{ Eeee! Learning! Developing a research proposal on W&M by John Drummond by John Drummond

 Must lead to Action!  My new job is to manage eLearning  Who’s really in charge of eLearning? Something about eLearning

Faculty!

 Attitudes can be changed [Action!]  Plenty of data in the community of practice  I already have good relationships with many faculty  I will have direct contact with faculty by supporting eLearning Faculty perceptions/attitudes on eLearning

“I am studying faculty attitudes and perceptions about eLearning, particularly within the Arts & Sciences division at the College of William and Mary, because I want to find out how these attitudes and perceptions are informed and whether they impact adoption of eLearning practices that could have a positive impact on student learning. This is in order to help my reader understand the social construction of eLearning and to provide the reader with informational tools to make reasoned decisions regarding the potential beneficial uses of eLearning within the Liberal Arts and Sciences.” Topic Statement

 Labeling Theory?  [NO]  Wait… attitudes are influenced by knowledge, emotion, and experience….  Social Construction!  Enter the UVA controversy… - Activist board wants faster implementation…  Eureka! Theoretical orientation

Conflict Theory

 eLearning = Blended Learning = “bLearning” = Distance Education….  THOUSANDS of articles Literature review

 Many are from outside the US and global in scope  Plurality is on distance ed., probably not applicable  Plurality is student-focused, not faculty- focused  Most articles on faculty are training-focused, not change management-focused  Many articles are centered on Business, professional, and vocational education, not Liberal Arts / Humanities. Lit review: Challenges

 Some articles address faculty perceptions, pushback, and/or pedagogy as a sub-(or sub- sub-) topic  Training focused articles often reference skills as a barrier to adoption (somewhat relevant)  At least my research idea is necessary! Lit Review: Successes

 SURVEYS! - Existing annual technology survey - Self-designed survey on attitudes  INTERVIEWS! - Informal (conversations) - Small groups from different departments - Formal interviews with individual adopters and non-adopters - Administrators  OBSERVATION! - Classes - Professional Development workshops  CONTINUAL LIT REVIEW (Hot topic—articles on eLearning pop up on IHE and Chronicle daily) Proposed action research

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