisms. The following eight critical success factors were identified for the faculty: • All staff and students have access to the necessary stable 24/7 IT infrastructure and support. • All stakeholders have a shared vision of the system's objectives. • Top management is strongly committed to the idea of e-Iearning. • Performance evaluation of implemented system. • Establishing a minimum online presence as launch pad. • The Faculty buying into/taking ownership of the new system. • Establishing lecturer's competency, benefits and e-Iearning integration. • WebCT management becomes part of the normal business activities. From the review into the relevance of the eight critical success factors, as identified above, along with the faculty investigation of how these factors were managed and the results obtained from the faculty survey, it can be concluded that there is room for further improvement and that specific prioritised and classified management recommendations relating to the future management of WebCT as learning support system within the faculty can be made. Specific recommendations are made to promote faculty development through strategy formulation that addresses a prioritised list of recommendations, including the following: • The inclusion and recognition of e-Iearning development and administration in normal workload. • Lecture's development through technical competency development, the developing awareness of benefits of e-Iearning and developing the awareness and competency of e-Iearning integration. • Setting and maintaining a standard of minimum presence. • Providing additional lecturer support. • System evaluation. • Establishing a reward system for e-Iearning initiatives. • Strategy review. • E-Iearning research. These recommendations aim to drive the faculty development in line with the university's e-Iearning's vision and the university's e-Iearning main objective of: "elearning becoming a strategic asset". / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek na die vierjaar-implementering van WebCT as webgebaseerde leerondersteunings- en inhoudbestuurstelsel, binne die Fakulteit van Ekonomiese en Bestuurswetenskappe met doel om: • Die kritiese suksesfaktore t.o.v. die geimplementeerde stelsel te identifiseer. • Die relevantheid van hierdie suksesfaktore te ondersoek deur middel van literatuurstudie, tesame met verwysing na gevallestudies van soortegelyke WebCT implementerings. • 'n Oorsig te verskaf oor die bestuursinisiatiewe wat deur die universiteit en die fakulteit onderneem is om te voldoen aan die kritiese suksesfaktore soos geidentifiseer. • Om deur middel van 'n fakulteitsvraelys te toets of die fakulteit aan hierdie kritiese sukses faktore voldoen het. • Om aanbevelings aan die hand van die literatuurstudie, die fakulteit se inisiatiewe en die resultate van die fakulteitsvraelys, aanbevelings te maak vir die pad vorentoe. Uit die literatuurstudie spruit daar verskeie definisies en verklarings vir die konsep van e-leer binne die moderne e-Ieer omgewing. Hierdie basiese definisies lei na 'n oorsig van die basiese e-Ieer aktiwiteite soos beoefen in tradisionele universiteite om ten einde 'n basiese agtergrond daar te stel van die toepassing van e-Ieer by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. 'n Verdere ondersoek wys hoe die leer- en inhoudsbestuurstelsel (WebCT) geimplementeer was in die Universiteit van Stellenbosch om as ondersteundende e-Ieer stelsel te funksioneer aan die hand van die voordele en kritieke gekoppel aan die gebruik van soortegelyke stelsels. Die volgende agt kritiese suksesfaktore is vir die fakulteit geidentifiseer: • Alle personeel en studente het 24/7 toegang tot die vereiste infrastruktuur en ondersteunding. • Alle belanghebbendes het 'n verenigde visie van die stelsel se doelwitte. • Topvlakbestuur is sterk toegewyd tot die e-Ieer konsep. • Prestasie-evaluasie van die geimplementeerde stelsel. • Die daarstel van 'n minimum aan-Iyn teenwoordigheid as vertrekpunt. • Dosente (gebruikers) se inkoop/eienaarskap in die nuwe stelsel. • Die daarstel van dosente se bevoegdheid, voordele en e-Ieer integrasie. • Bestuur van WebCT word gevestig as deel van normale besigheidsaktiwiteite. Vanuit die oorsig van die relevantheid van elk van die agt kritiese suksesfaktore, soos hierbo ge'fdentifiseer, tesame met die ondersoek t.o.v. hoe die faktore bestuur is binne die fakulteit en die resultate wat vanaf die vraelys verkry is, kan daar tot gevolgtrekking gekom word dat daar ruimte vir verdere verbetering bestaan. Om hierdie ruimte vir verbetering te vul en die toekomstige bestuur van WebCT as e-Ieer ondersteunende stelsel aan te spreek, kan spesifieke, prioriteitsgekoppelde en geklassifiseerde aanbevelings t.o.v. die toekomstige bestuur van e-Ieer gemaak word. Spesifieke aanbevelings is gemaak om die fakulteit se ontwikkeling d.m.v. strategieformulering wat 'n Iys van geprioritiseerde aanbevelings aanspreek, te bevorder. Die aanbevelings stuil die volgende in: • Die insluiting en erkenning van e-Ieer ontwikkeling en administrasie in die normale werklas. • Dosente-ontwikkeling d.m.v. tegniese vaardigheidsontwikkeling, ontwikkeling van bewustheid van voordele van e-Ieer en die ontwikkeling van bewustheid en vaardigheid t.o.v. e-Ieer integrasie. • Die daarstel en onderhoud van 'n minimum teenwoordigheid. • Verskaffing van addisionele dosente-ondersteuning. • Stelsel-evaluasie. • Die daarstel van 'n erkenning- en vergoedingstelsel vir e-Ieer inisiatiewe. • Strategie hersiening. • E-Ieer navorsing. Hierdie aanbevelings poog om die fakulteit te dryf in Iyn met die universiteit se e-Ieer visie en die hoofdoelwit van e-Ieer aan die universiteit: "dat e-Ieer 'n strategiese bate moet word."

