Instructor and Learner Discourse in MBA and MA Online Programs: Whom Posts more Frequently?

Date

2009

Contributor

Advisor

Department

Instructor

Depositor

Speaker

Researcher

Consultant

Interviewer

Narrator

Transcriber

Annotator

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Volume

Number/Issue

Starting Page

Ending Page

Alternative Title

Abstract

This study was grounded on the assumptions that (a) Instructor and Learners Discourse (ILD) in Threaded Discussions (TDs) in online courses is of great importance to both MBA and MA learners; (b) there is a correlation between instructor and learners discourse; and (c) there is a difference in the frequency of postings between MBA and MA learners. This researcher recognized the importance of ILD for both learners taking online courses and the vitality of the online university. A quantitative path analysis, content analysis, and course evaluation surveys were used to conduct this study. Quantitative path analysis procedures were used to examine the direct hypothesized relationship between the extent of both MBA and MA instructor and MBA and MA learner discourse. Content analysis procedures were used to quantify ILD. A course evaluation survey included one open-ended question on discourse and provided further insight toward the nature of the quantitatively measured hypothesized relationship. The findings of this study suggest that there is a direct relationship between instructor and learner discourse in online courses and MBA instructors and learners posted more frequently that MA instructors and learners. This relationship was of practical and statistical significance. Administrators of online universities should develop and implement policies on expectations for instructors to facilitate ILD in the online learning environment.

Description

Keywords

Citation

Extent

10 pages

Format

Geographic Location

Time Period

Related To

Related To (URI)

Table of Contents

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States

Rights Holder

Local Contexts

Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.