IT8140StudyCritique
- 1. Review and Critique of Study Jason Siko IT8140
- 2. Lee, J.A. & Busch, P.E. (2005). Factors related to instructors’ willingness to participate in distance education. Journal of Educational Research, 99 (2), 109-115. Focus What factors encouraged and discouraged faculty from teaching distance education (DE) courses
- 3. Hypotheses Instructors’ willingness to participate in DE will be correlated positively with their perception of the training that they receive. Instructors’ willingness to participate in DE will be related negatively with their opinions about the effort and time commitment to develop course materials. Instructors’ willingness to participate in DE will be correlated positively with their perception of recognition for their effort. Instructors will rate face-to-face (FF) instruction more favorably than DE formats in terms of their comfort with the format, instructor-student interaction, students’ opportunities to interact before and after class, students’ opportunities to participate in class discussions, and compatibility with various learning styles. Format of instruction (face-to-face instruction vs. DE formats) will not affect instructors’ timely delivery of feedback to students or their belief that motivation contributes to student success (p. 110).
- 4. Methods Electronic Survey Distributed to 55 professors at a “midsized southeastern university (p.111).” Likert-type scale questions rating statements on overall importance to instruction Same questions asked with respect to whether they accurately portrayed their last teaching experience in DE and FF formats Several open-ended questions asked as well.
- 5. Methods Correlated responses with questions related to willingness Content analysis of open-ended questions
- 6. Results Strong correlations between willingness and Training (positive) Student satisfaction (positive) Faculty rate FF courses more favorably than DE courses No correlation between format and timeliness of feedback These results support hypotheses
- 7. Results Weak correlation between willingness and Time and effort required for course development Although negatively correlated, correlation was not significant enough to support hypothesis.
- 8. Results Course management issues Technical problems Accessibility Flexibility Interaction Blended Interaction Equipment problems Course management issues Accessibility Flexibility Student control Asynchronous online Nonverbal communication Flexibility Equipment problems Course management issues Accessibility Interaction Interactive TV Accessibility Flexibility Class composition Interaction Nonverbal behaviors Course management issues Adaptability Student comfort Familiarity Face-to-face Disadvantages Advantages Format
- 9. Implications Comfort level is important Data for comfort were higher for FF courses Can improve with training
- 10. Critique Weak data 44% response rate (26 respondents) Delivery system may skew results Lack of methodology for qualitative data
- 11. Extensions Expand study to include perceptions of Those who have never taught DE courses Those who have consistently taught DE courses Separate data from those who have only taught DE courses on occasion Comparisons based on different amounts of training