scholarly journals Increasing Access to Higher Education: A study of the diffusion of online teaching among 913 college faculty

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Shea ◽  
Alexandra Pickett ◽  
Chun Sau Li
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Faculty Development ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Faculty Satisfaction ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
Discipline Area

<p>Online learning environments provide an unprecedented opportunity to increase student access to higher education. Accomplishing this much needed goal requires the active participation and cooperation of university faculty from a broad spectrum of institutional settings. Although online learning has seen rapid growth in recent years, it remains a relatively small percentage of the entire curriculum of higher education today. As a relatively recent development, online teaching can be viewed through the lens of diffusion of innovation research. This paper reports on research from 913 professors from community colleges, four-year colleges, and university centers in an attempt to determine potential barriers to the continued growth in adoption of online teaching in higher education. It is concluded through factor and regression analysis that four variables are significantly associated with faculty satisfaction and their likelihood, therefore, to adopt or continue online teaching – these include levels of interaction in their online course, technical support, a positive learning experience in developing and teaching the course, and the discipline area in which they taught. Recommendations for institutional policy, faculty development, and further research are included. </p> <p><b>Keywords: </b>online teaching, faculty satisfaction, faculty development, diffusion of innovation, access, higher education, study </p>

scholarly journals The Impact of Faculty Experience with Emergency Remote Teaching: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-23
Author(s):  
Maha Al-Freih
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this phenomenological study is to provide a deeper understanding of the impact of remote teaching on instructors’ perceptions of online learning and future teaching practices amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze open-ended semi-structured interviews conducted with five higher education faculty in Saudi Arabia. Three major themes were identified: enhancing student engagement; increased awareness of technology affordances and constraints; and moving from emergency remote teaching to technology-enhanced and blended learning. Participants of this study were mainly concerned about finding ways to support active student engagement in this new learning environment, which in turn increased their awareness of the educational affordances and constraints of online learning and technologies. Participants’ deeper understanding of the potential of online technologies in supporting student learning, as well as their own and students’ increased familiarity and comfort with online learning and technologies, served as the main drivers for potential future implementation of blended learning and technology-enhanced teaching practices. With that said, participants were still apprehensive about engaging in fully online teaching, arguing that blended strategies and enhanced-technology integration are more likely to overcome some of the limitations of face-to-face teaching and improve the overall learning experience for their students. Discussion of these findings in relation to the extant literature and their implications for higher education institutions moving forward are provided.

Enhancing Student Agency as a Driver of Inclusion in Online Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Learning Content

2021 ◽  
pp. 86-108
Author(s):  
Lydia Sophia Mbati
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Diverse Students ◽  
Access To Higher Education ◽  
Student Agency ◽  
Online Curriculum ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Inclusive Curriculum

With advancements in technological innovation, the interconnectedness of the global economies and citizens is now inextricable. Education has been affected by globalisation, opening opportunities for more participation, particularly through online learning. Social cleavages and access for social justice are often addressed through admission-policy reform in the higher-education sector. While this is one aspect of increasing access to higher education, this chapter explores inequality as epistemic injustice in online programmes. Curriculum design and pedagogical approaches that embrace diverse students' epistemic positions enrich the learning experience while including students' realities. Student agency may allow for visibility of diverse students and also provide for the inclusion of their epistemic stances. Student agency can also lead to flexible, inclusive curriculum content. Based on literature, this chapter presents ways in which the student voice may be included in online learning curriculum, pedagogy and learning content.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption on university teaching and learning and competence cultivation: Student evaluation of online learning experiences in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 221258682110070
Author(s):  
Ka Ho Mok ◽  
Weiyan Xiong ◽  
Hamzah Nor Bin Aedy Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Student Evaluation ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Digital Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has forced online teaching and learning to be the primary instruction format in higher education globally. One of the worrying concerns about online learning is whether this method is effective, specifically when compared to face-to-face classes. This descriptive quantitative study investigates how students in higher education institutions in Hong Kong evaluated their online learning experiences during the pandemic, including the factors influencing their digital learning experiences. By analysing the survey responses from 1,227 university students in Hong Kong, this study found that most of the respondents felt dissatisfied with their online learning experiences and effectiveness. Meanwhile, this study confirms that respondents’ household income level and information technology literacy affected their online learning effectiveness. Moreover, this study highlights the significant contributions of the community of inquiry, which places social presence on the promotion of a whole person development that could not be achieved when relying mainly on online learning. Findings encourage university leaders and instructors to search for multiple course delivery modes to nurture students to become caring leaders with the 21st century skills and knowledge set.

