Chickering's Seven Principles of Good Practice: Student Attrition in Community College Online Courses

As online enrollments escalate, so does concern about student attrition rates. There is an abundance of literature addressing student success in online courses, particularly using constructivist learning theories to create engaging learning experiences. Also emerging from the literature is the Seven principles of good instructional practice by Checkering and Gamson as an accepted rubric for evaluating effective online instruction. This study focused on whether the use of instructional strategies as measured by the seven principles had an effect on student attrition rates in online courses. Full and part-time faculty at three community colleges in Virginia who taught online course(s) in the last three semesters completed an online survey to determine the extent to which they used instructional strategies reflecting the constructivist-based seven principles in their online courses. Scores from the survey were then compared to the attrition rates in their courses. Results indicated both groups strongly used instructional strategies reflecting the seven principles of good practice in their online courses with full-time faculty scores ranging a bit higher. When the results for the principles were examined individually rather than as a set, both groups scored lower on principles reflecting innovative instructional strategies. No relation between the extent to which faculty reported using those instructional strategies and student success as measured by attrition rates were found. However, a moderate relation was found with the third principle, “encourage active learning.” This indicated that faculty who made strides toward actively engaging students found some success in reducing student attrition.     

Student Achievement in an Educational Technology Course As Enhanced By Cooperative Learning

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of cooperative learning on students' achievement in an Educational Technology course in an Initial Teacher Training Program. A cooperative learning strategy was compared with the traditional whole class direct instruction approach. Ninety-five first year full-time students at a College of Education constituted the sample. The students' achievement included: academic achievement in the course, quantity measurement in the use of instructional media, and quality rating of utilization of instructional media during their teaching practice. Their attitude change was also assessed by an Attitude Inventory. The results indicated that cooperative learning strategy had a positive effect on academic achievement and quantity measurement in the use of instructional media (F(l,91) = 7.06, p < 0.01; F(l,91) = 4.59, p < 0.05). Cooperative learning strategy also had a positive influence on students' attitudes towards instructional media and their learning condition (F(l,93) = 5.07, p < 0.05; F(l,93) = 6.20, p < 0.05).     

ASSESSING NEEDS FOR POSTSECONDARY VOCATIONAL HOME ECONOMICS INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA AND MATERIALS IN TEXAS

The Education Amendments of 1976 (PL 94‐482) provided funds for states to develop postsecondary vocational home economics instructional materials. To date, most states have not developed instructional materials designed for use at the postsecondary level. This report summarizes a needs assessment project designed to identify the specific needs instructors perceived for instructional materials in their subject area, as well as student characteristics and present use of instructional media and materials in Texas programs. The activities of the project included a nationwide search for existing materials suitable for use at the post‐secondary level; the preparation of four annotated bibliographies; and the development and statewide administration of a survey instrument. The survey revealed that the students of postsecondary vocational home economics were varied in characteristics; instructors used discussion, questioning, and lecture as the main teaching techniques; instructors would increase use of most types of instructional media and materials if more or better quality materials were available. Needs were perceived in each of the program areas: child development, food service/dietetics, fashion design/tailoring, and interior design.     

Cognitive style and instructional preferences

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between learners' cognitive styles and their instructional preferences. The sample consisted of 240 business studies students at a UK university. Subjects' cognitive styles were assessed using the Cognitive Styles Analysis (which assesses the wholist-analytical and verbaliser-imager dimensions of style) and their instructional preferences assessed using an instructional preferences inventory which consisted of three sub-inventories (instructional method, instructional media and assessment method). Overall subjects favoured dependent methods, print based media and informal assessment methods. There was a significant main effect of wholist-analytical style on collaborative method preference (role play, group discussions and business games) and non-print based media preference (overhead transparencies, slides and videos). There was an interaction of the two dimensions of style and gender in their effect on informal assessment method preferences (individual and group assignments and multiple choice and short answer-type questions). The findings are discussed in terms of: (i) models of the cognitive style construct; (ii) the practical implications of individual differences in style and preference.     

从“经验之塔”理论看增强现实教学媒体优势研究

文章基于"经验之塔"理论对增强现实教学媒体的教学优势进行研究,通过对增强现实教学媒体与其他常见的教学媒体的对比分析和实证研究发现:增强现实教学媒体在展现科学结构和科学过程知识内容方面,较其他常见的教学媒体可以使学习者更好地获得和理解相关知识,达到更好的认知效果。     

The Effect of Music in Video Mediated Instruction on Student Achievement

Does the use of musical accompaniment in instructional media enhance motivation and learning? Many instructional film producers avoid music in their presentations, but others regularly use music to accompany the instruction. Such differences in production may well affect the level of enjoyment, assimilation, retention, recall, transfer and application of the material to be learnt. This paper describes a study into whether the use of music on video‐mediated instruction has any effects on students’ learning. The study revealed only inconclusive differences in effect between video instruction accompanied with music and video instruction without music     

Appropriate Instructional Media Selection (AIMS): an issue in educational technology in the Nigerian school system

The paper examines the issue of appropriate instructional media selection in a developing country such as Nigeria.
Five criteria (media attributes, cost, usability, serviceability and availability) are used to assess the justifiability of different types of high technology instructional media (HTIM). Some HTIM are judged appropriate whereas some are judged inappropriate on the basis of the assessment. The paper ends by suggesting the development and use of low technology instructional media to supplement appropriate HTIM in Nigeria.     

