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Distance Learning & Technology Research Agenda. Wallace Hannum Associate Director for Technology National Research Center on Rural Education Support. Rationale. Difficulty finding and retaining teachers Inability to offer comprehensive curriculum Pressure from NCLB
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Distance Learning & Technology Research Agenda Wallace Hannum Associate 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 Exploration Intervention Large-Scale Study Survey of DE use Lit Review Survey of Student POV Facilitator PrepProgramPilot Study Experimental Study of FPP
Exploration Survey of DL Use • Extent of DL use • Courses offered • Technologies used • Satisfaction • Needs • Barriers
Not Interviewed 5.5% Interviewed 94.5% Exploration Sample Random sample of rural school districts (10%) • 415 school districts • 394 participated
Exploration Key Findings Content Areas Technology Barriers DE Use Math (40%) Not needed (67%) Online (59%) 68% Use DE English (37%) Funding (63%) 2-way video (55%) 70% Report need for more Foreign language (34%) Scheduling (57%) Correspondence by email (43%) DE not priority (53%) 92% Satisfied History (24%) Computer-basedtutorials (38%) Lack trained instructional personnel (46%) Science (23%)
Exploration 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
Intervention 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
Intervention 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
Large-Scale Study Experimental 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 Effects of FacilitatorPreparation Survey ofStudentPOV Survey ofDE Use Large-ScaleFPP Study