Cross-Sectional Survey of Students and Instructors on Virtual Dermatology Teaching in a Competency-based Format

Background Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020, the dermatology rotation at the Penn State College of Medicine was converted into a 4-week virtual format. Given these rapid changes, we aimed to assess student and instructor satisfaction to the virtual course and if the course fulfilled the six ACGME core-competencies for medical student education required in a traditional teaching format. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess PSCOM student and instructor satisfaction to the elective. Surveys specifically inquired about course learning objectives, interaction, and teaching in the virtual setting based on a 5-point Likert scale and asked to provide qualitative feedback. Results Medical students (n=15, response rate=52%) were satisfied with learning objectives geared towards the ACGME core competencies in five of the six competencies. Instructors (n=7, response rate=58%) reported satisfaction with convenience, university support, and technical training, but less with student-to-student interaction, gauging comprehension, and fostering critical thinking. Qualitative feedback reflected these results. Conclusions From our survey data, students and instructors were generally satisfied with the virtual rotation’s dermatology teaching during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic and holds potential to expand dermatology education, with a future focus on improving student engagement in a virtual format.

A Multi-Institutional Study of Factors Influencing Faculty Satisfaction with Online Teaching and Learning

Faculty satisfaction is an essential component in an online teaching and learning environment. The researchers of the current quantitative study identified factors that influence online instructors’ satisfaction at 10 different four-year public and private higher education institutions in the state of Ohio. The researchers also validated the modified OFSS-R survey (Blundell, 2015) within the study. The participants (N = 382), were faculty members who taught fully online at the 10 institutions. Results of the study revealed that instructor satisfaction was influenced by three main factors: (1) the instructor-student interaction; (2) the role of technology; and (3) the institutional support. Study results also revealed that the OFSS-R survey is valid and reliable measurement of perceived faculty satisfaction in a fully online environment.

STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR SATISFACTION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH BLENDED LEARNING IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN

– The capstone Chemical Engineering Course was used to pilot blended learning as part of an ongoing digital learning initiative at the University of Alberta. A blended learning course structure was designed, implemented, evaluated, and redesigned using a Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) Graduate Attribute (GA) based continuous improvement process over a two-year pilot period. Graduate Attributes were measured using student self-assessments, instructor assessments, and through an arms length study on student engagement and satisfaction conducted with student cohorts. This contribution focuses on the results of independent interviews conducted with student cohorts during the pilot period, instructor interviews, and the data analysis of the student satisfaction and engagement surveys. Instructors were satisfied with the increased interaction with students during class time even with increased enrollment. Student satisfaction was higher for students with lower self reported GPAs, and student engagement improved in the second year of the pilot. Details of these and other outcomes are presented and discussed.

EXAMINING SOCIAL PRESENCE IN ONLINE COURSES IN RELATION TO STUDENTS' PERCEIVED LEARNING AND SATISFACTION

Research has demonstrated that social presence not only affects outcomes but also student, and possibly instructor, satisfaction with a course. Teacher immediacy behaviors and the presence of others are especially important issues for those involved in delivering online education. This study explored the role of social presence in online learning environments and its relationship to students’ perceptions of learning and satisfaction with the instructor. The participants for this study were students who completed Empire State College’s (ESC) online learning courses in the spring of 2000 and completed the end of semester course survey (n=97). A correlational design was utilized. This study found that students with high overall perceptions of social presence also scored high in terms of perceived learning and perceived satisfaction with the instructor. Students’ perceptions of social presence overall, moreover, contributed significantly to the predictor equation for students’ perceived learning overall. Gender accounted for some of the variability of students’ overall perception of social presence, while age and number of college credits earned did not account for any of the variability.

Instructor Satisfaction in University of California Extension's On-line Writing Curriculum

This article describes instructor satisfaction in 14 online courses in freshman-level composition and literature, business writing, and English as a Second Language offered in the University of California (UC) Extension’s online program. The courses chosen for this case study reflect UC Extension's entire ALN program, in that they comprise a broad selection of college- and professional-level courses organized in course sequences and certificate programs. The paper reviews UC Extension’s ALN program, describes course and instructor selection criteria, and discusses such issues as course production and costs, instructor support, the transfer of teaching skills, instructor computer literacy, and instructor compensation. The results of an informal instructor survey also are discussed. Obstacles to adoption, effective and problematic practices, and critical programmatic and individual course factors gleaned from this analysis are outlined.

Systematically Investigating Instructor Impact on Student Satisfaction in Graduate Programs

The purpose of this chapter is to investigate how flexibility impacts student performance and satisfaction in a graduate level course. This example explores how much flexibility can be incorporated without compromising instructor satisfaction. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether student satisfaction and performance increased when the instructor in a graduate level teacher education course increased flexibility in discussion grouping and format and in grading and revisions. The goals of the study were to increase student satisfaction and performance in a graduate level reading education course in a college of education. This was a pilot case study using the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) as a lens. Data collection included survey, focus groups, and interview. A small sample size was used to suit the needs of a pilot, qualitative case study. This work is important for teacher educators as they make decisions about the amount of flexibility they are comfortable incorporating into their courses as well as to model evidence based practices for teachers.

Achieving Job Satisfaction for Instructors in E-Learning

Relational coordination model has been applied to different sectors reaching positive results in terms of performance in contexts with highly interdependent tasks, uncertainty, time restrictions and tacit knowledge. In this research, the relational coordination model has been applied to prove high levels of instructor satisfaction in e-learning. According to the model, organizations can achieve performance by providing frequent, timely and problem solving communication mechanisms to support shared knowledge, in a context of shared goals and mutual respect. Instructors who teach online courses in Spanish universities and e-learning companies have been surveyed on these particular issues. By using Structural Equation Model analysis (SEM), it has been shown how higher standards in terms of relational coordination among instructors in e-learning explain higher degrees of satisfaction. The conclusions should be considered by universities and companies when they evaluate alternatives for the improvement of performance in online education and training.