scholarly journals Graduate Students’ Experience and Academic Achievements with Online Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13055
Author(s):  
Halima Ahmed Omar ◽  
Eqlima Mohamad Ali ◽  
Shashidhar Belbase
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Online Distance Learning

Higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) adopted a distance/online learning approach during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure that students were safe while they received an uninterrupted, high-quality education off-campus. This was the first time that all of the higher education institutions adopted this approach. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct this study to gain insight into graduate students’ experiences in distance learning and to verify whether these experiences are linked to their achievements. The purpose of this study was to examine graduate students’ experiences toward online and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic year 2020–2021 and their academic achievement. A questionnaire was developed for this study and sent online to graduate students’ emails with the coordination of the College of Graduate Studies at a higher education institution in the UAE. The study received 138 responses. The data was analyzed using IBMSPSS-26. The findings of the study showed that graduate students’ level of Engagement, ease of Communication, and quality of learning Experience with online/distance learning were related significantly to their overall academic achievement.

Taking a Hard Look at the Soft Skills of Online Course Design and Online Teaching in Higher Education

2017 ◽  
pp. 158-181
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Gosselin ◽  
Maria Northcote ◽  
Kristi D. Wuensche ◽  
Trudy Stoddard
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Online Course Design ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Online Educators

Over the past few decades, substantial growth has occurred in online education in general, and this has been particularly true of the higher education sector. Most universities and post-secondary institutions now offer students the opportunity to enroll in online pre-tertiary, vocational, undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses. While some of these courses are successful for the learners who enroll in them, others have been found somewhat deficient, often criticized for their lack of humanization, interaction, communication and online presence. This chapter examines the role of the so-called soft skills of online course design and online teaching that are seen as vital for online educators who are responsible for the facilitation of high quality online learning. Along with a review of relevant literature about the soft skills of online teaching, the chapter presents three institutional case studies from which a set of practically-focused recommendations for promoting the design of humanized online learning environments has been developed.

Online Higher Education: Faculty Satisfaction and Its Antecedents

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa T. Stickney ◽  
Regina F. Bento ◽  
Anil Aggarwal ◽  
Veena Adlakha
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Faculty Satisfaction ◽  
Education Faculty ◽  
Higher Education Faculty ◽  
Organizational Policies ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Online Higher Education ◽  
Learning Programs

The nature and antecedents of faculty satisfaction in online higher education have not received much scholarly attention yet, despite the growing literature that indicates the relevance of faculty satisfaction for outcomes such as the success of e-learning programs, student learning, and student satisfaction. This exploratory study surveyed 171 faculty members from multiple institutions of higher education to learn about their experiences teaching online and to examine factors that might affect their satisfaction. Our study finds that higher education faculty who teach online are generally satisfied, and that satisfaction is more likely if there is appropriate training, and if teaching online allows for flexibility in their schedules. Although a weaker relationship, results also suggest that faculty are more satisfied teaching online when institutional support and organizational policies uphold online teaching efforts. Contrary to our expectations, however, our findings show that faculty who are more satisfied with support for technical elements of the online teaching environment, are less satisfied teaching online. Implications for research and practice are discerned through both the presence and absence of support for three sets of hypotheses, regarding faculty, institutional and technical factors.

