SALT 2009 - Faculty Success
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Transcript of SALT 2009 - Faculty Success
Phil Ice, Ed.D.
SALT, Washington Interactive Technologies Conference2009
Factors Influencin
g Instructor Success
in Online
Courses
What Factors Influence
Instructor Success in Online Courses?
Using the Community of Inquiry Framework to Measure Successproposed in 2000 by Garrison, Anderson
and Archer
a process model of learning in online and blended educational environments
grounded in a collaborative constructivist view of higher education
assumes effective online learning requires the development of a community of learners that supports meaningful inquiry and deep learning
social presence cognitive presence
teaching presence
LEARNING
Social Presence
the ability of participants in a community of inquiry to project themselves socially and emotionally -- as ‘real’ people
the degree to which participants in computer mediated communication feel socially and emotionally connected
Social Presence - Elements
affective expression (expressing emotion, self-projection)
open communication (learning climate, risk free expression)
group cohesion (group identity, collaboration)
Cognitive Presence
the extent to which learners are able to construct and confirm meaning through sustained reflection and discourse in a critical community of inquiry
Cognitive Presence - Elementstriggering event (sense of puzzlement)
exploration (sharing information & ideas)
integration (connecting ideas)
resolution (synthesizing & applying new ideas)
Teaching Presence
the design, facilitation and direction of cognitive and social processes for the purpose of realizing personally meaningful and educationally worthwhile learning outcomes
Teaching Presence - Elementsdesign and organization (setting
curriculum & activities)
facilitation (shaping constructive discourse)
direct instruction (focusing & resolving issues)
Community of Inquiry Survey9 social presence items (3 affective
expression, 3 open communication, 3 group cohesion)
12 cognitive presence items (3 triggering, 3 exploration, 3 integration, 3 resolution)
13 teaching presence items (4 design & facilitation, 6 facilitation of discourse, 3 direct instruction)
CoI Survey Validation
tested in graduate courses at four institutions in the US and Canada
principal component factor analysis
three factor model predicted by CoI framework confirmed
Arbaugh, Cleveland-Innes, Diaz, Garrison, Ice, Richardson, Shea & Swan – 2008
now the most frequently cited process model in the literature (over 350 citations – Google Scholar)
Commonly Accepted Factors
Courses Previously TaughtInstitutional TrainingTechnical Support
Pedagogical Guidance Origin of Degree
Degree Level
Study 1
West Virginia University
Impact of Pedagogical Training and Technical Support (n = 18 instructor and 512 students)
Training and Support hours regressed on Teaching Presence Subscales of Facilitation of Discourse and Direct Instruction
Number of courses previously taught was treated as a co-variable
Study 1
The equation was significant - HOWEVER
Pedagogical Guidance accounted for 2.1% of variance
Technical Support accounted for 1.9% of variance
Previous online teaching experience was not a significant predictor – in fact some of the highest scores came from first time instructors
Ice, 2007
Study 2
American Public University System
Modality for last degree earned – online vs. face to face
Degree Level
Co-variables – age, gender, courses previously taught, completion of additional pedagogical training
Regressed on Teaching Presence, Social Presence and Cognitive Presence and Facilitation of Discourse and Direct Instruction Subscales (n = 94 instructors and 4219 students)
Study 2
The equation was significant, HOWEVER
Gender was the only significant predictor
Being female accounted for 4% of the variance in Teaching Presence, Cognitive Presence and Facilitation of Discourse subscale
Patrizi and Ice, 2009
So, what does matter?
Research shows that commonly accepted factors have no impact.
Is it all a matter of one’s outlook toward learning?
Social Basis of Learning
Theory and research suggest that collaborative learning is the most effective means of facilitating learning in online environments.
Based on Vygotsky’s concept of social mediated practice
Collaborative learning posits that individuals construct knowledge through dialogue, group discussion and peer modification.
The success of collaborative learning is dependent upon the ability of group members to assist peers in diagnosing and modifying misconceptions.
Epistemology - ConstructivismProponents of constructivism argue that
knowledge is created through a process of inquiry and discovery in which external stimuli are interpreted in a unique manner by each learner.
A multitude of realities situated within each learner.
Dependent upon learners ability to analyze, synthesize and evaluate information.
Creation of meaningful, personalized knowledge.
Epistemology - Objectivism
Learning is a sequential process in which individual units of declarative knowledge are assembled into larger declarative, procedural and conditional constructs to define reality.
Learners display an understanding of a single reality through declarative, procedural and conditional knowledge.
Premised on the instructor having complete control over the materials, pace and direction of learning.
