Real-Time Virtual Teaching: Lessons Learned From a Case Study in a Rural School

Authors

  • Michael K. Barbour Sacred Heart University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v19i5.705

Keywords:

K-12 online learning, rural education, synchronous

Abstract

Due to the challenges facing rural schools, many jurisdictions have resorted to the use of virtual school programs to provide curricular opportunities to their students. While the number of virtual schools that rely on synchronous instruction as a primary or significant method of delivery is quite small, there are some programs that do (and a growing number of virtual schools that use it with small groups or individuals). This case study examined the use of synchronous online instruction by one virtual school with students in a single rural school in Newfoundland and Labrador. The data from a variety of collection methods revealed three themes: similarities with online student experiences and their traditional classroom experiences, the development of local learning communities, and the preference for students to use chat over audio.

References

Author [2007a]

Author [2007b]

Author and Co-Author [2011]

Barbour, M. K. (2007). Portrait of rural virtual schooling. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, (59). Retrieved from http://www.umanitoba.ca/publications/cjeap/articles/barbour.html

Barbour, M. K. (2013). The landscape of K-12 online learning: Examining what is known. In M. G. Moore (Eds.), Handbook of distance education (3rd ed.) (pp. 574-593). New York: Routledge.

Barbour, M. K. (2014). A history of international K-12 online and blended instruction. In R. Ferdig & K. Kennedy (Eds)., Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning (pp. 25-50). Pittsburgh, PA: Entertainment Technology Center Press, Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved from http://press.etc.cmu.edu/files/Handbook-Blended-Learning_Ferdig-Kennedy-etal_web.pdf

Barbour, M. K., & Adelstein, D. (2013). Voracious appetite of online teaching: Examining labour issues related to K-12 online learning. Vancouver, BC: British Columbia Teachers Federation. Retrieved from http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Issues/Technology/VoraciousAppetite.pdf

Barbour, M. K., & Bennett, C. (2013). The FarNet journey: Effective teaching strategies for engaging Mãori students on the Virtual Learning Network. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 17(1), 12-23. Retrieved from http://journals.akoaotearoa.ac.nz/index.php/JOFDL/article/viewFile/195/156

Barbour, M. K., Brown, R., Hasler Waters, L., Hoey, R., Hunt, J., Kennedy, K., Ounsworth, C., Powell, A., & Trimm, T. (2011). Online and blended learning: A survey of policy and practice from K-12 schools around the world. Vienna, VA: International Association for K-12 Online Learning.

Barbour, M. K., Clark, T., DeBruler, K., & Bruno, J. A. (2014). Evaluation and approval constructs for online and blended courses and providers. Lansing, MI: Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute at MVU. Retrieved from http://media.mivu.org/institute/pdf/eval_constructs.pdf

Barbour, M. K., Hasler Waters, L., & Hunt, J. (2011) Online and blended learning: Case studies from K-12 schools around the world. Vienna, VA: International Association for K-12 Online Learning.

Bassey, M. (1999). Case study research in educational settings. Buckingham England ; Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Bennett, C., & Barbour, M. K. (2012). The FarNet journey: Perceptions of MÄori students engaged in secondary online learning. Journal of Open, Flexible & Distance Learning, 16(1). Retrieved from http://journals.akoaotearoa.ac.nz/index.php/JOFDL/article/view/105

Conrad, D. (2002). Deep in the hearts of learners: Insights into the nature of online community. Journal of Distance Education, 17(1), 1-19.

Cosby, A. G., & McDermott, V. P. (1978). Rural youth in context. In A. G. Cosby & I. Charner (Eds.), Education and work in rural America: The social context of early career decision and achievement (pp. 1-18). College Station, TX: Texas A&M University.

Crocker, R. (1989). Towards an achieving society. St. John's, NL: Queen’s Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Crocker, R., & Riggs, F. T. (1979). Improving the quality of education: Challenge and opportunity. St. John's, NL: Queen’s Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cross, K. P. (1998). Why learning communities? Why now? About Campus, 3(3), 4-11.

Davis, N. E., & Roblyer, M. D. (2005, October). A collaborative project to prepare virtual teachers. Paper presented at the Virtual High School Symposium., Denver, CO.

DiPietro, M. (2010). Virtual school pedagogy: The instructional practices of K-12 Virtual School Teachers. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 42(3), 327-354.

DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R. E., Black, E. W., & Preston, M. (2008). Best practices in teaching K-12online: Lessons learned from Michigan Virtual School teachers. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 7(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/getfile.cfm?volID=7&IssueID=22&ArticleID=113

Easton, S. (2003). Clarifying the instructor’s role in online distance learning. Communication Education, 52(2), 87-105.

Ezzy, D. (2002). Qualitative analysis: Practice and innovation. London: Routledge.

Garrison, D. R., & Anderson, T. (2003). E–Learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice. London: Routledge/Falmer.

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2005). Education Statistics: Elementary-Secondary. St. John's, NL: Queen's Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Greenway, R., & Vanourek, G. (2006). The virtual revolution: Understanding online schools. Education Next, (2). Retrieved from http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext/3210506.html

Gunawardena, C. N., & Zittle, F. J. (1997). Social presence as a predictor of satisfaction within a computer-mediated conferencing environment. American Journal of Distance Education, 11(3), 8-26.

