Faculty Articles
How Online Students Describe Their Physical Learning Environment
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Quarterly Review of Distance Education
ISSN
2169-1266
Publication Date
Summer 2019
Abstract
A descriptive case study with multiple data collection methods was carried out to understand how online graduate students identify the characteristics of their physical learning environment. Equivalency theory and the science of ergonomics framed the study. Participants were 10 online graduate students, all working adults (60% female, most between ages 45 and 64), at a single university. Data were collected via an online questionnaire, telephone interviews, and photographs. Findings showed that home was the primary location participants spent the majority of their time working on specific learning and research activities. Most used overhead lighting, preferred temperatures between 68 and 74 [degrees], sat in chairs at desks, and heard many types of noise. The majority used laptops with Wi-Fi as Internet connection. The most difficult elements to manage were family responsibilities, inadequate workspace, and inappropriate equipment. Participants overcame those challenges with various innovations. Findings also showed that no participants received university information to help design their learning environments for maximum effectiveness.
Volume
20
Issue
2
First Page
29
Last Page
54
NSUWorks Citation
Alphonse, A.,
Orellana, A.,
Kanzki-Veloso, E. C.
(2019). How Online Students Describe Their Physical Learning Environment. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 20(2), 29-54.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1846
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