Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Audrey Rabas

Second Advisor

Catherine Stieg

Abstract

Faculty in higher education recognize the importance of enhancing student engagement in online courses (Hollister et al., 2022; Richards, 2023), yet challenges like lack of confidence, difficulty understanding students, and managing workload often hinder prioritization (Kellen & Kumar, 2021). This qualitative phenomenological study explored eight university instructors' and faculty members' perceptions of student engagement in online courses, examining strategies, challenges, and successes in fostering a sense of community through individual interviews. Findings revealed various strategies to enhance engagement, such as integrating multimedia for interactive discussions. Despite available resources like the CTEL department, participants identified ongoing challenges, particularly a gap in institutional support and faculty engagement. The participants in this study emphasized the importance of creating a community through group projects and small group activities. The results indicated that promoting engagement in online courses requires a comprehensive approach, involving strong administrative support, well-organized course management, ongoing professional development, and the use of effective engagement methods. One effective strategy for student engagement involved incorporating entertaining videos, like those produced by successful YouTube creators. Another approach included utilizing study buddies to foster engagement and accountability. When student engagement strategies are applied, there are positive student outcomes and higher retention rates. Future research could explore undergraduate students' perspectives on online courses and assess the impact of video-based responses compared to traditional written formats in fostering student engagement and retention.

Comment

Ed.D. Dissertation

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.