A meta‐analysis of the effectiveness of telecourses in distance education

Abstract

This study used meta‐analytic procedures to examine experimental research literature about the use of telecourses in adult and higher education. Weighted effect size analysis procedures were used. The study included experiments that used video and either one‐way or two‐way audio. The purpose of this study was to review evidence concerning the effectiveness of telecourses. The instructional features that impacted learner achievement were type of interaction during the broadcast, type of course, and type of remote site. Two‐way interaction was found to be the best method of interaction between learners and the instructor. Most of the studies failed to provide information about their learner attrition rate, thereby casting a shadow on the results.     

A history of instructional design and technology: Part I: A history of instructional media

This is the first of a two-part article that will discuss the history of the field of instructional design and technology in the United States. A definition of the field is provided and the major features of the definition are identified. A rational for using instructional design and technology as the label for the field is also presented. Events in the history of instructional media, from the early 1900s to the present day, are described. The birth of school museums, the visual and audiovisual instruction movements, the use of media during World War II, and the interest in instructional television, computers, and the Internet are among the topics discussed. The article concludes with a summarization of the effects media have had on instructional practices, and a prediction regarding the effect computers, the Internet, and other digital media will have on such practices over the next decade. Portions of this article are from a chapter that will appear inTrends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (Reiser & Dempsey, in press). Some segments of the article previously appeared in a book chapter by Reiser (1987).     

Is the flipped classroom model for all? Correspondence analysis from trainee instructional media designers

The educational potentials and challenges of “flipping” a classroom are today well-documented. However, taking into account the contradictory results, literature on the benefits in using the flipped model as a socially inclusive technology-supported instructional design model is still in its infancy. This study seeks to investigate the perceptions of twenty-six (n = 26) trainee instructional media designers based on the access and use of a flipped instructional model, following an exploratory mixed method research with quantitative and qualitative data that was framed by learning concepts. Findings indicate that the flipped model supported really well exercises facilitating trainees’ participation, particularly those with specific reference to gender, age and web-based open educational resources (OER) level of frequency use. Regular recordings of difficulty with long-time content lectures were perceived as the most effective for flipped instructional model use showing that course design matters for knowledge gain. The study results also confirmed the view of flipped classroom as facilitating model for learning activities with trainees to be actively participated and not being passive receivers of the main instructor’s information or observers of other colleagues’ practices and experiments. In this context, which is defined by severe resource constraints and fear of using web-based transactions or sources among lecturers and trainees, the simplicity and accessibility of a flipped model promises a successful adoption for instructional media technology in Higher education.     

Effects of Televised Lecture Presentation Styles on Student Learning

College level instructional television (ITV) has been criticised for rigid formats involving little creative or interactive use of the media. Limited budgets and other constraints make it difficult for most ITV operations to introduce innovative communication modes. However, literature suggests other techniques to improve instructional television, specifically the use of interspersed questions and eye contact. This study manipulated these techniques in a television lecture, examining their relevance to student learning and acceptance. In a 2X2 experiment, four sections of an undergraduate course each viewed a different videotape treatment of the same lecture and content. Results yielded four conclusions. (1) Presenter eye contact and inserted questions are perceived as useful learning aids in televised lecture presentations. (2) Student satisfaction with, and interest in, televised courses is relatively low, with various learning difficulties reported. (3) Positive perception of eye contact and inserted questions correlates with higher levels of student interest in and satisfaction with televised courses. (4) Neither eye contact nor inserted questions impact directly on short‐term learning. Further studies would identify ways to more effectively manipulate eye contact and inserted questions in instructional television presentations, exploring how these techniques can enhance student learning motivation and reduce learning difficulties. Long‐term effects of these techniques on learning also should be explored     

Impact of social media use on student satisfaction in Higher Education

Social media has transformed the communication landscape for institutions of Higher Education by providing improved teaching and learning experience. However, very little is known as to whether the use of social media by Higher Education students improves their satisfaction. Grounded in social media, risk and technology acceptance literature, this paper examines Higher Education students' perceptions of social media use (SMU) and the impact of SMU on their satisfaction. Data collected from the students were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The study finds that: (1) perceived usefulness of social media has positive effect on the use of social media in student learning; (2) perceived risk of using social media discourages the use of the tool, and (3) SMU has positive effect on student satisfaction. The study further discusses the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.     

Curriculum-Based Measurement progress data: Effects of graph pattern on ease of interpretation

Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) is a system for monitoring the progress of and evaluating instructional program effectiveness for students with learning difficulties. Although a large amount of research has been conducted on CBM, little has focused on the interpretation and use of the data for instructional decision-making, despite the fact that it is data use that leads to performance gains. In this study, we examine factors affecting the interpretation of CBM data. Specifically, we examine the effect of CBM graph patterns on ease of graph interpretation. Thirty college/university students completed a two-part study in which they viewed various slope-to-goal and slope-to-slope patterns of CBM-graphed data and answered decision-making questions. Response times and accuracy were measured. Results revealed that graph patterns differed in terms of ease of interpretation. Differences depended on the type of question. Implications for interpretation and use of CBM data for decision-making are discussed.     

