H. Lynn Bradman 1. Title: Community Colleges Online: Best Practices for Learning

Transcription

1 H. Lynn Bradman 1 Title: Community Colleges Online: Best Practices for Learning Rationale: Community college students are perhaps one of the most diverse groups of students in the American higher education system. They vary widely according to age, race, life history, ability, previous educational achievement, income levels, work schedules, family responsibilities and their expectations of education. Due to the diversity in their student populations, community colleges may need to provide a menu of delivery methods to meet student needs. Online course delivery is one such method. Community college instructional designers and faculty are faced with developing online courses and course delivery methods that address alternative learning styles, dispositions, life experience, and needs. Additionally, past learning experiences, and past experience with technology may also play a role in the success or failure of students in virtual learning environments. Providing both mixed mode (classroom enhanced with online components) courses, in addition to totally online courses may be a best practice for ensuring success and completion for a wider array of community college students. Literature search: Keywords: online learning, community colleges, online teaching, distance education, curriculum, faculty development, online learning and learning styles, learning machines, learning theory, education and psychology, adult learning, technology and teaching, e-learning, e-teaching, Planned Bibliography Acebo, S. C., Burruss, B. G., & Kanter, M. J. (1998). "Most wired" college tells of journey to the information age. Community College Journal, 69 (Aug./Sept. 1998), Bear, J., & Bear, M. P. (1998). College degrees by mail & modem (pp. v.). Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press. Berge, Z. L., & Collins, M. P. (1995). Computer mediated communication and the online classroom. Cresskill, N.J.: Hampton Press. Carlson, S. (2001). Rio Salado plans online program for teacher certification. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 47(49), A30. Carr, S. (2000). A tribal college sticks to its values as it embraces distance education. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 47(5), A41-A42. Coulter, D. M., & Armao, A. (2001). A vice president learns an online lesson. T.H.E. Journal, 28(6), Darnell, D. R., & Rosenthal, D. M. (2001). Evolution of a virtual campus. Community College Journal, 71(3), Doherty, W. A., & Maddux, C. D. (2002). An Investigation of Methods of Instruction and Student Learning Styles in Internet-Based Community College Courses. Computers in the Schools, 19(3-4), Doherty, W. A., & Maddux, C. D. (2002). An Investigation of Methods of Instruction and Student Learning Styles in Internet-Based Community College Courses. Computers in the Schools, 19(3-4),

2 H. Lynn Bradman 2 Dupuis, E. A. (2003). Developing web-based instruction : planning, designing, managing and evaluating for results. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers. Farmer, K. (2001). Doors to opportunity: a virtual learning success. Community College Journal, 72(2), Fauske, J., & Wade, S. E. (2004). Research to Practice Online: Conditions that Foster Democracy, Community, and Critical Thinking In Computer-Mediated Discussions. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 36(2), Ferdig, R. E., & Roehler, L. R. (2004). Student Uptake in Electronic Discussions: Examining Online Discourse in Literacy Preservice Classrooms. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 26(2), Fisher, M. (2003). Online Collaborative Learning: Relating Theory to Practice. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 21(3), Floyd, D. L. (2003). Distance Learning in Community Colleges: Leadership Challenges for Change and Development. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 27(4), Ghaoui, C. (2003). Usability evaluation of online learning programs. Hershey, PA: Information Science Pub. Glahn, R., & Gen, R. (2002). Progenies in Education: The Evolution of Internet Teaching. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 26(10), Guernsey, L. (1998). Trading a classroom for a keyboard and eye contact for . The Chronicle of Higher Education, 44. Halterman, W. J. (1983). The complete guide to nontraditional education. New York: Facts on File. Jolliffe, A., Ritter, J., & Stevens, D. (2001). The online learning handbook : developing and using web-based learning. London: Kogan Page. Kramarae, C. (2001). The third shift : women learning online. Washington, DC: American Association of University Women Educational Foundation. Lapan, M. T., Houghton, R. W., Skinner, B. F., & Wheeler, R. H. (1995). Learning and intelligence : conversations with Skinner and Wheeler. Dublin, Ireland ; Portland, OR: Irish Academic Press. Lords, E. (2000, Mar, 31). Community colleges in Pennsylvania create an online consortium. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Lorenzetti, J. P. (2003). Getting the Best Out of Online Adjunct Faculty: A Guide. Distance Education Report, 7(14), 1-6. Maeroff, G. I. (2002). A classroom of one : how online learning is changing our schools and colleges (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Mueggenburg, K. (2003). Taking Undergraduate Students Into the Online Learning Environment. Nurse Educator, 28(6), Noffsinger, J. S. (1926). Correspondence schools, lyceums, Chautauquas. New York,: The Macmillan Company. Olson, K. (2002). Connecting with their communities: Web-based instruction and service learning. Community College Journal, 72(5), Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (1999). Building learning communities in cyberspace : effective strategies for the online classroom (1st ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2001). Lessons from the cyberspace classroom : the realities of online teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

