Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies

A systematic search of the research literature from 1996 through July 2008 identified more than a thousand empirical studies of online learning. Analysts screened these studies to find those that (a) contrasted an online to a face-to-face condition, (b) measured student learning outcomes, (c) used a rigorous research design, and (d) provided adequate information to calculate an effect size. As a result of this screening, 51 independent effects were identified that could be subjected to meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. The difference between student outcomes for online and face-to-face classes—measured as the difference between treatment and control means, divided by the pooled standard deviation—was larger in those studies contrasting conditions that blended elements of online and face-to-face instruction with conditions taught entirely face-to-face. Analysts noted that these blended conditions often included additional learning time and instructional elements not received by students in control conditions. This finding suggests that the positive effects associated with blended learning should not be attributed to the media, per se. An unexpected finding was the small number of rigorous published studies contrasting online and face-to-face learning conditions for K–12 students. In light of this small corpus, caution is required in generalizing to the K–12 population because the results are derived for the most part from studies in other settings (e.g., medical training, higher education)

Balancing the Art and Science of Archival Processing Metrics and Assessment

At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) University Libraries, archival processing metrics are used to support value propositions, project proposals, project management, and strategic planning. When making data-driven decisions, UNLV Special Collections Technical Services staff strive to balance the art and science of archival processing metrics—to critically assess their data and look beyond the numbers for additional information that brings meaning to the metrics. In this research paper, the authors review processing metrics across the profession and place their own archival processing field data within the context of more than three decades of professional practice. They report and explore UNLV’s processing rates and the variables that potentially influence their rates. Learning from methods piloted during special projects, they reach toward a more streamlined, sustainable assessment practice. They also include a “work in progress”—an experimental framework that suggests core processing data points for UNLV with a second tier of optional data points that may add value to metrics in specific circumstances. The flexibility and extensibility of the framework give it the potential to serve as a model for other repositories

Girls in Narnia: Hindered or Human?

Asks if five heroines in the Chronicles of Narnia: remain “characters worthy of imitation” by girls or are “rendered obsolete and impotent by cultural stereotyping.” Despite occasional sexist references, the female characters are not stereotyped

Perspectives and Practices: Archival Processing Metrics Survey Findings

Professional literature and case studies demonstrate that processing metrics are valuable in advocating for resources, informing priorities, supporting grant proposals, and predicting costs for collection storage and care. This article analyzes responses to an archival processing metrics survey that gathered perspectives and practices from archivists working in a variety of repository types. The findings describe how archivists collect processing metrics in different ways, what data points they view as essential, and how they use certain data points to serve specific purposes. The findings indicate that although most respondents acknowledge the value of processing metrics, the majority of them still do not employ metrics in daily operations. The findings note barriers to processing assessment and highlight disparities in resources, personnel, and practices across the profession. The findings reveal a lack of clarity about best practices for archival processing assessment and a need for profession-wide guidelines. The article suggests resources for those wishing to implement processing metrics

Impacts on Faculty Workload During a Learning Management System Transition

Management professionals at many colleges are transitioning to new learning management systems (LMS), such as Moodle, for reasons such as lower costs, greater outreach, and student preference. Transitioning to a new LMS may result in faculty problems with learning a new technology platform in addition to teaching. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that an LMS transition had on faculty attitudes, experiences, and workload. The conceptual framework of the study was the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and the diffusion of innovation theory. A phenomenological design was employed with a purposeful sample of 13 faculty who had transitioned a course from Blackboard to Moodle during 2009-2013. Interview data were analyzed through open coding, resulting in 7 emergent themes: time, stability, usability of features, preparation, support, support staff, and benefits. These themes were substantiated by observation of member checking and use of an external auditor. Results indicated that when faculty were required to transition to a new LMS, there were impacts to their workload such as extra time requirements for course development, learning the new LMS, delivering instruction, and technology training. All 13 faculty expressed a need for additional support in the form of either a course release, compensation, or mentoring. Administrators who apply these findings may influence positive social change through a better understanding of the complexity of an LMS transition. This new knowledge may result in increased alignment between administration and faculty, improvement of the student\u27s experience, and improved faculty job satisfaction

New Directions to Promote Global Education on College Campuses and in Communities

