Establishing and evaluating a distance master of education program

vii, 61 p. ; 29 cm. --The purpose of this project is twofold. First, it was to establish if there was a need for a Master of Education program in School District 59 in British Columbia. If so, then to evaluate the effectiveness of the delivery model of the program after delivery of the first course. Following establishment of a cohort with The University of Lethbridge, where students use a combination of on-site instruction and computer-assisted instruction to complete the program requirements for a Master of Education, monitoring ofthe program development began. This development of the program took place over a fifteen-month period from October 1998 to January 2000 and had three distinct stages. Firstly, a needs assessment determined that there was support for establishing a cohort amongst the professionals of School District 59. Secondly, negotiations between School District 59 and The University of Lethbridge determined the parameters of a partnership. Thirdly, an evaluation of the program was conducted following completion of the first course delivered on-site. The evaluation of the first course confirmed that the model for delivery was very effective. The program is still ongoing at the time of this project completion and so further evaluation is pending

ANALYSIS OF FACTORS AFFECTING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DISTANCE LEARNING MODE IN THE PREPARATION OF TEACHERS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, NIGERIA

Distance learning education has been considered as a viable tool which not only helps in solving the problem of shortage of teachers but also the high attrition rates that is often associated with study leave. It was believed that distance education has the capacity to prepare qualified teachers just as the face-to-face education mode. However, there seem to be gaps between the objectives establishing distance education and their realization. The obvious indicators to this fact are the unqualified teachers who cannot express themselves in the classroom. The study explored the factors affecting the effectiveness of distance learning mode in the preparation of teachers in Colleges of Education, Nigeria. The researcher constructed 30 questionnaire items from the literature relevant to the study.  The questionnaire yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.83. A total of 151 questionnaires were administered on 38 and 113 lecturers and students of College of Education, Minna and Mokwa study centers.  All the questionnaires were completed and retrieved. The study revealed that all the constructs constituted factors affecting the effectiveness of the distance learning mode of education in the preparation of teachers in Colleges of Education in Nigeria.  It was concluded that the nation will continue to be in dire need of adequate qualified teachers if the factors affecting the effectiveness of the program are not eliminated. It was recommended among others that institutions establishing distance learning programs should ensure that the needed facilities for the effective running of the program are properly put in place. Facilities such as; technologies that will create an interactive learning environment even at a distance

Design, development and delivery of Web-based instruction

The World Wide Web is becoming an increasingly popular medium for instructional delivery of distance education. Many colleges and universities are offering courses and complete programs of study via the web. This Graduate Project: Design, Development and Delivery of Web-based Instruction includes a brief review of the literature indicating the widespread use of the web in distance education in higher education. It reflects the current practice of web-based instruction in the UNI Educational Technology program. It documents the project including the process for establishing a new section of a currently developed course. It is the intention through this project report to present a model for future maintenance of web curricula in the Educational Technology program

Accreditation of Collegiate Aviation’s Distance Education Programs: Now and in the Future

The purpose of this research endeavor is to benchmark and evaluate the accreditation status of aviation distance education programs in the United States. This study examines both the expanding role of distance education as a delivery method for aviation courses as well as the need for establishing standards. The research methods provide data collection through content analysis, literature review, and a survey tool mailed to aviation professionals nationwide. The findings reveal that, in general, most disciplines are either just beginning to approach the subject of distance education accreditation of programs or do not deal with the issue at all. The results of the research reveal a positive interest in distance education and the accreditation process. Further research is recommended to ensure that the accreditation standards and program guidelines fit the needs of distance education and its students

A Needs Assessment for a Distance Education Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program for Associate Degree Level Dental Hygienist

