Distance Learning & Technology Research Agenda

Wallace HannumAssociate Director for Technology

National Research Center on Rural Education Support

Rationale

• Difficulty finding and retaining teachers• Inability to offer comprehensive curriculum• Pressure from NCLB• Distance learning & technology provides

– Comprehensive curriculum– Courses not otherwise available– Equivalent or better learning gains– Professional development opportunities– Alternative to consolidation

• Possibility to strengthen local schools & communities

Research to Improve DL Effectiveness

ExplorationExplorationExplorationExploration InterventionInterventionInterventionIntervention Large-Scale StudyLarge-Scale StudyLarge-Scale StudyLarge-Scale Study

Survey of DE use

Lit Review

Survey of Student POV

Survey of DE use

Lit Review

Survey of Student POV

Facilitator PrepProgram

Pilot Study

Facilitator PrepProgram

Pilot Study

Experimental Study of FPPExperimental Study of FPP

Survey of DL Use

• Extent of DL use

• Courses offered

• Technologies used

• Satisfaction

• Needs

• Barriers

ExplorationExplorationExplorationExploration

Sample

Random sample of rural school districts (10%)– 415 school districts– 394 participated

Interviewed 94.5%

Not Interviewed 5.5%

ExplorationExplorationExplorationExploration

Key Findings

DE Use Content Areas

Barriers

68% Use DE

Foreign language (34%)

Online (59%)

Scheduling (57%)

2-way video (55%)

Lack trained instructional personnel (46%)

DE not priority (53%)

English (37%)

Science (23%)

Math (40%)

70% Report need for more

History (24%)Computer-basedtutorials (38%)

Correspondence by email (43%)

Technology

Not needed (67%)

Funding (63%)

92% Satisfied

ExplorationExplorationExplorationExploration

Student POV Survey

• All students in state-wide online learning program (n=355; rural n=222)

• Asked about– Course taken; why; first online course; prep

course– Where access; how much time; tech skills– How difficult; learned more/less than F2F– Communications with students; instructor– Role of facilitator– Barriers

ExplorationExplorationExplorationExploration

Facilitator Preparation Program

• Who are facilitators?

• What do they do?

• How can they support student learning?

• Why this matters.– Relationships matter– Constructing knowledge matters– Motivation matters– Place matters– Context matters

InterventionInterventionInterventionIntervention

Pilot Study

• Testing our intervention– Facilitator Preparation Program

• Online modules• Discussion forum

– Learner-centered principles

• Testing our measures– Learning outcomes– Motivation & persistence– Self-efficacy– Facilitator behavior

InterventionInterventionInterventionIntervention

Experimental StudyLarge-Scale StudyLarge-Scale StudyLarge-Scale StudyLarge-Scale Study

• National sample rural school districts

• Experimental study– Intervention and control groups– Random assignment

• Enhanced Facilitator Preparation Program

• Multi-method

• Multiple measures

Summary of Research Program

Studies

Survey ofDE Use

Survey ofDE Use

Effects of Facilitator

Preparation

Effects of Facilitator

Preparation

Survey ofStudent

POV

Survey ofStudent

POV

Large-ScaleFPP Study

Large-ScaleFPP Study