scholarly journals IMPROVING ONLINE INSTRUCTION: A STUDY OF ONLINE COURSE DELIVERY METHODS

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Casey ◽  
Erin Shaw ◽  
Jeff Whittingham ◽  
Nancy Gallavan

The purpose of this study was to evaluate student perceptions of different online course delivery methods. In order to develop the experimental course delivery method, the researchers used universal design for learning (UDL) guidelines as a theoretical framework. Responses to pre- and postsurvey items provided data to examine whether an online course developed using UDL principles afforded a more positive learning experience. This study provides online student perceptions that indicate the online learning environment developed with the UDL framework is preferred by students.

Author(s):  
Patricia J. Donohue ◽  
Kevin Kelly

The chapter reports on the research and efforts of two faculty members in an Instructional Technologies (ITEC) Master's program to transform their undergraduate and graduate courses into culturally sensitive personalized learning experiences in media literacy education. The 20-year-old ITEC program needed upgrading to meet the paradigm shift in new technologies and global education that its students would enter on graduation. Cultural and social justice issues have been the mission of the University for 40 years and that dimension of media literacy education was missing from the ITEC curricula. Researchers found that introducing techniques of gamification, heutagogical methods, and universal design for learning principles into their online and blended-learning courses provided a way to help students personalize their learning experience and interact more engagingly with each other, and to master the media literacy skills being taught.


Author(s):  
Nory B. Jones ◽  
Christian Graham

As educational budgets continue to shrink, colleges and universities have turned to online course delivery as a means of increasing enrollments. In addition, with the proliferation of Internet-based course management and other software that facilitate the learning experience, many traditional courses are adding an online component, creating hybrid courses in different formats. In this chapter, the authors explore different strategies and technology solutions to help instructors develop rich, dynamic courses, whether they are completely online or hybrid courses that use online tools and technologies to augment the traditional class. This chapter covers the advantages and disadvantages of hybrid courses, technologies and practices available for them, emerging technologies such as Second Life™, social networks, dense wavelength division multiplexing, telepresence, satellite networks, and the use of texting in the classroom.


Author(s):  
Michael Marmon

Online education has become a ubiquitous and convenient method by which to complete courses at institutions of higher education across the globe. To achieve this level of parity between course delivery methods (online or face-to-face), the instructor or course designer must understand the complex relationship between the technology and instructional design theories being leveraged in these contexts. Within the context of this chapter, these barriers manifest themselves within Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance, a theory which states that the transactional distance between stakeholders (whether it is instructor-learner or learner-learner communication) has the potential to obstruct the path for comprehending the information being presented as well as influencing the level of rapport between students. This chapter examines the obstacles that are present because of Moore's Theory of Transactional Distance and the influence that social presence has on learners in online courses from the perspective of student satisfaction and positive learning outcomes.


Author(s):  
Ruby L. Owiny ◽  
Elizabeth Hartmann

Any course must be goal-focused and consider the needs of all learners. However, online courses require instructors to be proactive in planning for learning. Recruiting and sustaining engagement in an online course must be carefully considered and planned for during all learning modules or units. This chapter addresses how to keep students engaged by considering their affect, the general way students feel toward their learning. Affect impacts motivation, which in turn can impact how a student persists in a course. The Universal Design for Learning principle of engagement addresses the affect through three guidelines. These guidelines are explained in this chapter with potential barriers to student learning and motivation explained as well. Furthermore, possible solutions are provided to give readers examples of ways in which they might reduce or remove barriers to engagement in their online courses.


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