2005 AVLN Online Conference Strand
Research

Facilitators
Shirley Freed, Andrews University, freed at andrews.edu
Dean Hunt, La Sierra University, dhunt at lasierra.edu

Strand Description
This strand highlights research studies conducted on or by Adventist educators.  We will discover what active learning environments look like, faculty and administrator perceptions of standards of online education in the NAD, lessons from an analysis of interactions and more!  You will also have a chance to meet the editor of The Journal of Research on Christian Education.

Big Questions

• What can we learn from research and what is it about disciplined inquiry that can inform our practice?
• What topics do we need to understand more clearly?  What research studies are being conducted?  How can we share our research agendas?
• Where can we publish our studies so that everyone can benefit from the results?

Live Events
No synchronous (real-time) events scheduled for this strand.

Presentations

Web-based Courses in Higher Education:  Creating Active Learning Environments
Marilyn Eggers, La Sierra University, meggers at lasierra.edu
How can online instruction incorporate currently accepted learning principles? Is it imperative that new pedagogy "Webagogy" be developed that is active in nature, addresses adult learners' issues, and takes full advantage of the unique possibilities of the Internet? Ells (1999) asserts that "Webagogy is the art, craft, and science of using networked technologies, including the World Wide Web and E-mail, to support teaching and learning. Inherent in the idea of webagogy is that carefully considered pedagogy is being implemented with technology "the pedagogy comes first!" (p. 1). This article will describe instructional practices employed in exemplary higher-education Web-based courses.
Webagogy in Online Classes – Part 1
Webagogy in Online Classes – Part 2

Administrator Perceptions of Internet-based Distance Education in Adventist Colleges and Universitites: A Mixed Methods Study
Pamela Cress, Walla Walla College, CresPa at wwc.edu

Faculty Perceptions of Internet-based Distance Education in Adventist Colleges and Universitites: A Mixed Methods Study
Susan Smith, Walla Walla College, SmitSu at wwc.edu
The above two studies use the IHEP – Institute for Higher Education Policy standards to help formulate a picture of the current “state” of online education in our NAD colleges and universities.

Metaphors and Reflective Dialogue Online
Shirley Freed, Andrews University, freed at andrews.edu
This research project is published by New Horizons in Adult Education – Vol. 17: 3 – make sure you scroll down to the article, Metaphors and Reflective Dialogue Online.  This study led to the development of a “dialogue rubric” that the author uses in all of her online courses.  Recently one of her students said, “I would not have known how to talk in the bulletin board space without the rubric.  It helped me understand that I could not simply “post” my response – I did not know what it meant to “dialogue” – Now I know!”

Meet the Editor of The Journal of Research on Christian Education
Larry Burton, Andrews University, burton at andrews.edu
This is a great opportunity to discover what kinds of articles the editor is looking for and what you need to do to get your research published in this journal.