scholarly journals Business Continuity Plan in the Higher Education Industry: University Students’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Academic Continuity Plans during Covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Ratneswary Rasiah ◽  
Harpaljit Kaur ◽  
Vinitha Guptan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Education Industry ◽  
Good Learning ◽  
Internet Connections ◽  
Higher Education Industry

The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the most disruptive, life-changing events that had brought the world to a perpetual standstill in 2020. Schools and institutions of higher education were impacted badly, resulting from the lockdowns and movement restrictions imposed by the governments of numerous countries. Students and faculty found themselves in virtual classrooms, with many caught unaware of what they needed to do, having to learn new things at lightning speed and feeling a sense of despair. While many online learners had frustrations and concerns regarding their online learning experience, there were those who had a good learning experience. The students’ observations and perceptions of the difficulties and opportunities they encountered in their online learning experience were assessed through grounded theory using textual thematic qualitative analysis of their reflective feedback. The findings reveal that most students had a good online learning experience and found that the academic continuity plans implemented by the universities were effective. The concerns that some students had with online learning were related to technological drawbacks such as poor internet connections, and personal concerns about academic ability and time management skills, among others. This study concludes by offering insights and recommendations to institutions, faculty, and students on how best to conduct online learning and teaching for all.

scholarly journals Online Teaching and Learning in Higher Education during the Coronavirus Pandemic: Students’ Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10367
Author(s):  
Claudiu Coman ◽  
Laurențiu Gabriel Țîru ◽  
Luiza Meseșan-Schmitz ◽  
Carmen Stanciu ◽  
Maria Cristina Bularca
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Online Teaching And Learning ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Learning Platforms

The research focuses on identifying the way in which Romanian universities managed to provide knowledge during the Coronavirus pandemic, when, in a very short time, universities had to adapt the educational process for exclusively online teaching and learning. In this regard, we analyzed students’ perception regarding online learning, their capacity to assimilate information, and the use of E-learning platforms. An online survey based on a semi-structured questionnaire was conducted. Data was collected from 762 students from two of the largest Romanian universities. The results of the research revealed that higher education institutions in Romania were not prepared for exclusively online learning. Thus, the advantages of online learning identified in other studies seem to diminish in value, while disadvantages become more prominent. The hierarchy of problems that arise in online learning changes in the context of the crisis caused by the pandemic. Technical issues are the most important, followed by teachers’ lack of technical skills and their teaching style improperly adapted to the online environment. However, the last place was assigned by students to the lack of interaction with teachers or poor communication with them. Based on these findings, research implications for universities and researchers are discussed.

scholarly journals Online Education in the Post COVID-19 Era: Students’ Perception and Learning Experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Nastaran Peimani ◽  
Hesam Kamalipour
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Design Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Blended Online Learning ◽  
The Impact

Students’ learning experiences and perceptions are markedly influenced by the use of digital technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring students’ perception of blended online learning, amid the adaptations of the higher education sector in the wake of uncertainty, has become more critical than ever. This paper reflects on the experience of learning and teaching the Research Methods and Techniques subject in the postgraduate programme of MA Urban Design at Cardiff University during COVID-19 in the UK. To do so, we designed and carried out an online survey to explore students’ perception of online teaching and learning activities, feedback and assessment, and digital platforms based on their experience during the subject delivery period in the 2020–2021 academic year. One of the significant findings of this paper was that students agreed with the impact of eye contact on their virtual learning experience but as long as this was aligned with their rights to see others, including their peers and instructors, rather than reciprocal rights to be seen. In addition, students felt that facilitating synchronous communication through effective interaction among diverse peers has been quite challenging in small-group online reading seminars. The majority of respondents also reported that attending live online lectures was more helpful than watching pre-recorded lectures. Online formative feedback and synchronous interim reviews also allowed students to reflect on their progress and develop their projects further before their summative assessment. The outcomes of this paper can effectively assist educators who consider delivering programmes, adopting a blended online learning environment design model, in the post COVID-19 era. The findings of this study can also provide guidance for further developments and improvements in using digital technology and blended online learning in urban design education and pedagogy.

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