Distance Learning & Technology Research Agenda Wallace Hannum Associate Director for Technology National Research Center on Rural Education Support

Rationale Difficulty finding and retaining teachers Inability to offer comprehensive curriculum Pressure from NCLB Distance learning & technology provides –Comprehensive curriculum –Courses not otherwise available –Equivalent or better learning gains –Professional development opportunities –Alternative to consolidation Possibility to strengthen local schools & communities

Research to Improve DL Effectiveness ExplorationExplorationInterventionIntervention Large-Scale Study Survey of DE use Lit Review Survey of Student POV Survey of DE use Lit Review Survey of Student POV Facilitator Prep Program Pilot Study Experimental Study of FPP

Survey of DL Use Extent of DL use Courses offered Technologies used Satisfaction Needs Barriers ExplorationExploration

Sample Random sample of rural school districts (10%) –415 school districts –394 participated Interviewed 94.5% Not Interviewed 5.5%ExplorationExploration

Key Findings DE Use Content Areas Barriers 68% Use DE Foreign language (34%) Online (59%) Scheduling (57%) 2-way video (55%) Lack trained instructional personnel (46%) DE not priority (53%) English (37%) Science (23%) Math (40%) 70% Report need for more History (24%) Computer-based tutorials (38%) Correspondence by (43%) Technology Not needed (67%) Funding (63%) 92% Satisfied ExplorationExploration

Student POV Survey All students in state-wide online learning program (n=355; rural n=222) Asked about –Course taken; why; first online course; prep course –Where access; how much time; tech skills –How difficult; learned more/less than F2F –Communications with students; instructor –Role of facilitator –Barriers ExplorationExploration

Facilitator Preparation Program Who are facilitators? What do they do? How can they support student learning? Why this matters. –Relationships matter –Constructing knowledge matters –Motivation matters –Place matters –Context matters InterventionIntervention

Pilot Study Testing our intervention –Facilitator Preparation Program Online modules Discussion forum –Learner-centered principles Testing our measures –Learning outcomes –Motivation & persistence –Self-efficacy –Facilitator behavior InterventionIntervention

Experimental Study Large-Scale Study National sample rural school districts Experimental study –Intervention and control groups –Random assignment Enhanced Facilitator Preparation Program Multi-method Multiple measures

Summary of Research Program Studies Survey of DE Use Effects of Facilitator Preparation Survey of Student POV Large-Scale FPP Study