3 H. Lynn Bradman 3 Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (2003). The virtual student : a profile and guide to working with online learners (1st ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Palloff, R. M., Pratt, K., & netlibrary Inc. (2001). Lessons from the cyberspace classroom the realities of online teaching, from An electronic book accessible through the World Wide Web Perraton, H. D. (1982). Alternative routes to formal education : distance teaching for school equivalency. Baltimore: Published for the World Bank [by] Johns Hopkins University Press. Peterson's (Firm), & University Continuing Education Association. (2000). Guide to distance learning programs (pp. v.). Lawrenceville, N.J.: Peterson's. Plummer, L., Nichols, E. J., & Nelson, C. M. (2001). Collaboration: Developing an effective oncampus online course. College & University Media Review, 7(2), Pugni, J. L. (1965). Adult education through home study. New York,: Arco. Redding, T. R., & Rotzien, J. (2000). Comparative analysis of online learning versus classroom learning. Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, 13(4), Roblyer, M. D. (1999). Is choice important in distance learning? A study of student motives for taking Internet-based courses at the high school and community college levels. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 32(1), Rudestam, K. E., & Schoenholtz-Read, J. (2002). Handbook of online learning : innovations in higher education and corporate training. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications. Santovec, M. L. (2003a). Bridging Online, Face to Face Worlds. Distance Education Report, 7(2), 5. Santovec, M. L. (2003b). Leveraging Community College Resources. Distance Education Report, 7(13), 8. Scagnoli, N. I. (2001). Student orientations for online programs. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 34, Schutt, M. (2003). Scaffolding for Online Learning Environments. Educational Technology, 43(6), Shea-Schultz, H., & Fogarty, J. (2002). Online learning today : strategies that work (1st ed.). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler. Skinner, B. F. (1968). The technology of teaching. New York,: Appleton-Century-Crofts. Skinner, C. E., & Langfitt, R. E. (1937). An introduction to modern education. Boston, New York [etc.]: D. C. Heath and company. Spears, S., & Tatroe, R. L. (1997). Seamless education through distance learning: state policy initiatives for community college/k-12 partnerships. New Directions for Community Colleges, Fall(99), Vasillov, M. (2001). E-learning art history: an asynchronous online art history course for community college students. Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, 14(2), Vasillov, M. (2001). E-learning art history: an asynchronous online art history course for community college students. Journal of Interactive Instruction Development, 14(2), Virtual Academy Takes a Learning-Centered Approach to Online Instruction. (2002). Community College Journal, 73(2), 6. White, K. W., & Weight, B. H. (2000). The online teaching guide : a handbook of attitudes, strategies, and techniques for the virtual classroom. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

4 H. Lynn Bradman 4 Woods, R. H. (2002). How Much Communication Is Enough in Online Courses? International Journal of Instructional Media, 29(4), Tentative Outline: Introduction: Learning theory overview Brief history of the alternative delivery of education Introduction to online learning i.e., how where, when? Online learning and community college students needs Significance Online learning can be more than correspondence courses Online can work with many types of learner Learning styles can be addressed online We can teach constructively online i.e., use active learning techniques. We can design for a wider array of students Research questions What types of online courses are being offered in community colleges currently? What are some of the techniques that work best for particular student variables and why? What kinds of professional development and training are being offered to aid community college faculty with their online teacher training and responsibilities? Literature review Journal articles Books Chronicle Interviews Summary Review of learning theory and links to practice. Evaluation of current practices Conclusions Re-evaluation of the problem Were the research questions answered in the literature? What are the implications for policy and change? Recommendations for further research Description of paper: This literature review will begin with a brief introduction to learning theory and how it relates to techniques commonly used in alternative delivery methods in education both historically and currently. An overview of the history of online teaching will be included followed by an overview of community college student characteristics and needs. This section will be followed by a review of the best practices in online delivery identified in the literature and a summary of current practice in community colleges. Additionally, professional development issues and trends will be discussed. The paper will continue with a final summary that links learning theory to practice in the online environment. There will be discussion of the extent to which community colleges are fulfilling the needs of a diverse student population through technology enhanced offerings followed by implications for policy and suggestions for further research.

5 H. Lynn Bradman 5 Presentation: The topic will be introduced and a brief overview of the major points of the review will be presented. Audience members will then experience a simulated mixed-mode classroom in which they will become active participants. A PowerPoint presentation will be used and an outline will be provided. Equipment needs: Computer and projector, paper and pencils, crayons, markers.