Not dependent on how individuals internalize or interpret such information
Social Dimension
Individual Group
Epistemological Dimension Objectivist Single objective reality. Single objective reality
Knowledge is transmitted. Knowledge is transmitted.
Abstract instruction out of context.Instructional sequences combined with group activities.
Emphasis on instructional sequences.Working with peers reinforces learning and conceptualizes concepts.
Individual mastery of material. Emphasis on learner - instructor and learner - learner interactions.
Emphasis on learner - instructor interaction.
Constructivist Multiple realities. Multiple realities.
Knowledge is created individually. Knowledge is created.
Engagement with the subject matter.Collaborative construction of knowledge by interacting with peers.
Authentic tasks in meaningful contexts. Authentic / meaningful group interactions.
Emphasis on learner - content interaction.
Emphasis on learner - content and learner - learner interactions.
Methodology
An exploratory sequential design with data transformation was implemented. Priority was given to the transformed qualitative components.
11 instructors interviewed – probing for understanding of technology.
Syllabi and learning activities placed within socio-epistemological framework.
Ethnographic reporting from instructional designers.
Analysis
Triangulation of data with correlation emphasized.
Iterative, interpretive process to assess faculty understanding of application of technology.
Qualitative data used to support relationshiops from analysis of transformed data – understanding of technology & relationships to socio-epistemological orientations
Establishment of grounded theory was an objective.
Later confirmatory samplings.
Socio-epistemological classification of course activities by instructor.
Total Activities
Objectivist - Individual
Objectivist - Group
Constructivist - Individual
Constructivist - Group
Kathy 16 3 (18.75%) 2 (12.50%) 5 (31.25%) 6 (37.50%)
Martin 26 2 (7.69%) 4 (15.39%) 10 (38.46%) 10 (38.46%)
Larry 64 18 (28.13%) 12 (18.75%) 12 (18.75%) 22 (34.37%)
Nancy 32 12 (37.50%) 8 (25.00%) 2 (6.25%) 10 (31.25%)
David 44 20(45.45%) 0 (0.00%) 2 (4.55%) 22 (50.00%)
*Sharon 30 24 (80.00%) 2 (6.67%) 4 (13.33%) 0 (0.00%)
*Stan 20 18 (90.00%) 0 (0.00%) 2 (10.00%) 0 (0.00%)
*Linda 84 60 (71.43%) 6 (7.14%) 12 (14.29%) 6 (7.14%)
*Monica 60 38 (63.33%) 10 (16.67%) 6 (10.00% 6 (10.00%)
Jill 18 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) 12 (66.67%) 6 (33.33%)
Rich 62 32 (51.61%) 4 (6.45%) 8 (12.90%) 18 (29.04%)
Activity type means for subgroup B versus all other instructors.
Objectivist - Individual
Objectivist - Group
Constructivist - Individual
Constructivist - Group
Subgroup B76.19%
(SD=11.45)7.62%
(SD=6.85)11.91%
(SD=2.23)4.28%
(SD=5.08)
All Others27.02%
(SD=19.27)11.15%
(SD=9.49)25.55%
(SD=22.02)36.28%
(SD=6.88)
Interview Data
Four instructors (Sharon, Stan, Linda & Monica) did not differentiate between technologies and pedagogical applications of technologies.
Viewed technological tools as a replacement for pedagogy in online courses.
Believed various technologies would dictate how learning activities are structured.
Believed technologies had singular uses.
Beliefs not altered by significant training and support.
Perception not detected among other faculty.
Relationships
Of all course activities, an average of 88.10% of those developed by the 4 instructor subgroup were individual. In contrast, the means for all other instructors were relatively balanced between individual (52.57%) and collaborative (47.43%) activities.
With respect to Arbaugh and Benbunan-Fich’s (2006) Teaching Approaches Framework, an average of 76.19% of subgroup B’s activities were classified as objectivist-individual as compared to a mean of 27.02% for all other instructors.
Constructivist – Group oriented instructors had statistically significant higher scores across all TP, SP, CP and all subscales
Implications
Socio-epistemological orientations may impact instructors’ ability to construct and facilitate effective online learning experiences.
The potential to screen potential instructors on the basis of socio-epistemological orientations may be of benefit to administrators.
Training and support structures may be needed to address paradigmatic orientations of faculty.
More research is needed to validate this study and the hypotheses developed.
• Director of Course Design, Research & Development
• American Public University System• [email protected]
Thank You!Phil Ice, Ed.D.Director of Course Design, Research & DevelopmentAmerican Public University [email protected]