New Directions for SLN Research: 2009-2012Peter Shea

Senior Researcher for the SUNY Learning Network

Educational Theory and Practice & CCI

University at Albany, SUNY

Outline Review of past research Current project Plans for future Discussion

Past work Eleven years of survey and other research 17 peer reviewed journal publications, 6 book

chapters Focus group research w Roxanne Hiltz More recent research using Quantitative

Content Analysis (QCA) Most recent are…

Most recent work Shea, P. & Bidjerano, T. (in review). Understanding different learning

outcomes in hybrid and online environments: An empirical investigation of the Community of Inquiry Framework. Journal of Interactive Learning Environments.

Shea, P., Hayes, S., Vickers, J., Uzuner, S., Gozza-Cohen, M, Mehta, R. & Valtcheva, A. (in press). A reexamination of the community of inquiry framework: Social network and quantitative content analysis. The Internet and Higher Education, doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2009.11.002.

Shea, P. & Bidjerano, T. (2009). Community of inquiry as a theoretical framework to foster "epistemic engagement" and "cognitive presence" in online education. Computers and Education, 52 (3), 543 – 553.

Shea, P. & Bidjerano, T. (2009). Cognitive presence: A cluster analysis. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 21(3), 199-217.

Understanding different learning outcomes in hybrid and online environments

Based on Means et. al. meta-analysis documenting best outcomes in hybrid

Theoretically – why? Is it better Teaching Presence e.g. Seems to be the case… Focus on what matters wrt TP

A reexamination of the community of inquiry framework: Social network and quantitative content analysis

Ongoing project looking at 2 fully online courses

Document all forms of presence High v. Low Instructor TP What are the impacts of this? Not what you might think… Need to look very hard to see what is

happening in online courses

Community of inquiry as a theoretical framework to foster "epistemic engagement" and "cognitive presence" in online education

Reviews different conceptions of OLL Presentational (multimedia), performance

tutoring, epistemic engagement Community of Inquiry as model for epistemic

engagement Understanding connections between TP, SP,

and CP Need to focus on systemic nature of OLL

Cognitive presence: A cluster analysis A multivariate measure of significant learning How does it arise – when does it not? Contribution of TP and SP to CP Equilibrium model – need to have at least

one, preferably both – but its clear that when one or the other is low, CP is lower…

In Pipeline CoI meets Self Efficacy…analyzing fall 09 data now Ongoing CoI QCA project – document all forms of

presence in two entire online courses 3 AERA 2010 accepted proposals to become papers Design Experiment on Blended and Online Learning

at Community College Level (HVCC) Open Educational Resource Study (SCCC) Both of these were submitted for CIT HPLO Framework

Vision Create a center for the study of technology mediated

teaching and learning for SUNY System Stage 1: Bring together practitioners (campus MIDs,

faculty etc) and researchers (University faculty and doctoral students) to design and execute projects to improve research and practice

Produce various publications for journals and conferences as well as dissertations and white papers on best practices

Attract external funding.

Research Partnerships to Improve Practice

Campuses

UAlbanySUNY System

Campuses People: Faculty/Mids/Directors Context: Programs/Courses “Issues” – Practices “Subjects” Goals of continuous improvement

SUNY Learning Network (System) Support Organization Community Venues - SOL Summit, CIT, MID Meetings

etc

University at Albany Doctoral Program – Courses, Students Ideas/Theories/Concepts Mechanism for seeking funding (AIRE, CCI) Tools for Research/Inquiry Community for Reflection (ACRIDAT, CCI

for a) Other forums (Sloan-C Conference)