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

Web-based training has become a billion dollar industry in the United States. Electronically aided learning is viewed by many companies as a cost-effective way to deliver the up-to-date, up-gradable job-related training that the industry is demanding. This study sought to examine the relationship between learners’ satisfaction with online training as it relates to learner readiness, online features, and course relevance. The population for this study was adults seeking non-credit workforce training, specifically library professionals who were involved in web-based training through the Lifelong Education @ Desktop (LE@D) program at the University of North Texas, Denton. Online methods of training are used most extensively in the area of mandatory or compliance training, in which 35 % of training is conducted mostly or completely online. The total potential library population using LE@D product to date is approximately 4,000 unique enrollments nationwide. Participants were selected from a complete list of unique LE@D users over a 90-day period. A survey instrument was sent via e-mail to 514 enrollees who had completed a recent LE@D online training course. In total, 254 participants responded to the survey. Bivariate analysis of the variables using the Pearson product-moment correlation was used to determine the occurrence and strength of a relationship between each of the three independent variables and the dependent variable in order to test the three research hypotheses. A regression model was used to explain how significantly the three independent variables, that is, online features, learner readiness, and course relevance, would have an impact on learner satisfaction. Results suggest that learner awareness of issues surrounding online features, learner readiness, and course relevance have a statistically significant impact on the overall satisfaction of the Web-based training event. As companies continue to adopt eLearning as a training investment, attention should be given to the end-users experiences. Employee responses to Web-based training are important because employee satisfaction is an indicator that a company’s training investment will result in positive outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of web-based instruction (WBI) on cognitive and psychomotor learning. The subjects of the study received two types of instructional methods, WBI (experimental group) and traditional classroom instruction (control group). Each group received 30 minutes of instruction on "Soldering a Circuit Board." The researcher chose this content subject because it involved both cognitive and psychomotor objectives, which suited the purpose of this study. It was hypothesized that there would be no significant difference between the two methods of instruction, and also that there would be no significant interaction effects between methods of instruction and gender. Forty-six subjects from a population of students enrolled in summer classes offered by the Applied Technology, Training and Development (ATTD) program at the University of North Texas voluntarily participated in this study. Random assignment of subjects was applied in this study. A subject matter expert delivered the content for both the experimental and control groups. To measure cognitive variable, a 10 item, multiple-choice test was administered immediately after instruction. To measure the psychomotor variable, a 15-item checklist was utilized by trained judges to evaluate learners’ performances while soldering. The 2 x 2 factorial model with interaction was used in this study. The analysis was run for each of the dependent variables, cognitive and psychomotor learning. Although there was not a statistically significant difference in the main effects of method of instruction or interaction effects between method and gender, the results imply that students in the traditional-classroom instruction group performed better than those in the WBI group in psychomotor learning. Perhaps, this trend would be statistically significant if the sample size were larger. This study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of WBI in delivering cognitive and psychomotor objectives. The outcome of this study supports the need for more research on the effects of WBI on learning domains.