E-Learning Myth-busters Is Conventional Wisdom Wrong?

Lake Superior College Duluth, Minnesota

Vital Stats Approx. 2,200 students take at least one online course each semester at LSC. 165 sections of online courses are being taught during spring semester 2008. 89% of all available seats are taken. Approx. 70 faculty members teach at least one online course per year at LSC.

Approx. 2,200 students take at least one online course each semester at LSC.

165 sections of online courses are being taught during spring semester 2008.

89% of all available seats are taken.

Approx. 70 faculty members teach at least one online course per year at LSC.

ITC - North Central States

What is your experience with online education? Taught an online class. Taken online class. Both 1 & 2 above. Neither 1 nor 2 above.

Taught an online class.

Taken online class.

Both 1 & 2 above.

Neither 1 nor 2 above.

E-Learning Myth-busters Choose the side that you think is most true – is it mostly a reality, or mostly a myth?

Questions 1-3 E-Learning students believe that a sense of community is important Online students plagiarize more than “traditional” students e-Learning enables anytime, anywhere learning

E-Learning students believe that a sense of community is important

Online students plagiarize more than “traditional” students

e-Learning enables anytime, anywhere learning

E-Learning students believe that a sense of community (in their e-learning) is important Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Online students plagiarize more than “traditional” students Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

e-Learning enables anytime, anywhere learning Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Questions 4-5 Cheating is rampant among online students Online students are less satisfied with their college experience than F-2-F students

Cheating is rampant among online students

Online students are less satisfied with their college experience than F-2-F students

Cheating is rampant among online students Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Online students are less satisfied with their college experience than F-2-F students Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Importance Scale - PSOL

Plagiarism

Plagiarism

Anyone can learn anytime and anywhere . Not true for most e-learners.

Cheating is rampant! Really? Prove it!

Cheating is

rampant!

Online students less satisfied?

Online students less satisfied?

Student Satisfaction Ratings

Questions 6-8 Online faculty work harder Web accessibility is NOT my job! Through the use of rubrics and standards related to the quality of online courses (i.e. Quality Matters™), we are sufficiently addressing the questions about e-learning quality.

Online faculty work harder

Web accessibility is NOT my job!

Through the use of rubrics and standards related to the quality of online courses (i.e. Quality Matters™), we are sufficiently addressing the questions about e-learning quality.

Online faculty work harder Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Faculty: Web accessibility is NOT my job! Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Through the use of rubrics and standards related to the quality of online courses (i.e. Quality Matters™), we are sufficiently addressing the questions about e-learning quality Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

Online Faculty: Are they the busiest bees? Mohan.M.’s CC photo: http://flickr.com/photos/mohanm/1497839736 /

Original photo by –Chad_Johnson (Flickr CC)

Web Accessibility is EVERYONE’S Job

Still don’t believe me?

QualityMatters is Sufficient QualityMatters looks at the quality of course design. That’s good, but it’s only one leg holding up the stool. Um, no, it isn’t!! Learning Quality Concerns Design Teaching

QualityMatters looks at the quality of course design.

That’s good, but it’s only one leg holding up the stool.

Um, no, it isn’t!!

Learning Level Is High Teaching Level Is High Course Design Meets Standards Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is Low Teaching Level Is High Course Design Meets Standards Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is High Teaching Level Is High Course Design Below Standard Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is High Teaching Level Is Low Course Design Meets Standards Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is Low Teaching Level Is Low Course Design Meets Standards Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is Low Teaching Level Is High Course Design Below Standard Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Learning Level Is Low Teaching Level Is Low Course Design Below Standard Learning Assessment Performance Eval QualityMatters ®

Questions 9-10 A VLE is an important component of e-Learning Through web analytics reporting, we are learning a tremendous amount of useful information about the behavior and activities of our online students.

A VLE is an important component of e-Learning

Through web analytics reporting, we are learning a tremendous amount of useful information about the behavior and activities of our online students.

A Virtual Learning Environment (or LMS) is an important component of e-Learning Absolutely Essential Very Important Important Slightly Important Not Really Necessary

Absolutely Essential

Very Important

Important

Slightly Important

Not Really Necessary

Through web analytics reporting, we are learning a tremendous amount of useful information about the behavior and activities of our online students. Reality Myth

Reality

Myth

VLE or PLE? Virtual learning environments need to become more open, more flexible, more creative and less reactive. VLE’s need to become more personal.

Virtual learning environments need to become more open, more flexible, more creative and less reactive.

VLE’s need to become more personal.

Sarah M. Stewart http://www.flickr.com/photos/92632631@N00/2530138127/

Scott Leslie http://flickr.com/photos/nessman/2590572476

Web Analytics The amount of information available about our students is mind boggling. However, we are not mining it and using it.

The amount of information available about our students is mind boggling.

However, we are not mining it and using it.

Other Myths or Realities? I have 35 items on the list so far. Send me your ideas to add to the list. [email_address]

I have 35 items on the list so far.

Send me your ideas to add to the list.

[email_address]

More about e-Learning Myths at: Desire2blog.blogspot.com