Surveys of Distance Learning in the Virginia Community College System

by Carole Schultz

from Inquiry , Volume 6, Number 2, Fall 2001, 34-38

© Copyright 2001 Virginia Community College System

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Abstract
The VCCS surveys students and faculty currently participating in distance learning.

Distance learning continues to grow in the VCCS by more than 20% each year. In 2000-2001, over 34,000 students took at least one class via distance. Most of those took online courses. This rapid, continual growth caused the VCCS to examine where it was and where it was going in distance learning. An extensive review of distance learning resulted in a strategic plan for distance learning in the VCCS. Part of that review involved feedback from students taking distance learning courses and faculty delivering distance courses.

Two online surveys were conducted. Students in distance learning classes in the VCCS were asked to complete a web survey on their distance learning experiences. During the same period, faculty teaching distance learning were asked about their experiences as online faculty. Information from that activity follows the summary of the student survey.

Students were asked the following questions:

·   What did you like best?  

·   What did you like least?  

·   What would you change?  

·   Would you take another distance learning class?  

·   Why?  

Questions were open ended. Student responses were categorized for purposes of analysis. The information was collected over a period of 9 days in the Spring semester 2001. There were 500 responses with 480 containing answers to some or all of the questions. Many students took the time to write comments in addition to answering the questions asked.

Results of the student responses:

What did you like best? (452 students responding)

In the comment section, many students said distance learning was the only way they could further their education. Many mentioned work schedules and family obligations as primary reasons for being in distance learning classes. High on the list was not having to spend time traveling to campus and finding a parking place. Several mentioned that distance learning classes eased their problems with daycare.

What did you like least? (337 students responding)

On the other side of the coin, students expressed elements they didn’t like about online classes. One-third of them said they missed the interaction with their instructor and with others in the class. While some indicated they liked the discussion forums, several said the forums did not fulfill the need for interaction. However, they also said they did not like group/collaborative activities as that made them vulnerable to other students who might not contribute to the project or did not contribute in a timely manner. Another frequent comment was that they wanted more immediate and more frequent feedback from their instructor. Some also felt the course was more rigorous than they had anticipated and/or more rigorous than their traditional classes.

Would you take another course?

Why: 402 responding (yes)

Why not: 17 responding (no)

What would you change? 144 responded they would change something

Students wanted more interaction and reaction from their instructor and more interaction with fellow students. They would like opportunities to attend occasional class meetings though they would like this to be "optional." Several mentioned they wanted some indication that their work was received. Most indicated the positives outweighed the negatives and that they would take another course because it was the only way they could participate in higher education.

Virginia Community College Faculty Survey on Distance Learning

In March of 2001, VCCS faculty teaching distance learning classes were asked to provide a narrative summary of any trends, concerns, and/or common threads they saw in student evaluations of their distance learning courses.

A total of 63 faculty responded, with 58 of those usable. The responses were open-ended in nature and a qualitative analysis was done. Highlights from the results follow.

·   Students want frequent communication

·   Student want timely feedback from the instructor  

·   Faculty learned more about their students in distance classes than classroom-based classes  

·   Some students like collaborating and some do not  

·   Students opt for DL classes because of convenience and flexibility  

·   Students recognize they need to be self-starters (and that it is not always easy)  

·   Some students think the distance course will be easier  

·   Students who are unfamiliar with the technology don’t do as well  

·   Courses should reflect what is successful in online instruction  

·   Too many students don’t finish  

·   There is a lack of vision for distance learning in the VCCS  

·   The learning curve for faculty is steep  

·   Students encounter technical or logistical problems getting online and/or accessing the site and tend to give up  

Many of the faculty comments were also indicated by students. The faculty express some fundamental ideas that need to be addressed if distance learning is to provide a successful learning experience for students. One area has to do with letting students know what the online learning environment will be like and the other is that content and delivery methods need to reflect effective practices for online learning. It is obvious from both surveys that students and faculty face significant issues when engaging in online learning. It is also apparent that faculty will continue to build the online learning environment by seeking and employing techniques and practices that enhance student success. It is also apparent that students want the opportunity distance classes offer them and will continue to enroll in online classes.

Dr. Carole Schultz is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Instructional Technology and Distance Learning in the Virginia Community College System.

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