ERIC Number: EJ1068364
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1179-7665
EISSN: N/A
Student and Teacher Perceptions of Online Student Engagement in an Online Middle School
Louwrens, Nathaniel; Hartnett, Maggie
Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, v19 n1 p27-44 2015
While our understanding of student engagement in the compulsory schooling sector is well developed in face-to-face contexts, the same cannot be said for online and distance learning environments. Indeed, most of what is currently known about online engagement has come from research with older students in tertiary education contexts. This study directly addresses this gap in the research by exploring student engagement in an online, middle school in a New Zealand distance education context. By considering three key dimensions of student engagement--namely, behavioural engagement, cognitive engagement, and emotional engagement--this in-depth investigation explores what engages middle school students when they learn online. Data collection techniques comprised student and teacher interviews, online asynchronous discussion transcripts, and statistical data from the learning management system (LMS). Results found that students in this study tended to engage behaviourally (i.e., do what was expected of them) with all required activities. Cognitive engagement (i.e., students' personal investment in their own learning) was evident in the giving and receiving of feedback as well as the interest and relevance certain activities generated for learners. Emotional engagement was elicited through the design and facilitation of the activities, and through the ongoing development of a learning community in which students felt safe to contribute.
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Middle School Teachers, Student Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Web Based Instruction, Online Courses, Distance Education, Learner Engagement, Learning Processes, Asynchronous Communication, Computer Mediated Communication, Statistical Analysis, Cognitive Processes, Foreign Countries, Case Studies, Semi Structured Interviews, Qualitative Research, Coding
DEANZ: New Zealand Association for Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. Open Polytechnic, 3 Cleary Street Private Bag 31914, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand. Tel: +64-3-345-8246; Web site: http://journals.akoaotearoa.ac.nz/index.php/JOFDL
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Junior High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A