ERIC Number: EJ1192331
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Sep
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1492-3831
EISSN: N/A
"Doing the Courses without Stopping My Life": Time in a Professional Master's Program
Oliphant, Tami; Branch-Mueller, Jennifer
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, v19 n4 p191-207 Sep 2018
This study investigates how time intersects with student learning in Canada's first, and only, Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) in an online teaching and learning stream. Thirty-two students responded to a survey that asked about their experiences, perceptions, and challenges after their first year of the program. Descriptive statistics and NVIVO 10 were used to analyze survey responses and to develop themes through open coding. The findings indicate that time shapes students' decisions to pursue the MLIS online, their perception of what the degree might mean for their future, their experience in the program, the quality of their relationships, and their learning. The perceived flexibility of the MLIS program was incredibly important to students. However, the majority of students described themselves as "time poor" and many students underestimated the time commitment necessary to complete the program, to manage coursework, and to build and maintain relationships with others.
Descriptors: Masters Degrees, Library Science, Information Science Education, Online Courses, Program Descriptions, Student Attitudes, Graduate Students, Decision Making, Academic Degrees, Futures (of Society), Interpersonal Relationship, Time Management, Foreign Countries, Teaching Methods, Computer Mediated Communication, Course Content, Part Time Students
Athabasca University. 1200, 10011 - 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8, Canada. Tel: 780-421-2536; Fax: 780-497-3416; e-mail: irrodl@athabascau.ca; Web site: http://www.irrodl.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A