Through their eyes: Student perspectives

Authors

  • Alexandra Hartline University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Sheri Conklin University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Amy Garrett Dikkers University of North Carolina Wilmington

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61468/jofdl.v26i1.495

Keywords:

instructor connectedness, social presence, online course design, online course facilitation

Abstract

Connecting with students has been shown to increase motivation, satisfaction, and perceived learning while decreasing anxiety. Connecting with students in an online or distance education environment can prove difficult. This study examined perceptions of higher education students who were enrolled in various modalities (e.g., hybrid, online asynchronous, and synchronous) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States of America. The study found that a high perception of instructor connectedness in the asynchronous classes resulted in lower anxiety levels for students. Four themes emerged from the results: the importance of instructor empathy; sociability; feedback; and course organisation. These helped students to connect to their instructor—thus reducing anxiety.

Author Biographies

Alexandra Hartline, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Alexandra Hartline is a Senior Learning Consultant at Biogen. She holds an M.S. in Instructional Technology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and an M.A. in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. Her research interests include instructor connectedness, culturally situated learning, and metacognition.

Sheri Conklin, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Dr. Sheri Conklin is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Prior to moving into this role, she worked as the Director of eLearning with a team of instructional designers. Her research interests include online course design, instructor social presence, and faculty professional development.

Amy Garrett Dikkers, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Dr. Amy Garrett Dikkers is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her research is focused on teacher development and innovation in education (specifically online and blended learning).

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Published

2022-07-31

How to Cite

Hartline, A., Conklin, S., & Garrett Dikkers, A. (2022). Through their eyes: Student perspectives. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 26(1), 5–26. https://doi.org/10.61468/jofdl.v26i1.495

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 1 (2022): Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning

Section

Articles - Primary studies

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Alexandra Hartline, Sheri Conklin, Amy Garrett Dikkers

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