1. Aspects of Online Courses That Are More Effective and Successful Than Face-to-Face Courses Eli Collins-Brown, Ed. D. Dissertation, Illinois State University November 10, 2006

2. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Researcher Background In Online Education since 1995In Online Education since 1995 Student ExperienceStudent Experience Design ExperienceDesign Experience Teaching ExperienceTeaching Experience Faculty Development InstructorFaculty Development Instructor Some good, some badSome good, some bad

3. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Growth in Distance Education College Technology Review, 2004 - 5, 2 out of 3 institutions are offering distance learning programsCollege Technology Review, 2004 - 5, 2 out of 3 institutions are offering distance learning programs 63% of institution are offering accredited degrees in at least one subject63% of institution are offering accredited degrees in at least one subject Projection: by 2011, 75% teaching load will be in online coursesProjection: by 2011, 75% teaching load will be in online courses

4. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL As Good or Better No Significant Difference MCS studies - online consider delivery mechanismsMCS studies - online consider delivery mechanisms Finding: the media or medium does not + or - impact learningFinding: the media or medium does not + or - impact learning So why do it?So why do it? Why the growth in online education?Why the growth in online education?

5. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Bernard, et al. Meta-analysis, 2004 Some aspects of DE outperform F2F, some perform more poorlySome aspects of DE outperform F2F, some perform more poorly aspects of design (medium or method) optimal in either or both instructional contexts?aspects of design (medium or method) optimal in either or both instructional contexts? Comparison studies a waste of time if not asking Why? and Under what conditions?Comparison studies a waste of time if not asking Why? and Under what conditions?

6. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Why this study? Only anecdotal evidenceOnly anecdotal evidence Figuring out what works and what doesntFiguring out what works and what doesnt How is this demonstrated?How is this demonstrated? Student satisfaction?Student satisfaction? Student outcomesStudent outcomes Faculty satisfaction?Faculty satisfaction? What is behind the stories?What is behind the stories?

7. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Research Questions Which aspects of instruction are more effective and successful in the online learning environment than in the F2F classroom, and why, according to faculty who have been recognized as exemplary online instructors?Which aspects of instruction are more effective and successful in the online learning environment than in the F2F classroom, and why, according to faculty who have been recognized as exemplary online instructors? How do these aspects impact student learning in online classes and how is this revealed?How do these aspects impact student learning in online classes and how is this revealed?

8. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Methodology Qualitative case study (Yin, Merriam)Qualitative case study (Yin, Merriam) Most appropriate for answering the why and how questionsMost appropriate for answering the why and how questions

9. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Protocol Survey to lay foundation for interviewsSurvey to lay foundation for interviews Semi-structured interviewSemi-structured interview Observation (when possible)Observation (when possible) Artifacts (when available)Artifacts (when available) Member checks with all participantsMember checks with all participants

10. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Participant Selection Nationally recognized:Nationally recognized: Quality MattersQuality Matters Sloan-CSloan-C USDLAUSDLA WebCT Exemplary Course ProjectWebCT Exemplary Course Project Have taught both F2F and OnlineHave taught both F2F and Online

11. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Participants 11 out of 20 invitations accepted, 1 drop11 out of 20 invitations accepted, 1 drop 5 females, 5 males5 females, 5 males Range from adjunct to full professorRange from adjunct to full professor Teaching experience:Teaching experience: F2F: 10 - 38 yrsF2F: 10 - 38 yrs Online: 2 - 9 yrsOnline: 2 - 9 yrs 4 from 2-yr, 6 from 4-yr4 from 2-yr, 6 from 4-yr Cross section of disciplinesCross section of disciplines

12. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Frameworks Seven Principles of Good Practice - Chickering & Gamson, 1987Seven Principles of Good Practice - Chickering & Gamson, 1987 4 of the 5 Sloan-C Pillars of Quality4 of the 5 Sloan-C Pillars of Quality Learning EffectivenessLearning Effectiveness AccessAccess Faculty SatisfactionFaculty Satisfaction Student SatisfactionStudent Satisfaction

13. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Major Themes Better OnlineBetter Online Unique to OnlineUnique to Online Better F2FBetter F2F Student SuccessStudent Success Faculty SatisfactionFaculty Satisfaction

14. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Major Findings Interaction and ParticipationInteraction and Participation Content PresentationContent Presentation Learner-centered InstructionLearner-centered Instruction Visibility of StudentsVisibility of Students

15. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Interaction and Participation Visible interaction (FS)Visible interaction (FS) Formative evaluation of course (FS)Formative evaluation of course (FS) Safe environment, all participate (SS, FS)Safe environment, all participate (SS, FS) More time on task (LE)More time on task (LE) Permanent record of discussions (FS)Permanent record of discussions (FS) Community of learners (LE)Community of learners (LE) Critical thinking is visible (Access, LE)Critical thinking is visible (Access, LE)

16. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Content Presentation Better ways to present contentBetter ways to present content 24/7 access to content24/7 access to content Both come under the Access and Student Satisfaction pillarBoth come under the Access and Student Satisfaction pillar

17. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Learner-centered Instruction Active participation, reduces isolationActive participation, reduces isolation Less direct controlLess direct control Control through designControl through design Facilitate,mentorFacilitate,mentor Promotes student-student interactionPromotes student-student interaction Time, though generally more than F2F, is time well-spentTime, though generally more than F2F, is time well-spent

18. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Visibility of Students Improved:Improved: participationparticipation writingwriting critical thinking skillscritical thinking skills and in some cases test scoresand in some cases test scores Better outcomes in many aspectsBetter outcomes in many aspects

19. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL What to Keep Online? DiscussionsDiscussions Content presentationContent presentation Varied opportunities and options for learningVaried opportunities and options for learning Open accessOpen access

20. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Conclusions Course DesignCourse Design Instruction, Faculty Development and SupportInstruction, Faculty Development and Support Blended Learning EnvironmentsBlended Learning Environments

21. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Recommendations: Questions prompted by this study: Do better students take online courses?Do better students take online courses? Or do students who stay in online courses become better students?Or do students who stay in online courses become better students? What is the student story? Repeat student with students.What is the student story? Repeat student with students.

22. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Recommendations: Questions prompted by this study: Does having design and media development assistance promote higher quality in online course design and instruction?Does having design and media development assistance promote higher quality in online course design and instruction? Does developing and teaching an online course change F2F instructional strategies?Does developing and teaching an online course change F2F instructional strategies?

23. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Recommendations: Questions prompted by this study: Can a blended design model be developed based on a decision-making process?Can a blended design model be developed based on a decision-making process?

24. 12th Annual Sloan-C Conference November 10, 2006 Orlando, FL Questions?Comments? Dissertation website: www.elicbrown.com/dissertation www.elicbrown.com/dissertation Thank-you! Contact info: Dr. Eli Collins-Brown Director of Instructional Technology Methodist College of Nursing ecollins-brown@mmci.org