Online Asynchronous Discussion Boards. Busywork Or Beneficial?

Session Description
Asynchronous and blended learning venues are experiencing rapid growth worldwide. Research which provides data to support student success in the increasing sector of online and blended delivery venues can be invaluable for students, course developers and instructors. The purpose of this research is to address a few fundamental questions that have not been adequately addressed in the literature; whether computer-mediated asynchronous discussions achieve the same or similar objectives of traditional synchronous discussions and what elements of an online discussion students found valuable, without value, neutral, or misleading. A mixed-methods survey was sent to all Business students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Worldwide) in both graduate and undergraduate programs. There were 513 usable responses that contained rich data about student perceptions of online discussions boards. Elements evaluated include faculty engagement, student engagement, overall activity value, good and bad practices, as well as student engagement preferences and naming conventions. Statistical analysis and text mining were performed to identify relationships and trends in the qualitative and quantitative data. The results indicated that students find value in online discussion boards although they do not accurately replicate a traditional classroom discussion. Many additional components of good and bad discussion board practices were discovered.
Presenter(s)
Ilene Ringler
Ilene Ringler, Purdue University Global, FL
Ilene Ringler is a full-time faculty member. She serves as the course lead for the business perspectives course (part of the core MBA program) and the MBA capstone course. Ringler started her academic career while working for Bose Corporation and taught MBA courses at Babson University. She brings 30 years of work experience in the business field and is the principal of Ilene Ringler Associates, LLC, which provides services on values-based strategic growth and development. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners Mentoring Program, the Arizona Entrepreneurs, and the Women’s Enterprise Foundation. In addition to advising new and small business owners, Ringler has served as an advisor to the APS Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority, and Women Owned Enterprises program. Research Interests: Ways to increase student satisfaction with discussion boards in the classroom and to promote effective collaborative work.
Carol Shubert
Carol Shubert, Purdue University Global, FL
Carol Schubert is a full time professor at Purdue University Global and course lead for multiple courses within the MBA prgoram.

Carol founded, owned and ran a number of businesses; three veterinary hospitals, and an online accredited continuing education company. She sold all four after 30 years of ownership, and began teaching. While in business, Carol was active in her community; serving as a city council member and mayor pro tem, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, founder and president of Main Street, Tracy (funded by a federal grant that I wrote), and co-chairperson of the fundraising committee of the Arts Leadership Alliance charged with raising $25M to build an arts complex. She served on two bank boards while living in California. Additionally, she founded and funded a $250,000 scholarship program at St. Petersburg College in Florida that provides full academic scholarships.

Carol began and ran the not-for-profit Westside Wildlife Rehabilitation group in Tracy, Ca. This required federal and state licensing, and many volunteers. The group partnered with the local International Baccalaureate Program to provide required volunteer hours for students. Westside Wildlife Rehabilitation was the only such facility in 100-mile radius of Tracy, and specialized in raptors and hummingbirds. This was the only hummingbird facility in Northern California.

Aaron Glassman
Aaron Glassman, Purdue University Global, FL
Dr. Glassman is an Assistant Professor of Management and IT Strategy in the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide. Dr. Glassman is the Chair of the Management & Technology Department and previously served as the Program Chair of the Master of Science in Management (MSM) Program. Prior to that he served as the Director of Academics for two ERAU-WW campuses. Dr. Glassman began his career at ERAU over a decade ago as an adjunct while still working in the aviation industry.
Dr. Glassman has a Doctorate of Management with focus on Management and IT Strategy from the University of Maryland University College; a Master’s of Aeronautical Science with dual specialization in Aeronautics and Human Factors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Development from Empire State College.
Session Type
20-Minute Session
Audience
AUDIENCE

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