Elementary and secondary schools saw a major shift in how instruction was delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools across the United States shut down or participated in online learning. This shift to online learning led many to question how special education services should be delivered to students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to gauge perceptions of special education services delivered in a remote learning environment during a public health crisis. Teachers, related service providers, and parents of students with disabilities (n = 108) from across the United States were surveyed. Results showed synchronous online learning to be the most prevalent form of providing special education services. However, participants largely viewed online instruction as ineffective at providing quality services for students with disabilities. Implications for improving online services for students with disabilities could include identifying specific reasons for participants' negative views which may lead to more actionable steps in improving online learning moving forward. In addition, examining actions taken by schools that have led to positive impressions of online learning among parents and educators could also be used to improve perceptions of online instruction for students with disabilities. Directions for future research are also discussed.

The aim of this study was to investigate dance teachers’ experience of distance learning regarding difficulties, benefits and in regard to assessment. The method used was semi-structured interviews and a phenomenological perspective was used to analyse the result of the interviews. The results showed several challenges and a few benefits. The challenges were mainly related to technical and spatial constraints and difficulties in giving formative feedback. On the other hand, filming as a didactic tool was highlighted as an advantage.

SUMMARY: Published guidelines for distance learning library services provide a framework for distance education librarians to use in planning services for off-campus students. Other literature in the arena of distance education librarianship provides concrete examples of how reference services have been offered in real settings. This paper attempts to synthesize these two types of literature in order to offer models of reference service for distance learners.

The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of students and instructors at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) toward a distance learning system for agricultural extension and development programs for participating in the ASEAN community. It was also to determine the difference in attitude between undergraduate students and graduate students toward 9 factors involving the STOU distance learning system and programs. The study used mixed methods. Descriptive survey and focus groups were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test. STOU students were employed adults who lived around Thailand who had average and above average levels of knowledge about the ASEAN Community and Open University. Graduate students had higher levels of knowledge than undergraduate students. Students and instructors learned about the ASEAN community via television programs and websites. Students and instructors had a positive attitude toward the program and distance learning system. Textbooks, workbooks and printed-based packages via post-mail, e-Learning and e-Tutorial sessions via the internet, and face-toace sessions via face-toace were very appropriate methods and delivery channels. Electricity, a personal computer, and internet access were important devices to have when participating in distance learning classes. Students and instructors had average and above average skill levels with all devices skills except for English skills and skills about satellite devices. There were 5 different attitudes among undergraduate students and graduate students about students’ qualification, program objectives, program structures, adequacy of learning system, and adequacy of educational services. Recommendations for program improvement and to improve distance learning systems are applied through the 4 perspectives of the Balance Scorecard: student perspective, financial perspective, internal process, and learning and growth perspective. The model of distance education of Open University for agricultural extension program when participating in the ASEAN community (AMEI model) includes 4 stages: analysis stage, management stage, evaluation stage, and improvement and extension stage should be used for distance learning program improvement in Thailand and ASEAN countries.

This study evaluated the learning styles of undergraduate students completing selected online and traditional courses relating to food, nutrition, or exercise at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Data was collected from 93 students across five courses offered at the University of Massachusetts between Fall 2003 and Spring 2007. Results showed that all four Kolb learning styles were present in both the online and traditional classes. Although not significant assimilators were the most dominant learning style in the online classes and convergers were the most dominant learning style in the traditional classes. Matching a students learning style to an instructors training style had no effect on knowledge, attitude, behavior or satisfaction outcomes, however course format did have an impact on these outcome measures.

This thesis examines issues that affect women in online learning, and discusses four women's particular experiences in the University of Central Florida's distance learning program. Online education involves aspects of support and communication that may affect women's learning experiences either positively or negatively. Distance learning may also allow women to pursue their education while still taking care of their families and outside work. In order to get a better idea of how distance learning impacts women, I discuss several studies that examine how distance learning affects women in particular. I identify three areas from this literature that seem to be particularly important in order for women to have a successful distance learning experience: social support, technical support, and awareness of differences in discussion style. After reviewing the existing literature, I discuss how this literature applies to four women's experiences here at UCF. I talk with them about how they perceive their online learning experiences, and about how they feel that the issues identified in the literature are reflected in their own lives. I discuss their issues with support, technical support, and online discussions, and relate these to existing literature in order to come up with areas that may need further exploration or improvement. I conclude the study by providing suggestions and recommendations for professors who deal with women in their online classes. I also suggest areas for further exploration in the field of women's distance education.

This thesis explored the application of Media Synchronicity Theory and its potential for translating Critical Pedagogy (specifically Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed) into a computersupported collaborative work (CSCW) environment. It introduces the Maquina dos Oprimidos (Mados) prototype, a CSCW supplement to traditional asynchronous learning networks. Mados operates as a role-playing debate game, in which students debate a pre-selected prompt while performing assigned character roles. The study explores the prototype's potential to affect student's identification with their assigned character and personal attitude toward the prompt, as well as examining the effect of presence on students' performances. The study was performed with 38 8th grade students. Subjects debated a prompt which proposed a banning cell phones from classrooms. Results show that subjects collaboratively constructed solutions that compromised between both positions, while slightly favoring the antiban position. Results also show that subjects experienced gains in character identification after participating in the task regardless of assigned character, hinting at a separation between perceived similarity to characters and affinity for characters' position. The ability of subjects to defend their assigned character's position while inhabiting their own perspective, that of an 8th grade student, also hints at this separation. Additionally, results indicated correlations between subjects' control factors, a subset measure for presence, and total change in prompt agreement. Other positive correlation exist between subject's reprocessing attempts and task performance, as well as total presence and task performance

This dissertation examines distance learning within a local, particular context: UCF's English department. In order to fully examine distance learning in this specific environment, I employ institutional critique as my methodology, a rhetorical and spatial approach that allows me to map distance learning within UCF's English department. Drawing upon the work of David Harvey, I examine the experienced, perceived, and imagined spaces of distance learning in our department. Through an examination of the history of naming UCF, rhetorical analyses of institutional documents that reference technologies, analysis of survey results noting faculty attitudes and perceptions of online learning, and postmodern mapping of faculty members' perceived and ideal spaces, we can find local solutions for local problems related to distance learning.

Motivation in language learning has been studied for quite a long time. However, the main focus has been on motivation in face-to-face learning environments. Motivation in online learning can be different due to many factors. This study compared how a language instructor used motivational strategies in face to-face vs. Zoom classes; and how students reacted to these motivational strategies. For these purposes the Motivational Orientation of Language Teaching (MOLT) was used for observations. Results showed that while the teacher used many of the same motivational strategies in both sections, some categories like Social Chat, Referential Questions and Volunteering had significantly higher scores in face-to-face classes. Results suggest that good teaching is good teaching, however remote classes offer differ affordances and such courses require careful planning.

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