We know a lot about what stimulates students in the classroom--but can we apply it to online coursework? There are a number of routes to effective teaching, even online--here's what the research says, and what you can do to move from just "high tech," to "high touch," online.

2. Digital Evolution
to Revolution
in Modern Pedagogy
Developing a Personal Connection
with Impersonal Technology …
What Works?
Professor Paul T.M. Hemenway, Ph.D.
Lamar University

3. What Works Online
Research:
□ Not new! Our founders of educational tech:
► 1953 call for a theoretical foundation by James
Finn in AV Comm Review
► 1963 (and 2012) statement by Richard Clark
“Media are mere vehicles that deliver instruction
but do not influence student achievement any more
than a truck that delivers groceries causes changes
in nutrition .…”

4. What Works Online
Research:
□ What IS new:
► Everyone is on board (2014 Book Indstry Study Group)
◈ 90% instructors → willing to consider any tech helping
students achieve learning outcomes
◈ 40% former online students → big drawback difficult to
get instructor support
► 80% students → taken courses w/ online components
(2013 ECAR study of undergrads)
► 50% students → digital content makes courses fun (!)

5. What Works Online
Research:
□ Recent reviews:
► Reviews of lit in 2004, 05, 06, 09, 11
► Hundreds of new studies over 2 decades
► PLUS recs for guidelines by
◈ Institute for Higher Educ Policy
◈ American Council on Education
◈ American Federation of Teachers
◈ Open & Distance Learning Quality Council
◈ Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions

6. What Works Online
Findings1:
 Online instruction works!
 Design & quality are important
 Student satisfaction related to instructor quality,
system quality, & content quality
 Student course completion rates tied to higher educ
goals & studying > 10 hrs week
 Increased achievement tied to interaction, tho results
stronger in student to student & student to content
than student to teacher

7. What Works Online
Findings2 -- Caveats:
 It’s the instruction, NOT the medium that’s important
 It’s NOT that online students “perform better” than f2f
students – it’s that they typically
► spend more time on classes
► have access to more materials
► collaborate differently
than f2f students

8. What Works Online
So … what works?
 Interaction:
► Student achievement increases with interaction
(student to student & student to content)
► Smaller classes facilitate interaction – smaller
better than larger; 16 optimal
► Piggybacked learning channels improve retention;
learning increases with channel interaction (IBM)
(1) visual only, retention=20%
(2) visual + aural, retention=40%
(3) visual + aural + kinesthetic, retention=75%
cf: International Business Machines. (1992, Sept 9).
IBM: Training & education. MultiMedia Expo.

9. What Works Online
So … what works?
 Motivation:
► Intrinsic motivators (goals) better than extrinsic
motivators (grades)
► Adult learners tend to be more motivated; they
often define their own learning outcomes
► Learning outcomes necessary; they should be
(1) Clear; E-Z to understand & accomplish
(2) Relevant; keyed to personal development

10. What Works Online
So … what works?
 Well-designed online instruction:
► Start with end goals and move to outcomes
► Clarity is key, but be thorough (students tend to
give up when they can’t figure something out!)
► Strong & immediate tech support is crucial!
► All assignments should have rubrics
See QualityMatters.org rubrics

11. What Works Online
For the future:
► More (research) is better
► More panels (like this one!)
► You needn’t reinvent the wheel!:
◈ Quality Matters
◈ Learning platforms (e.g., Blackboard)
◈ Your own IT & Teaching Excellence depts