Immersive Virtual Reality Education Application – Four Development Iterations along Design Science Research Methodology

Peer reviewe

Synchronous online CPD: empirical support for the value of webinars in career settings

The careers profession in England is facing unprecedented challenges. Initiatives to improve service delivery while keeping costs low are attractive and online training holds the promise of high impact at low cost. The present study employs a qualitative methodology to evaluate a series of online ‘webinars’ conducted with 15 careers advisers. Results showed that the technology itself could impede learning, and participants missed out on the peer-to-peer interaction that takes place in a ‘bricks and mortar’ setting, but overall participants found that access to relevant, good quality training from the convenience of their workplace more than compensated for the challenges. The article offers conceptual support for the viability of online learning through the theory of equivalency, andragogy and transactional distance theory, and makes recommendations for practice

A Phenomenographical Study on the Perceived Factors Affecting Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Role Transition

The role transition from student registered nurse anesthetist (SRNA) to certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) can be challenging and stressful. A qualitative phenomenographical research approach was utilized to identify the factors affecting CRNA role transition. Online recruitment and interviewing techniques were utilized to sample recently graduated CRNAs in order to identify these factors. Five factors were found promoting CRNA role transition: mastery of self-efficacy and confidence, expert coaching and guidance, supportive work environment, peer support, and previous experience. Four factors were also found impeding CRNA role transition: practice limitations, lack of orientation and preceptor, hostile work environment, and decreased work or case load. This study has implications for employers of newly graduated CRNAs in implementing interventions which may promote successful role transition and guide future research

Challenges in Providing Reference Services in Small Archival Institutions

This paper describes, the results of a brief survey of archivists working for fifty five small archives nationwide. The purpose the survey was to examine to what extent smaller archival institutions are applying remote reference services, what type of remote services are being utilized and to identify common challenges faced by small archival institutions with different functions and audiences. It also and examine common challenges faced in the implementation of digitization efforts to support these reference services. The survey was posted via the Society of American Archivists Lone Arrangers Forum, and cross-posted it on the Reference, Access, and Outreach Forum. The makeup of the participants varied, working in museum archives; religious archives; university archives; and local historical societies. After analysis, challenges in providing remote reference services such as time management and cost are common across different types of small archival institutions, and across different reference strategies. These same challenges also appear in relation to small archival institutions’ efforts to implement online access to collections as a tool for unmediated reference. The survey provided a window into challenges faced by archivists at small institutions, particularly in terms of time and cost, as they attempt to adapt their reference services to meet user preferences

What is Online Research?

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. The massive expansion of the internet into every aspect of our lives creates a challenge for social researchers: can they simply transfer their traditional methods and techniques online or do they need to reinvent research methods for the new environment? As online research becomes increasingly prevalent it becomes more important for researchers to have an answer to these questions and an approach to conducting research online. This book is a straightforward, accessible introduction to social research online. It covers the key issues and concerns for social scientists: online surveys, focus groups, interviews, ethnographies and experiments, as well as discussing the implications of social media, and of online research ethics. It provides a detailed, up-to-date glossary and bibliography for those new to the area. Short, clear case studies throughout allow students to see examples of the research in practice. Wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, What is Online Research? shows social scientists of all levels - from undergraduates to established researchers - how to engage in the online environment in appropriate ways, and points the way forward for future research

What is Online Research?

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. The massive expansion of the internet into every aspect of our lives creates a challenge for social researchers: can they simply transfer their traditional methods and techniques online or do they need to reinvent research methods for the new environment? As online research becomes increasingly prevalent it becomes more important for researchers to have an answer to these questions and an approach to conducting research online. This book is a straightforward, accessible introduction to social research online. It covers the key issues and concerns for social scientists: online surveys, focus groups, interviews, ethnographies and experiments, as well as discussing the implications of social media, and of online research ethics. It provides a detailed, up-to-date glossary and bibliography for those new to the area. Short, clear case studies throughout allow students to see examples of the research in practice. Wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, What is Online Research? shows social scientists of all levels - from undergraduates to established researchers - how to engage in the online environment in appropriate ways, and points the way forward for future research

Meeting the Black Swan : Teacher educators’ use of ICT—pre, during and eventually post Covid19

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Wikis as Communities of Practice: A Case Study in Higher Education

This dissertation was an instrumental case study that explored the experiences of graduate students when using online software, more specifically, a wiki, in a graduate course. This study also concentrated on the formation of a community of practice within a course wiki. Symbolic interactionism, situated learning, and communities of practice theories guided this inquiry. Field notes, e-observations, students-created documents, a focus group interview and six individual interviews were coded, which led to categories and themes. Findings from the analysis of the data sources exposed the following five themes when exploring the experiences of graduate students with online learning: (1) wiki experiences, (2) meaningful discourse, (3) egalitarian, (4) community enagement, and (5) collaborative learning processes

An investigatory inquiry into the online nutritional therapy experience and the potential for enrichment using action research

This Project aimed to explore the experience of first year nutritional therapy students at ION and to work with them to identify initiatives to improve their experience. Students in both the first and second semester of year one were recruited via the ION VLE using a purposive sampling approach to ensure a mix of pre-defined socio-demographic characteristics. A two phase methodology was employed. In phase one a phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews was adopted to benchmark student experience. In phase two an action research (AR) orientation with three cycles enabled myself to work with students in action sets to explore ways in which ION and ION students were able to take action to improve online student experience. In total 10 participants were recruited (7 from the February 2018 cohort and 3 from the September 2018 cohort). Data was analysed using thematic analysis for phase one and first and second person reflection for phase two. Analysis of transcribed phase one data identified three key themes relating to student experience, namely; Peer Interaction, Support and Guidance and Format and Resources. These themes were then taken forward as topic areas for each group to stimulate the generation of initiatives to improve experience in phase two. Findings from phase one revealed that all three of the identified themes were important to the online nutritional therapy student experience at ION. Of the three themes, nearly all students considered that more peer interaction would be beneficial, whereas students were divided regarding their views on the extent to which improvements in other areas were needed. Student satisfaction levels varied amongst participants. Higher satisfaction levels were correlated with younger students and with other factors such as completion of the Nutritional Therapy Science Access Course and / or higher self-regulatory or technological skills In phase two a Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to generate and vote on initiatives to improve experience. A total of 48 ideas were identified and students voted on their top 3 ‘quick – win’ ideas at the end of each session. A number of initiates were implemented during the project including a student attendance day, updates to module areas, a questionnaire to understand student and meet up preferences and tutor use of webcams. Although student participation in action did not reach desired levels, students reacted favourably to implemented changes, reported increased motivation and demonstrated some learning from their involvemen