The Problem: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in satisfaction, convenience, quality of teaching, and quality of learning scores in on-line, hybrid, and on-ground classes. Method: A quasi-experimental, within-subject design study was conducted that involved the type of instruction as the independent variable with three…

A modified survey instrument, designed to measure faculty satisfaction with the online learning environment, was administered to the online faculty at a large, public institution of higher education in the western United States. The survey was administered in support of this study's first research question; what is the general level of…

As we move into the 21st century, the needs of our students are more variable than ever. There has been a proliferation of social networking usage in society yet there has been little use of those emerging tools in schools as a means to enhance student learning. It is a common practice in school districts to block social networking sites and…

The objective of this study was to examine the use of frequent, anonymous student course surveys as a tool in supporting continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles in online instruction. The study used a qualitative, multiple-case design involving four separate online courses. Analysis methods included pattern matching/explanation building,…

This phenomenological study investigated student perceptions of experiences of interaction in online graduate education courses. The researcher aimed to better understand the importance of interaction to students involved with online graduate education courses. The purposive sample included fifteen graduate students who had completed at least one…

A recent phenomenon in higher education is the emergence of the virtual university. Some observers have attributed its emergence to globalization and technological innovation. This dissertation study is about one particular instance of the virtual university phenomenon, the African Virtual University (AVU). The AVU initiative was launched with…

The United States faces a substantial nursing shortage that is expected to increase over the next decade and beyond. Understaffing and erratic work schedules result in minimal opportunities to participate in continuing education courses, which are required for registered nurses (RNs) to maintaining proficiency and licensure. Online learning is…

Today's learner arrives on our campuses with certain expectations, among them are technology innovation and availability, and the use of modern and efficient technology solutions to communicate and coexist. Meanwhile, institutions of higher learning across the country struggle with increased operating costs, decreasing legislative funding, and…

This study examined the effects of using podcasts as a medium of communication toward affecting student perception of community within the online learning environment. A control and treatment group comparison design was employed with 184 online undergraduate students selected through purposive sampling at Ashland Community and Technical College.…

One of the long-standing general undergraduate education requirements common to many colleges and universities is a science course with a laboratory experience component. One of the objectives frequently included in the description of most of these courses is that a student will understand the nature and processes of scientific inquiry. However,…

Online education is popular from a consumer perspective, but there are elements of face-to-face instruction and assessment that are difficult to reproduce online (Bassoppo-Moyo 2006). The difficulty of reproducing valued elements of a face-to-face setting leads to concerns regarding the overall quality of the online learning experience.…

Today's teachers need preparation, support, and professional development to help them change their curriculum and teaching practices. One area of potential for this preparation, support, and professional development is currently being evidenced in the field of online teaching and learning. In preparing teachers for teaching online, research…

As the ideas behind traditional learning change the content delivery methods used by teachers should adapt as well. Teachers are being asked to find ways of introducing and relating the material to students in the web world that many digital natives live in outside of the classroom walls. To prevent the misuse of Internet inside of the classroom…

This study sought to examine and extend the existing knowledge of IBSTPI competencies of instructional design (International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction, 2000), the instructional rubric standard expectations of Quality Matters (2010), the identified categories of online learning affordances (Kirschner, Strijbos,…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences in student success in face-to-face and online biology courses as categorized by gender, major, and age; and as measured by lecture grades, lab grades, and final course grades. The data used for analyses included data from 170 face-to-face sections and 127…