The purpose of this descriptive research was to determine the need for a distance education program for geographically dispersed dental hygienists to complete a baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene. The sample consisted of randomly selected licensed dental hygienists in the Commonwealth of Virginia. A self-designed instrument, titled The Distance Education for a Dental Hygiene Degree Completion Program Questionnaire, was mailed to the study participants after establishing validity and reliability. The questionnaire asked participants to provide information concerning personal demographics, educational background, and interest in completing a dental hygiene baccalaureate degree via distance education. Frequencies, percentages, crosstabulations, chi-square test of association, in conjunction with analysis of residuals and lambda were used for data analysis. Results indicated that 29.8% of Virginia dental hygienists surveyed are pursuing education beyond their associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene. Of the dental hygienists surveyed, 27.2% have taken a distance education course, either as continuing education or college credit courses. Dental hygienists were asked to rate the importance of various program design factors considered when making a decision to pursue a bachelor\u27s of science degree in dental hygiene. Of these factors, those indicated as being .. very important\u27\u27 to the majority of Virginia dental hygienists surveyed were: tuition costs, weekend/evening course availability, geographic location, the length of time to complete the program, part-time study availability and faculty/institution reputations. Study participants also rated as \u27very important the following personal reasons for seeking an advanced degree in dental hygiene: to increase knowledge and skill, to better serve patients, and personal satisfaction. Gaining entrance into graduate school was rated as being not important by the majority of study participants. The value of the baccalaureate degree in dental hygiene was determined by the factors and reasons rated by dental hygienists when making a decision to pursue an advanced degree. Based on the responses, many dental hygienists value such a degree and 72.4% expressed an interest in pursuing an advanced degree if courses were conveniently located and flexible to accommodate family and employment schedules. The implementation of a dental. hygiene degree completion program via distance education may provide opportunities for many dental hygienists in areas of Virginia that otherwise would not be available

Academic Leadership Perceptions of Online Program Quality and Course Design

The purpose of this study was to examine college and university leaders’ background in, perceptions of, and experiences with the administration of high-quality online programs and design of online courses. The population of this study included academic leaders at higher education institutions within the state of Texas from 2 and 4-year undergraduate and graduate, public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit institutions that had at least one 100% online program. A quantitative research design was used through the distribution of a survey that contained two parts: part one asked questions related to the background demographics of the leader and their respective institution while part two was a replication of two sections of the Online Learning Consortium’s Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs. Data were analyzed through multiple methods including descriptive, correlation, and causal comparative statistics. Findings include describing current academic leaders’ and institutions’ background demographics and the perception of online program quality held by academic leaders. Recommendations are provided to institutions looking to improve online program quality or hire an administrator for online programs. Online program quality may be improved by institutions establishing a process for the development/redesign of online courses, establishing course development standards, and requiring faculty to collaborate with instructional designers. Keywords: online quality, distance education, course design, academic leaders, instructional design, online programs, Online Learning Consortium Scorecar

Northern Iowa Today, v83n1, Winter 1999

Inside This Issue:--Upswing in wellness at Northern Iowa Philosophy and facilities aid students-for life--Helping make a healthier world Global Health Corps gives students hands-on experiences in public health helping underserved populations.--Distance undone Distance learning opens opportunities in education, emphasizes quality.--Creating prairies for tomorrow UNI\u27s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program restores vanished prairie along state highways--Students First campaign will impact students both at home and abroad Endowed scholarships launch fund raising campaign--Alumni profile: Robert James Waller Take your work seriously, but not yourself.--Faculty profile: Willis Greer Truck driver, pilot, photographer. .. and educator.--College & University--UNI Alumni World Including Alumni Association news and Class Notes--Perspective: Making a habit of wellness UNI\u27s Kathy Gulick outlines a guide to establishing a healthy habit.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/alumninews/1046/thumbnail.jp

Operational challenges of providing library services to distance education learners in a higher education system in Uganda

This study investigated operational challenges of providing library services to long distance learners at higher education institutions in Uganda. The study adopted a survey research design, and the population was drawn from distance learners and librarians at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU). Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed, online Google Form questionnaires were sent to 50 distance learners and 5 library staff. A total of 33 and 4 filled questionnaires were received back from students and library staff respectively and registering a response rate of 74%. The study revealed that 75.8% of the student respondents were not satisfied with the library services and resources. 81.8% of the respondents were not easily accessing library services and resources and mentioned the challenge lack of login credentials for accessing e-resources; Lack of access to a library nearby with relevant textbooks and journals; poor Internet Connectivity; get assistance from library staff; Not trained to access online library resources; and Geographical isolation. The study recommended the following to the management of UMU library; the library should consider establishing distance learning desk at their main library to address distance learners information needs; coordinators for distance learning programs should collaborate and work together with librarians in planning for new students orientation program; libraries in Uganda whether academic, community or public should form collaborations and sign resource sharing agreements that allow their students to freely access any library resource or services from neighbouring libraries

Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: 2001 Annual Report

Twenty Departmental students completed their Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Science degrees in 2001, nineteen in the Veterinary Science Major and one in the Veterinary Technologist Major. Twenty-five Nebraska residents were admitted into the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, twelve of them having completed all or part of their pre-veterinary studies at UNL. Seven students completed their Master of Science degree in Veterinary Science. Enrollment in the Distance Education MS in Veterinary Science Master of Science, Distance Education Program increased to seven students, with several applications still being processed or expected. Three new Distance Education courses were approved, as follows: VBMS 847: Interdisciplinary Concepts in Beef ~ roduction (ASCI 847) (3 cr, max 6) VBMS 848: Introduction to Veterinary Technology (1-2 cr), and VBMS 925: Critial Reading of the Epidemiology Literature (1 cr, max 4). The seventh class began the GPYEC Beef Cattle Production Management Series in June 2001 with fifteen participants, several of who also enrolled for academic credit as a part of the Distance Ed MS program. A proposal for establishing a new PhD degree program in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS) was submitted to the Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, in October 2001, with a goal of gaining approval for the program by Fall 2002. If approved, the CBMS will be an interdepartmental program based in the VBMS Department, which will provide administrative support for the program. Two faculty members in the School of Biological Sciences and one in the Department of Plant Pathology, along with the VBMS faculty members who are Graduate Faculty Fellows make up the initial faculty of the proposed CBMS degree program. Data compiled by the Dean/Director of the Agricultural Research Division demonstrated that the VBMS Department ranked third among twenty IANR Administrative Units in extramural grant and contract income for the calendar year 2000, generating $274,453 per research FTE. Over the four-year period 1997- 2000, the Department ranked fourth among the IANR units, with an average of$207,699 per research FTE. Departmental grant income for fiscal year 2001 totaled $2,028,189. The immunohistochemstry test on bovine skin biopsies developed by Veterinary Diagnostic Center became an extremely popular test for detecting cattle that are persistently infected with BVD virus. This test attracted large numbers of samples, submitted from throughout the US. Fee income generated by the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System totaled$853,284 for fiscal year 2001. The pre-harvest beef quality assurance program (BQA) and pre-harvest hazard analysis critical control point programs continued to be major veterinary extension initiatives. Over 70% of the Nebraska feedlot cattle production and 30% of the Nebraska cow-calf production is conducted under a certified BQA program. Recognition of the importance of the on-going animal disease biosecurity veterinary extension programs was heightened by the continuing problem of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in England, followed by the September 11,2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Drs. Dale Grotelueschen and Gary Sherman resigned their faculty positions at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center and the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, respectively. Due to University budget reductions, the faculty position occupied by Dr. Sherman was permanently deleted

Marginalised identities, communications technologies and the politics of research: issues in interpreting the educational opportunities of the children of the Showmen's Guild of Australasia

This paper examines the link between language and power as it relates to program evaluation of the Brisbane School of Distance Education. This program was developed in 1989 to meet the educational needs of children who are part of the Showmen's Guild of Australasia. Guild members and their families travel from town to town putting on agricultural and equestrian shows. As part of program evaluation, interviews were conducted with parents, children, home tutors, and itinerant teachers. Interpretation of interview data was affected by relationships between the Showmen's Guild and the School of Distance Education, between the Guild and the researchers, and between the School and the researchers. It was found that in each relationship, language was used in an attempt to exercise power, by way of controlling the constructed identities that represent each group to 'the public'. Other noteworthy factors in these relationships include difficulties establishing communication among the three groups due to the mobility of Guild members, the ambiguous status of individuals within each group, and the coinciding and competing aspirations of researchers. Based on communication theories, this paper suggests that language reinforces the power to control responses of readers or listeners, that power is differentiated and mediated through language, and that all three groups involved in the study attempted to enhance their cultural capital and thereby become less marginalized in the wider community. (LP