In 2000, South Africa’s president Thabo Mbeki stated that the twenty-first century would be the “Century of Africa.” Indeed I, like many, believe that Africa is a continent full of promise, rich cultural heritage, blessed with a wealth of natural resources, and poised to become a hub of innovation and progress. Recently, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken remarked that Africa is headed toward becoming one of the world’s most important economic regions, and that it will have a hand in shaping in the future of the world. Recent advances have been made in solar power, the “green tech” industry working to reduce carbon emissions, and the steady increase in access to education for both elementary and secondary school students.https://ecommons.udayton.edu/global_voices_5/1009/thumbnail.jp

Microparticles from vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibitor-treated cancer patients mediate endothelial cell injury

Vascular endothelial growth factor pathway inhibitors (VEGFi), used as anti-angiogenic drugs to treat cancer are associated with cardiovascular toxicities through unknown molecular mechanisms. Endothelial cell-derived microparticles (ECMPs) are biomarkers of endothelial injury and are also functionally active since they influence downstream target cell signalling and function. We questioned whether microparticle (MP) status is altered in cancer patients treated with VEGFi and whether they influence endothelial cell function associated with vascular dysfunction. Plasma MPs were isolated from cancer patients before and after treatment with VEGFi (pazopanib, sunitinib, or sorafenib). Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were stimulated with isolated MPs (106 MPs/mL). Microparticle characterization was assessed by flow cytometry. Patients treated with VEGFi had significantly increased levels of plasma ECMP. Endothelial cells exposed to post-VEGFi treatment ECMPs induced an increase in pre-pro-ET-1 mRNA expression, corroborating the increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1) production in HAEC stimulated with vatalanib (VEGFi). Post-VEGFi treatment MPs increased generation of reactive oxygen species in HAEC, effects attenuated by ETA (BQ123) and ETB (BQ788) receptor blockers. VEGFi post-treatment MPs also increased phosphorylation of the inhibitory site of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), decreased nitric oxide (NO), and increased ONOO− levels in HAEC, responses inhibited by ETB receptor blockade. Additionally, gene expression of proinflammatory mediators was increased in HAEC exposed to post-treatment MPs, effects inhibited by BQ123 and BQ788. Our findings define novel molecular mechanism involving interplay between microparticles, the ET-1 system and endothelial cell pro-inflammatory and redox signalling, which may be important in cardiovascular toxicity and hypertension associated with VEGFi anti-cancer treatment. New and noteworthy: our novel data identify MPs as biomarkers of VEGFi-induced endothelial injury and important mediators of ET-1-sensitive redox-regulated pro-inflammatory signalling in effector endothelial cells, processes that may contribute to cardiovascular toxicity in VEGFi-treated cancer patients

UNLV Special Collections and Archives 2019 Archival Processing Metrics Survey Dataset

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Libraries Special Collections and Archives is studying how archival processing metrics (including the hours of labor required to process each linear/cubic foot) are gathered and used by our colleagues. UNLV Special Collections and Archives conducted a survey with the objective to gather informal opinions and realities about processing metrics in an effort to understand the broader use of such metrics, to learn what data points are most essential, and to understand why more archival programs are not collecting and assessing processing metrics. The survey utilized the web-based tool Google Forms to gather responses from archival professionals across the country. The survey instrument included a total of 18 questions. Quantitative data were gathered from multiple choice (choose one) questions, “check all boxes that apply” questions, and questions rating the importance of data points on a three-point scale. Multiple choice questions included an “other” option to gather responses not included in the options provided. Quantitative data were collected from ten required questions of the following types: ● Respondent repository type (1) ● Multiple choice: select one (5) ● Multiple choice: select all that apply (2) ● Numeric rating (2) Qualitative data were gathered via eight optional free text questions that invited respondents to provide rationale or context for their responses to quantitative questions. The final optional free text question was open-ended to encourage respondents to express any ideas or perspectives that had not been solicited by the survey questions. As of 2020, there are no profession-wide guidelines to support consistent archival processing data collection and reporting. Consequently, repositories must identify their own individual purposes for collecting metrics and determine the minimum number of data points that will serve those purposes. This survey and the resulting dataset may be used to further analyze the professional climate regarding the value and use of processing metrics