Harms, C. M., Niederhauser, D. S., Davis, N. E., Roblyer, M. D. & Gilbert, S. B. (2006). Educating educators for virtual schooling: Communicating roles and responsibilities. The Electronic Journal of Communication, 16(1-2). Retrieved from http://public.vrac.iastate.edu/~gilbert/papers/JP2007-harms-niederhauser.pdf

House, D. (1986). Education for self-reliance: A report on education and training in Newfoundland. St. John's, NL: Queen’s Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

International Council for K-12 Online Learning. (2011). National standards for quality online teaching. Vienna, VA: Authors. Retrieved from http://www.inacol.org/research/nationalstandards/iNACOL_TeachingStandardsv2.pdf

Kannapel, P. J., & DeYoung, A. J. (1999). The rural school problem in 1999: A review and critique of the literature. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 15(2), 67-79.

Knowles, M. S. (1970). The modern practice of adult education: Andragogy vs. pedagogy. New York, NY: Association Press.

Lai, K.-W., & Pratt, K. (2009). Technological constraints and implementation barriers of using videoconferencing for virtual teaching in New Zealand secondary schools. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 17(4), 505-522.

LeCompte, M. D., & Preissle, J. (1993). Ethnography and qualitative design in educational research (2nd ed. ed.). San Diego: Academic Press.

Lowes, S. (2005). Online teaching and classroom change: the impact of virtual high school on its teachers and their schools. Naperville, IL: Learning Point Associates.

Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Moore, M. G. (1973). Toward a theory of independent learning and teaching. Journal of Higher Education, 44(12), 661-679.

Morris, S. (2002). Teaching and learning online: A step-by-step guide for designing an online K-12 school program. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press Inc.

Murphy, E. (2009). Online synchronous communication in the second-language classroom. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 35(3). Retrieved from http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/539

Murphy, E. & Coffin, G. (2003). Synchronous communication in a web-based senior-high school course: Maximizing affordances and minimizing constraints of the tools. American Journal of Distance Education, 17(4), 235-246.

Murphy, E. & Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. (2008). Revisiting Transactional Distance Theory in a context of web-based high-school distance education. Journal of Distance Education, 22(2), 1-14. Retrieved from http://www.ijede.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/38/550

Murphy, E. & Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. (2009a). Sage without a stage: A cultural historical activity theory perspective on E-teaching in web-based, high-school classrooms. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 10(3). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/579/1300

Murphy, E. & Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. (2009b). Learner-centredness in high-school distance learning: Teachers' perspectives and research-validated principles. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(5), 597-610. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet25/murphy.pdf

Murphy, E. & Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. (2012). Rapport in distance education. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 13(1), 167-190. Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1057

Murphy, E., Rodriguez-Manzanares, M. & Barbour, M. (2011). Asynchronous and synchronous online teaching: Perspectives of Canadian high school distance education teachers. British Journal of Educational Technology, 42(4), 583-591.

Nippard, E. C. (2005). Social presence in the web-based synchronous secondary classroom. Unpublished Thesis. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.

Nippard, N. & Murphy, E. (2007). Social presence in the web-based synchronous secondary classroom. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 33(1). Retrieved from http://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/24/22

North American Council for Online Learning. (2007). National standards for quality online teaching. Vienna, VA: Authors.

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3 ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Pullar, K., & Brennan C. (2008). Personalising learning for secondary students working in a blended (distance/face to face/vocational) learning environment. Computers in New Zealand Schools, 20(2), 6-16

Rice, K. (2011). Making the move to K-12 online teaching: Research-based strategies and practices. Boston: Pearson.

Riggs, F. T. (1987). Report of the Small Schools Study Project. St. John’s, NL: Queen’s Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Roberts, R. (2009). Video conferencing in distance learning: A New Zealand schools’ perspective. Journal of Distance Learning, 13(1), 91-107.

Roblyer, M. D., Freeman, J., Stabler, M., & Schniedmiller, J. (2007). External evaluation of the Alabama ACCESS initiative phase 3 report. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.

Roblyer, M. D., & McKenzie, B. (2000). Distant but not out-of-touch: What makes an effective distance learning instructor? Learning and Leading With Technology, 27(6), 50–53.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press: New York, NY.

Rovai, A. P. (2001). Classroom community at a distance: A comparative analysis of two ALN-based university programs. Internet and Higher Education, 4(2), 105-118.

Ruona, W. E. A. (2005). Analyzing qualitative data. In R. A. Swanson & E. F. Holdton III (Eds.), Research in organizations: Foundations and methods of inquiry (pp. 233-263). San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.

Shank, G. D. (2002). Qualitative research: A personal skills approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

Short, J., Williams, E., & Christie, B. (1976). The social psychology of telecommunications. London, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons.

Smith, R. D. (2009). Virtual voices: Online teachers’ perceptions of online teaching standards. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 17(4), 547-571.

Sparkes, R., & Williams, L. (2000). Supporting learning: Ministerial panel on educational delivery in the classroom. St. John’s, NL: Queen’s Printing for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Stake, R. (1995). The art of case study research: Perspectives on practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Surrey, D. W., & Ely, D. P. (2007). Adoption, diffusion, implementation, and institutionalization of instructional innovations. In R. A. Reiser & J. V. Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (2nd ed., pp. 104-122). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Tu, C. H. (2002). The measurement of social presence in an online learning environment. International Journal on E-Learning, 1(2), 34-45.

Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Downloads

Published

2015-09-22

Issue

Section

K-12 Online Learning Research Special Issue 2015