Levels of Virginia Tech Graduate Student Perceived Connectedness Across Different Modes of Online Learning: Association to Student Perceived Learning and Retention

dc.contributor.authorMillner, Gerald Marondaen
dc.contributor.committeechairMukuni, Joseph Silokaen
dc.contributor.committeechairMiyazaki, Yasuoen
dc.contributor.committeememberLockee, Barbara B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberLindsey, Kieran J.en
dc.contributor.departmentEducation, Vocational-Technicalen
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-11T08:00:14Zen
dc.date.available2023-04-11T08:00:14Zen
dc.date.issued2023-04-10en
dc.description.abstractThis descriptive, survey research study was conducted using a quantitative, non-experimental, correlational, research design. Given the ever-increasing numbers of students taking online learning courses both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study sought to explore this phenomenon by measuring the levels of online graduate student preceived connectedness at Virginia Tech. Bolliger and Inan (2012), validated their Online Student Connectedness Survey (OSCS) instrument in a research study that focused only on connectedness, and was limited to just one subject area, computer engineering. Permission was granted for the use of their OSCS instrument for this study, and the focus was expanded to include various subject areas, and to explore the associations between graduate student peceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention. Specifically, this study sought to find out whether there were indicators that an association existed between graduate student perceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention across the different modes of online learning (e.g., asynchronous, synchronous, and blended asynchronous/synchronous). The total sample for this research study was comprised of 67 research participants (32 males and 35 females), and their modes of online learning were asynchronous (n = 22), synchronous (n = 30), and blended asynchronous/synchronous (n = 15). Results indicated no statistically significant differences in graduate student perceived connectedness across the three online learning modes. There was a statistically significant association between graduate students' level of perceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention. As the level of graduate student perceived connectedness rose, so did graduate student perceived learning and retention. Furthermore, the results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the levels of graduate student perceived connectedness across the two types of online courses (e.g., pandemic online learning courses and regular online learning courses). This indicated that at Virginia Tech online graduate students felt connected whether they were in a pandemic online learning course or a regular online learning course.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralThis survey research study was conducted using a quantitative, non-experimental, research design. Given the ever-increasing numbers of students taking online learning courses both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study sought to explore this phenomenon by measuring the levels of online graduate student preceived connectedness at Virginia Tech. Bolliger and Inan (2012), verified their Online Student Connectedness Survey (OSCS) instrument in a research study that focused only on connectedness, and was limited to just one subject area, computer engineering. Permission was granted for the use of their OSCS instrument for this study, and the focus was expanded to include various subject areas, and to explore the associations between graduate student peceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention. Specifically, this study sought to find out whether there was an association between graduate student perceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention across the asynchronous, synchronous, and blended asynchronous/synchronous learning platforms. The total sample for this research study was 67 research participants (32 males and 35 females), and there were 22 asynchronous participants, 30 synchronous participants, and 15 blended asynchronous/synchronous participants. Results indicated no significant differences in graduate student perceived connectedness across the three online learning modes. There was a significant association between graduate students' level of perceived connectedness and graduate student perceived learning and retention. As the level of graduate student perceived connectedness rose, so did graduate student perceived learning and retention. Furthermore, the results revealed that there were no significant differences in the levels of graduate student perceived connectedness across the two types of online courses (pandemic online learning courses and regular online learning courses). This indicated that at Virginia Tech online graduate students felt connected whether they were in a pandemic online learning course or a regular online learning course.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:36601en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/114460en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAsynchronousen
dc.subjectBlendeden
dc.subjectConnectednessen
dc.subjectCOVID-19en
dc.subjectDistance Learningen
dc.subjectModes of Online Learningen
dc.subjectPandemicen
dc.subjectRetentionen
dc.subjectStudent Perceptionsen
dc.subjectSynchronousen
dc.titleLevels of Virginia Tech Graduate Student Perceived Connectedness Across Different Modes of Online Learning: Association to Student Perceived Learning and Retentionen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineCurriculum and Instructionen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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