This presentation is part of a seminar on online education hosted by the international research center CARDET and the Department of Education at the University of Nicosia. It provides an overview of online education, history, challenges, trends in higher education, and practical recommendations for the design and delivery of online programs.

1. Overview of Online Education: Theoretical
and Research Perspectives
1
Charalambos Vrasidas
pambos@cardet.org
www.cardet.org
www.vrasidas.com
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of
the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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• Education that takes
place when the
teacher & learner are
separated by space
and/or time
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Distance Education
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https://bit.ly/2JX8KmH

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• Fully Online
• Blended
• (Hybrid)
• Synchronous
• Asynchronous
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Types of Online Learning
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https://bit.ly/2EV4X5O

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• They engage in active intentional learning
• Represent knowledge in multiple ways
• Participate in real-world authentic activities
• Receive frequent feedback
• Collaborate with others in solving problems
• Have access to tools for meaningful learning
• Reflect with others and alone
• Given opportunities to apply what they learn
• Challenged to grow and think deep
▫ How People Learn (www.nap.edu)
Learners Learn Best When …

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New Media Horizon HigherEd 2017
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http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf

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New Media Horizon HigherEd 2017
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http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf

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New Media Horizon HigherEd 2017
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http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf

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1. Academic Transformation
2. Accessibility & Universal Design
3. Faculty Development
4. Privacy & Security
5. Digital and information literacies
6. iPASS (integrated planning and advising for student success)
7. Instructional Design
EDUCAUSE 2018 – 7 things U should Know
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https://library.educause.edu/~/media/fil
es/library/2018/1/eli7153.pdf

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Reproduced by permission of the publisher, © 2012 by tpack.org

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Instructional Design Vs Learning Design
Analysis Design Development Implementation Evaluation
ADDIE
SAM
https://www.alleninteractions.com/sam-process

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Conceptual framework for studying online education

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http://www.nosignificantdifference.org/

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• More likely to success – those with
internal locus of control
• Autonomous learners
• Academically motivated
• Self-disciplined
• High proficiency in reading and written
communication
• Digital skills and access to internet
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Characteristics of Online Learners

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• define what ROI means in terms of digital education, and identify
appropriate metrics for measuring ROI
• assess the impact of digital learning formats on institutions’
enrolments, student learning outcomes, and cost structures
• examine how these institutions implemented digital learning, and
identify lessons and promising practices for the field.
• compare results from three different modes of delivery: face-to-face,
mixed-modality courses, fully online courses.
• Bates, T. (2018). Making Digital Learning Work’: why faculty and program directors
must change their approach. Accessed online https://bit.ly/2EW6iJj.
Return on investment (ROI) at 6 instituions
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• Digital learning resulted in:
▫ equivalent or improved student learning outcomes
▫ faster time to degree completion
▫ improved access, particularly for disadvantaged
students
▫ a better return on investment (at four of the
institutions): savings for online courses ranged
from $12 to $66 per credit hour.
▫ https://www.tonybates.ca/2018/04/15/making-digital-learning-work-why-institutions-must-
change-their-approach/
Results
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• take a strategic portfolio approach to digital
learning. (i.e. hybrid learning).
• build the necessary capabilities and expertise to
design for quality in the digital realm
• provide adequate student support (24/7)
• fully engage faculty and provide adequate
faculty development and training
• tap outside vendors strategically
• strengthen analytics and monitoring
Conditions for Success
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https://www.tonybates.ca/2018/04/15/making-digital-learning-work-why-institutions-must-change-their-approach/

18. MIELES: Reform Higher Education/elearning in India

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Gamification of Entrepreneurship Education
http://www.entrinno.org
© CARDET 2017

20. www.moocs4inclusion.org
© CARDET 2017

21. https://viliproject.eu/

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https://digital-citizenship.org/

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http://www.deimpeu.com/
DEIMP

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Lessons from Designing Online Programs
• Match the program with institution’s strategic plan
• Identify clear goals
• Conduct thorough analysis of audience, content, and
context
• Limitations (staff skills, budget, resources, timeline)
• Support is a HUGE factor
• Built a solid team (most failures and problems were a
result of the lack of team skills and spirit)
• Conduct frequent evaluations and revisions of project and
process

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Lessons from Teaching in Online Programs
• Teaching online requires MORE time and is NOT easy
• Provide prompt and specific feedback
• Check your email daily
• Respond to messages within 24 hours
• Participate in discussions
• Monitor learner performance frequently
• Contact learners that are falling behind (email, phone
calls, etc)
• Embrace your NEW teaching role

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Successful elearning initiatives
• Systemic Approach
• Participatory – Collective
• Quality course materials
• Local and Virtual support networks
• Balanced Blended mix tools
• Appropriate staff numbers
• QA, Monitoring & Evaluation
• Vibrant research activity
• A culture of life long learning communities
▫CARDET, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009

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Education
Structure
Outcomes
Assessment
Curriculum
Policy
Change
Management
Professional
Development
Learners
Support

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• InterCap
• DRC
• SCHOOLS FOR FUTURE YOUTH (SFYOUTH),
• B-Learning: Curriculum Design for Blended
Learning (B-LEARNING)
• EUciTEC
• Digital Tools for Inclusion of Refugees, Asylum
Seekers and Migrants
• Digital, Social and Civic Competences
Development for Adult Educators Working with
Migrants and Refugees -DiSoCi
• Digital Tools for Inclusion of Refugees, &
Migrants
• AGEFACTOR
• COMMIX
• FEFE
• Girls on Global STEM (GIGS)
• MIELES - e-learning in Indian higher education
• Work 4.0
• Shanarani
• CIVACT
• Journey to Employment (GET THERE)
• Health Communication Training for Health
Professionals (H-COM)
• An innovative toolkit for inclusive decision making
policies (Idecide)
• Innovation Ecosystems for VET (InEcVET)
• Training community volunteers
• Welcome to universities and HiEd. (WELCOME)
• ‘Young EuropeanTalent on the Move- YET’
• TrainVol: Capacity Building of Civil Society to
Strengthen Volunteerism
• Video/Visual Literacies (ViLi)
• SELF-E
• Airthings
• Soci@l
• SIMILAR
• Mindfull managers
• BRAMIR
• MEDIS
• BACKPACK
Relevant Projects
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views
only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.