Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Ed.D. Program in Instructional Technology and Distance Education
Advisor
David Tollon
Committee Member
Ricardo Garcia
Keywords
applicability, applied dissertation, continual improvement, course authoring, course completion, course development, course developers, course exit surveys, educational program, implementation, instructor training, instructors, job performance, job responsibilities, mechanisms, online course development, online learning, online teaching, policies, procedures, quality, quality educational program, research, skills, student success, student surveys, students, teaching, training course
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to provide mechanisms to reduce time required for online course development. The project involved several components, including preparation and implementation of an online training course for instructor new to online teaching. The course was designed to allow instructors to iv experience online learning from the perspective of a student. The course focused on identifying and improving skills related to online course authoring and teaching. Additional activities related to this project included measurement of the impact of instructor training on student success.
As a result of this project, course development times were greatly reduced. Course developers and instructors noted an improvement in their comfort level with online course authoring and teaching as a result of completing the instructor-training program. Course exit surveys were completed by students and provided data on the applicability and impact of the course on their job performance. Student surveys indicated a positive effect of course completion on job performance. In many cases, students reported an increase in job responsibilities as a result of completing their online course.
Further research in this area using a larger study group would be needed to validate these results. In addition, this project highlighted a number of concerns related to development and implementation of policies and procedures to assure a quality educational program. Mechanisms to increase emphasis on quality and continual improvement should be explored.