Media use among communication apprehensive education majors

Will some teachers avoid using instructional media because they fear communicating? This study compared the past and projected future use of media of beginning education majors who differed in the extent to which they expressed “communication apprehension.” Those who expressed high and moderate amounts of fear for such situations as engaging in classroom discussions with peers and initiating or responding to teacher-oriented discussions reported less past use, and projected less future use, of several types of media than did those having less fear. The media unaffected by apprehension level — overhead projections, slides, and filmstrips — appear to require less teacher responsibility for communication and interpretation. The authors suggest that communication apprehension may be decreased, thereby increasing the possibility that such teachers will use instructional media.     

The Effect of Interactive Video and Print Role Models and Learner Sex on Instructional Motivation

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two types of instructional media presenting role models (interactive video and print) and learner sex on attitudes toward instruction. One hundred sixteen unemployed people enrolled in a job training employability skills program participated in the study. Half of the subjects viewed an interactive video presentation of role models including scenes of employers asking job applicants typical interview questions. The other half read a print–based lesson that described typical interviewing situations and questions. Results indicated that both types of instruction were equally effective in enhancing the motivation of adult learners to engage in the instruction. Results also revealed that women perceived both instructional media as significantly more attention–getting, relevant, and satisfying to complete than male subjects.     

Preliminary Investigation of the Sources of Self-Efficacy Among Teachers of Students with Autism

Teacher self-efficacy refers to the beliefs teachers hold regarding their capability to bring about desired instructional outcomes and may be helpful for understanding and addressing critical issues such as teacher attrition and teacher use of research-supported practices. Educating students with autism likely presents teachers with some of the most significant instructional challenges. The self-efficacy of 35 special education teachers of students with autism between the ages of 3 to 9 years was evaluated. Teachers completed rating scales that represented self-efficacy and aspects of the following 3 of Bandura's 4 sources of self-efficacy: (1) sense of mastery, (2) social persuasions, and (3) physiological/affective states. Significant associations were observed between physiological/affective states and self-efficacy, but no associations were observed for the other sources.     

The Relationship Between Institutional Expenditures and Degree Attainment at Baccalaureate Colleges

Enhancing student persistence and effectively managing financial resources present important challenges to higher education. Surprisingly, existing student persistence and attrition models offer little insight into the potential links between institutional expenditures and student persistence. This study examines the impact of institutional expenditures on 6-year cohort graduation rates at 363 Carnegie-classified Baccalaureate I and II institutions. The results suggest a positive and significant relationship between instructional and academic support expenditures and cohort graduation rates. As a result, researchers might consider ways to integrate expenditure variables into student persistence models. Institutions also might seek out ways to shift financial resources to areas that enhance student persistence and degree attainment. Additional research may serve to strengthen student persistence frameworks and improve links between persistence research and financial decisionmaking in colleges and universities.     

NAVIGATING SOCIAL NETWORKING AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY: ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN TRAINING PROGRAMS

Social networking and social media have undoubtedly proliferated within the past decade, allowing widespread communication and dissemination of user‐generated content and information. Some psychology graduate programs, including school psychology, have started to embrace social networking and media for instructional and training purposes; however, there have not been any consistent ethical guidelines or standards among training programs relating to how trainers, graduate students, and practitioners should use social networking and social media professionally. This article draws on the current yet limited research on social networking and social media, and addresses the ethical challenges when managing both professional and personal online identities in school psychology. Two relevant case scenarios are discussed, along with suggested guidelines for developing technological policies for school psychologists. Future directions in research and practical implications for trainers, graduate students, and practitioners are explored.     

浅谈英语听力教学中教学媒体的选择

在英语听力教学中,正确、合理选用教学媒体可以优化课堂教学,该文通过比较传统的英语听力教学和运用教学媒体的英语听力教学,结合具体实例分析教学媒体选择遵循的原则,就英语听力教学中媒体的选择进行探讨。     

Accounting for Student Attrition in Power Calculations: Benchmarks and Guidance

Abstract

Although the research methodology literature includes empirical benchmarks for effect sizes and intraclass correlations to help researchers determine adequate sample sizes through power analysis, it does not include similar benchmarks that would assist proper planning for attrition. To help fill this void, this paper describes how researchers can incorporate student attrition in power analyses and provides empirical benchmarks for the amount of attrition one might expect when conducting a school-based study that follows students over multiple years. The paper incorporates parameters for student attrition in common minimum detectable effect size calculations, presents attrition benchmarks based on student mobility rates in nationally representative longitudinal surveys, and presents benchmarks based on a synthesis of published evaluation studies. The paper includes a demonstration of how researchers can use the attrition benchmarks to take student attrition into account in a power analysis.