Perspectives of Career and Workforce Education Graduate Students Regarding Their Experiences in an Online Degree Program

Authors

  • Edward C. Fletcher Jr. University of South Florida

Keywords:

business education, career and technical education, graduate education, online learning

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to acknowledge the perspectives and frames of reference of 28 graduate (master’s and doctoral) students regarding their experiences in an online degree program and the perceived benefits and challenges it afforded. Method: The study used a case study design. Results: Data interpretations revealed three themes: (a) accommodating adult learners; (b) a fit for self-directed learners; and (c) interaction lacking. Based on findings, higher education administrators and program faculty should consider establishing multiple and varied mechanisms for creating community among online learners.

References

Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2007, October). Online nation: Five years of growth in online learning. Needham, MA: Sloan-C. Retrieved from www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/pdf/online_nation.pdf

Arbaugh, F., Ball, D., Grossman, P., Heller, D., & Monk, D. (2015). Deans’ corner: Views on the state of teacher education in 2015. Journal of Teacher

Education, 66(5), 435-445. doi: 10.1177/0022487115602314

Arbaugh, J., & Benbunan-Fich, R. (2006). An investigation of epistemological and social dimensions of teaching in online learning environments. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 5(4), 435-447.

Baltzer, H., Lazaros, E., & Flowers, J. (2007). Review of doctoral programs in technical education. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 44(2), 37-59.

Benbunan-Fich, R., & Hiltz, R. (2003). Mediators of the effectiveness of online courses. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 46(4), 298-312. doi: 10.1109/TPC.2003.819639

Bolliger, D., & Martindale, T. (2004). Key factors for determining student satisfaction in online courses. International Journal on E-Learning, 1(3), 61-

Bolliger, D., & Wasilik, O. (2009). Factors influencing faculty satisfaction with online teaching and learning in higher education. Distance Education, 30(1), 103-116. doi: 10.1080/01587910902845949

Boyatzis, R. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Brantlinger, E., Jimenez, R., Klingner, J., Pugach, M., & Richardson, V. (2005). Qualitative studies in special education. Exceptional Children, 71(2), 195-207.

Bruening, T., Scanlon, D., Hodes, C., Dhital, P., Shao, X., & Liu, S. (2001). The status of career and technical education teacher preparation programs.

(Report No. V051A990004). Minneapolis, MN: The National Research Center for Career and Technical Education.

Christen, S., Kelly, S., Fall, L., & Snyder, L. (2015). Exploring business students’ communicative needs: Social presence in effective online instruction. The Journal of Research in Business Education, 57(1), 31-46.

Davies, R., Howell, S., & Petrie, J. (2010). A review of trends in distance education scholarship at research universities in North America, 1998-2007.

International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 11(3), 9-26.

Dzibuan , C., & Moskal, P. (2011). A course is a course is a course: Factor invariance in student evaluation of online, blended, and face-to-face

learning environments. The Internet and Higher Education, 14(4), 236-241. doi:10.1016/j.ihe-duc.2011.05.003

Fletcher, E. (2012). Current career and workforce education doctoral students’ perceived benefits, challenges, and experiences in an online degree program. In V. Wang (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Technologies for Improving the 21st Century Workforce: Tools for Lifelong Learning (pp. 287-301). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.

Fletcher, E., & Djajalaksana, Y. (2014). Predictors of instructional strategy use of faculty in career and technical education programs: Signature pedagogies of the field. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 5(3), 45-65. doi: 10.4018/ijavet.2014070104

Fletcher, E., Gordon, H., Asunda, P., & Zirkle, C. (2015). A 2015 status study of career and technical education programs in the United States. Career and Technical Education Research, 40(3), 191-211. doi:10.5328/cter40.3.191

Fletcher, E., Lasonen, J., & Hernandez-Gantes, V. (2013). Opening doors for career advancement: Masters’ students insight on program participation. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 4(4), 38-54. doi:10.4018/IJAVET.20131001

Gaytan, J. (2007). Visions shaping the future of online education: Understanding its historical evolution, implications, and assumptions. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 10(2). Retrieved from www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/summer102/gaytan102.htm

Garrison, D., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2, 87-105. doi:10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6

Garrison, D., & Arbaugh, J. (2007). Researching the community of inquiry framework: Review, issues, and future directions. The Internet and Higher

Education, 10(3), 157-172. doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2007.04.001

Garrison, D., & Akyol, Z. (2009). Role of instructional technology in the transformation of higher education. Journal of Computing in Higher

Education, 21(1), 19-30. doi: 10.1007/s12528-009-9014-7

Hall, S. (2011). Effectiveness of traditional versus distance course delivery methods in preservice business education programs. Business Teacher

Education Journal, 38, 18-26.

Heyman, E. (2010). Overcoming student retention issues in higher education online programs. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 13(4). Retrieved from www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter134/heyman134.html

Howell, S., Williams, P., & Lindsay, N. (2003). Thirty-two trends affecting distance education: An informed foundation for strategic planning. Online

Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 6(3). Retrieved from www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall63/howell63.html

Kim, J., Kwon, Y., & Cho, D. (2011). Investigating factors that influence social presence and learning outcomes in distance higher education. Computers & Education, 57(2), 1512-1520. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2011.02.005

Leininger, M. (1994). Evaluation criteria and critique of qualitative research studies. In Morse, J. M. (Ed.), Critical issues in qualitative research methods (pp. 95-115). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 38 Volume 58, No. 2, 2017

McEwen, B., & King, T. (2011). Teaching the business education methods course online. Business Teacher Education Journal, 38, 10-17.

Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Mitchell, B., & Geva-May, I. (2009). Attitudes affecting online learning implementation in higher education institutions. Journal of Distance

Education, 23(1), 71-88.

Patton, S. (2012). As debt rises and job prospects dim, some say it’s time to put a warning label on graduate school. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/Some-Say-Its-Time-toPut-a/136217/

Rovai, A. (2002). Development of an instrument to measure classroom community. The Internet and Higher Education, 5(3), 197-211. doi:101.1016/S1096-7516(02)00102-1

Tallent-Runnels, M., Thomas, J., Lan, W., Cooper, S., . . . Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online: A review of the research. Review of Educational Research, 76(1), 93-135. doi:10.3102/00346543076001093

Tinto, V. (2006). Research and practice of student retention: What next? Journal of College Student Retention, 8(1), 1-19.

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2011). The condition of education 2011 (NCES 2011-033). Retrieved from nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=80

Woodside, A. (2010). Case study research: Theory, Methods, and Practice. UK: Emerald Group Publishing.

Downloads

Published

2017-06-01

How to Cite

Fletcher Jr., E. C. (2017). Perspectives of Career and Workforce Education Graduate Students Regarding Their Experiences in an Online Degree Program. The Journal of Research In Business Education, 58(1), 23-38. https://jrbe.nbea.org/index.php/jrbe/article/view/37

Similar Articles

1-10 of 79

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.