What is Most Important

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What is Most Important to Students in e-Learning?
Linda J. Smith Doctoral Student Educational
Psychology and Learning Systems Florida State
University Dr. Abbas Darabi Principal
Investigator Learning Systems Institute
1st Southeastern Conference in Instructional
Design and Technology Mobile, AL March 11-13, 2005
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Topics

• Background
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Student Responses
• Implications/Recommendations
• Summary

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Background
US Navy Project N00140-03-Q-2897

• Study conducted by Learning Systems Institute
  (LSI) at Florida State University (2004)

• One of a series of activities concerned with
  examining interaction in the Integrated Learning
  Environment of the Naval Education and Training
  Command

• Earlier tasks
• Literature review
• Compilation of guidelines for learner-instructor
  interaction in the Navy Integrated Learning
  Environment

• Current task
• Revalidation of guidelines for learner-instructor
  interaction
• Update earlier work

The guidelines were submitted to the Navy in a
document entitled, IDS Guidelines for
Learner-Instructor Interaction in the Navy
Integrated Learning Environment, dated February
10, 2004 (Contract Number N00140-02-C-3342).
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Objectives

• Main Project
• Determine the effects of varying types and
  frequency of learner-instructor interactions on
  learner satisfaction and performance in a course
• Revalidate the guidelines presented earlier
• Revise and enhance the guidelines based on the
  results of data and observations obtained in this
  study

Presentation Focus The learners view of factors
important in e-learning
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Methodology
SITES Two institutions
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A virtual university
A large southeastern university offering online
courses
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Methodology
Sampling

• Convenience sample
• Volunteers (instructors and students)
• Online courses summer term 2004
• Undergraduate and graduate levels

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Methodology
Participants

• 32 instructors
• 16 from each institution

• 170 learners
• 100 from mixed-mode university
• 70 from online university

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Methodology
Data Collection
Instructors -questionnaire administered via
telephone interview
Learners - anonymous online survey

• Limitations
• Uneven participation by learners from course to
  course
• Low participation by undergraduate learners

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Survey Questions

• Instructors
• Interaction practices
• Importance to learner performance
• Importance to learner satisfaction

• Students
• Interaction practices observed
• Importance to learner

And . . . A final open text survey question
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Student Responses
Final Survey Question
In online instruction, what is most important in
helping you to have a successful and satisfying
learning experience?
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Student Responses
Tallies
Students Answering Total
Optional Total Students
Question Comments
Virtual Mixed-Mode Total
70 56 80 88 100 77 77
120 170 133 78 208
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Categories of Responses
Misc.
Course Design/ Materials
Communications
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64
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Instructor Characteristics
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Communications
Type
Instructor feedback 16.3 Assignments and
expectations 15.9 Interaction with instructor
10.6 General communication (unspecific)
6.7 Facilitation of discussions
4.8 Interaction with peers
2.9 Interaction (unspecific)
2.4 Interaction with instructor and peers
1.9 Other communication with instructor
1.9 Communication resources 1.0
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Communications
Typical adjectives
Clear Timely, prompt Easy Constructive Consistent
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Instructor Characteristics
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Type
Attitude 6.7 Skills 3.4 Support
2.9 Flexibility 1.4 General (unspecific)
1.4 Maintaining focus 1.0
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Instructor Characteristics
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Typical adjectives
Caring Supportive Knowledgeable Accessible
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Course Design / Mateials
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Type
Organization / Format 6.7 Relevance
2.9 General (unspecific) 2.4 Time
issues 1.9
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Course Design / Mateials
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Typical adjectives
Well-designed Organized Relevant work
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Comparison to the Main Survey
Order of Importance
Main Survey The Instructor
Final Question

• Checks email
• Provides clarification
• Monitors discussions
• Responds to inquiries
• Provides timely feedback
• Reviews course materials
• Communicates rules and expectations
• Contributes to discussions
• Models communication protocols
• Gives feedback to learners

1. Instructor feedback 2. Communication of
assignments and expectations 3. Interaction with
instructor 4. General communication - tie 4.
Instructor attitude - tie 4. Organization/format
of course materials - tie 7. Facilitation of
discussions 8. Instructor skills 9. Interaction
with peers - tie 9. Instructor support tie 9.
Relevance of course/work - tie
Differences in question formats make it
impossible to make easy comparisons of the two
lists regarding individual responses.
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Implications
Its mostly about communication and interaction
with instructors

• Learner responses on the final question
  overwhelmingly mentioned communication as what
  was most important in online learning.
• Responses not classified directly as
  communication can also be linked to
  instructor-learner interaction.
• Instructor characteristics mentioned are also
  relevant to interaction.

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Recommendations
For instructional designers, reinforcement for
basic principles was found

• Clarity of instructions for assignments and
  performance expectations for learners
• Course material and activities that are relevant
  for learners

Instructional designers can also consider

• How to include ample opportunities for
  instructor-learner interaction in their course
  designs

Instructors can consider the importance of

• Feedback
• Interaction
• Caring attitudes

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Summary

• Participants in this survey were primarily
  graduate student volunteers from two different
  types of institutions offering online learning.

• At least for this group of e-learners, what is
  most important in online learning is
  communication, especially with instructors.

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Website Information
What Is Most Important to Students in e-Learning?
Linda J. Smith http//agil-ed.com ljs04d_at_fsu.edu
Download
Presentation http//agil-ed.com/SCIDT05a.ppt Paper
http//agil-ed.com/SCIDT05a.rtf
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