Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Karen Bowser
Committee Member
Donald Busché
Committee Member
Richard Conrath
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Committee Member
Claudia Santin
Keywords
applied dissertations, cognitive course work, course development, course implementation, curriculum development, data collection, distance education, diver retention, educational tools, e-learning, empirical support, evaluation, formative review, instructional design, long-term memory retention, management, organizational training, PADI Worldwide, program evaluation, research methodology, scuba diving, scuba divers, student learning, summative review, training, Web-Based distance education, Web-Based training, worldwide offices
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to identify the elements of a Web-Based distance education program and apply that knowledge to the development of an organizationally specific course plan for the PADI Worldwide organization to sanction for training scuba divers. A plan for implementation and evaluation was also developed.
The problem under investigation was that the PADI Worldwide organization wished to offer a Web-Based distance education program for one of its courses; however, the existing curriculum and related educational tools were designed for a program in which students completed all of their cognitive course work development in a non-Web-Based environment.
Development and evaluation methodologies were used to address the problem and research questions. Procedures included review of the related literature, development of criteria, development and administration of data collection instruments, formative and summative committee review, analysis of collected data, and development of a Web-Based distance education program inclusive of implementation and evaluation plans.
The study concluded that the development of a Web-Based distance education program for scuba divers should be conceptually designed, empirically supported and institutionally specific. Study recommendations included organization acceptance of the Web-Based training program and its associated implementation and evaluation plan. It was further recommended that the study results be disseminated throughout the management of the organization and its eight offices worldwide. Future research efforts shall examine the efficacy of Web-Based training programs for scuba divers on long-term memory retention and diver retention.