Student Satisfaction with FacultyStudent Interaction

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Student Satisfaction with Faculty-Student
Interaction

• Denise Padavano
• Peirce College
• Associate Professor and
• Program Manager, Information Technology
• DMPadavano_at_peirce.edu

Marie Gould Peirce College Assistant Professor
and Program Manager, Business Administration
MGould_at_peirce.edu
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Abstract
Students taking online courses can feel isolated.
Teachers struggle to find ways to promote
content interaction, conversation, and
collaboration. Instructors need to design
courses to send the message effectively so that
students feel satisfied with their online
experience. This session provides research on
how to build interaction into online courses and
how faculty message design is the key to student
satisfaction.
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Agenda

• Define interaction
• Describe different types of interaction
• Provide examples of online interactions
• Define message design
• Provide example of online message design
• Questions

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Interaction

• Interaction occurs in learning when students are
  engaged in the learning
• Learner satisfaction is enhanced by interaction
• Interaction assists in the retention of students
  from one course to the next

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Types of Interactions

• Learner-Content
• Learner-Instructor
• Learner-Learner
• Learner-Interface or Learner-Technology
• Moore, M. G. (1989). Editorial Three types of
  interaction. The American Journal of Distance
  Education, 3(2), 1-6.
• Hillman, D. C. A, Willis, D. J., Gunawardena,
  C. N. (1994). Learner-interface interaction in
  distance education An extension of contemporary
  models and strategies for practitioners. American
  Journal of Distance Education, 8(2), 30-42.
• Hanna, D. E., Glowacki-Dudka, M.,
  Conceicao-Runlee, S. (2000). 147 practical tips
  for teaching online groups Essentials of
  web-based education. Madison Atwood Publishing.
• Palloff, R. M., Pratt, K. (2001). Lessons from
  the cyberspace classroom. San Francisco
  Josey-Bass.

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Learner-Content

• The learner interacts with the content or
  material being studied
• The content is internalized by the learner
• The learner forms a level of understanding based
  on his/her interaction with the content
• The learners understanding and perception of the
  material is changed, resulting in learning

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Learner-Instructor

• Interaction that occurs between the learner and
  the teacher
• Takes the form of
• Feedback on assessments
• Teleconferences
• Online chats
• Helps motivate students
• Helps to alleviate feelings of isolation

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Learner-Learner

• Learners interact with one another during the
  course
• Collaboration takes place in pairs or groups
• Discussions take place influencing learners to
  look at the viewpoints of others
• Cohorts are formed allowing for a higher comfort
  level and a lower feeling of isolation

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Learner-Interface/Technology

• Interaction with the medium that connects the
  student to the content, teacher, and other
  students
• Technological devices that facilitate interaction
• Other three levels of interaction are dependent
  on the comfort level of the learner to the
  interface used for the interaction

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Examples of Online InteractionsLearner-Content

• Develop an interactive course road map
• Interactive syllabus with links and details
• Create a quiz about where to find content within
  course
• Set up a location with important content links
• Create question threads for weekly content
  questions
• Detail what is expected in multiple locations
• Create virtual labs for students to practice tasks

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Examples of Online InteractionsLearner-Instructor

• List contact information on the syllabus
• Set up communication guidelines and expectations
• Provide office hours either in person or
  virtually using instant messenger tools or chat
  rooms
• Set up a weekly optional chat for students
• Provide prompt and detailed feedback on
  assessments and discussion responses
• Call students to clear up misunderstandings
• Make frequent announcements to the class

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Examples of Online InteractionsLearner-Learner

• Set up group or team projects within the course
• Create a thread for class members and instructor
  to make an introduction
• Create a weekly thread where students can ask
  each another questions
• Encourage group chats and email
• Set up guidelines for learner to learner
  communication and response expectations
• Set up a thread where the student facilitates the
  learning

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Examples of Online InteractionsLearner-Interface/
Technology

• Provide an orientation to your online environment
  or content management tool
• Give detailed instructions to students about
  where things are located in the course, use links
• Give detailed instructions to students on how to
  submit assignments
• Provide a grade book and post feedback
• Provide a thread for students to ask questions
  about how to use the course management tool
• Provide a help desk for student questions

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Message Design

• Key interactions are built into online courses
• Allows for students to interact with content,
  instructor, students and the interface/technology
• Clearly defined expectations
• Must be meaningful to the student
• Should be student-centered

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Examples of Message Design

• Collaborative projects
• Threaded discussions focused on a current events
  topic
• Student facilitated thread based on a paper s/he
  submitted
• Interactive communities
• Blogs
• Real world business simulators
• Virtual hands-on computer labs

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Questions?