Identifying Challenges and Benefits of Online Learning for Students - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Identifying Challenges and Benefits of Online Learning for Students of Varying Disability Groups Derek Malenczak, MS, CPRP Ann Murphy, PhD Rutgers University Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Ok, so Online Learning is Great! But there are some barriers… Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

What About Students with Disabilities? 3 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Potential Benefits of Online Education Applied • Limited Transportation Broadly to • Flexibility of Schedule all Students Specific to • Asynchronous Format People with • Social Anxiety Disabilities • Peak Functioning Time (Banerjee & Brinckerhoff, 2002; Grabinger, 2010) Rutgers School of Health Professions

Challenges for People with Disabilities Executive • Response Inhibition • Working Memory Functioning • Planning Social • Theory of Mind • Social Perception Cognition • Emotion Processing Physical/ • Communication Limitations Mobility • Computer Accessibility (Grabinger, 2010; Green et al., 2004; LaGarde et al., 2010; Snyder, 2013; Snyder et al., 2015; Tempesta et al., 2013) Rutgers School of Health Professions

The Study 6 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Overview • Identifying Barriers and Supports to Online Education for Students with Psychiatric Conditions and Learning Disabilities • Study ID:Pro20150001190:Newark Health Sciences IRB • Administered using RedCAP • Targeted all students registered for online courses • Rutgers University – Spring 2015 semester • Obtained complete data from 1,665 online students Rutgers School of Health Professions

For Today’s Workshop • Four Groups 1. No Disability (n = 1322) 2. Psychiatric Disabilities (n = 252) • Depression: 171 (67.9%) Anxiety Disorders: 144 (57.1%) • Eating Disorder: 34 (13.5%) OCD: 23 (9.1%) • Bipolar Disorder: 15 (6.0%) Psychotic Disorders: 4 (1.6%) 2. Learning Disabilities (n = 41) • Includes ADHD 3. Physical Disabilities (n = 15) 8 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Demographics Variable No Disability Psych Dis Learning Dis Physical Dis Mean (SD) Mean (SD) Mean (SD) Mean (SD) Age 25.9 (9.0) 27.3 (9.1) 25.7 (8.1) 31.3 (12.3) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) Gender Female 971 (73.4) 216 (85.7) 26 (63.4) 10 (66.7) Male 351 (26.6) 36 (14.3) 15 (36.6) 5 (33.3) Year of Study Freshman 129 (9.8) 18 (7.1) 3 (7.3) 1 (6.7) Sophomore 199 (15.1) 18 (7.1) 2 (4.9) 0 Junior 283 (21.4) 57 (22.6) 14 (34.1) 6 (40.0) Senior 316 (23.9) 67 (26.6) 9 (22.0) 4 (26.7) Grad Student 395 (29.9) 92 (36.5) 13 (31.7) 4 (26.7) Rutgers School of Health Professions

Demographics (cont.) Variable No Disability Psych Dis Learn Dis Physical Dis n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) Level Online Exp First Online 476 (36.0) 58 (23.0) 13 (31.7) 4 (26.7) Course Some Exp. w/ 705 (54.1) 157 (62.3) 26 (63.5) 7 (46.7) Online Courses Almost All 136 (10.3) 37 (14.7) 2 (4.9) 4 (26.7) Courses Online Registered with Disability Service Yes 4 (0.3%) 8 (3.2) 7 (17.1) 7 (46.7) No 0 231 (92.0) 30 (73.2) 7 (46.7) Not Now, But 0 12 (4.8) 4 (9.7) 1 (6.7) Previously Rutgers School of Health Professions

Have Your Symptoms Gotten in the Way of a Passing Grade? Psychiatric Disability Learning Disability Physical Disability F-to-F Online F-to-F Online F-to-F Online n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) Yes 80 (32.0) 25 (10.0) 9 (22.0) 5 (12.5) 4 (26.7) 4 (26.7) No 141 (56.4) 194 (77.6) 24 (58.5) 28 (70.0) 7 (46.7) 9 (60.0) Unsure 29 (11.6) 31 (12.4) 8 (19.5) 7 (17.5) 4 (26.7) 2 (13.3) Rutgers School of Health Professions

Have you Benefited from Online Class? (%) No Psych Dis Learn Dis Physical Disability Dis Yes 71.5 69.0 56.1 86.7 No 12.8 13.9 19.5 6.7 Unsure 15.7 17.1 24.4 6.7 12 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Results – Reasons to Enroll (%) ITEM NO DIS PSYCH LEARN PHY Convenience 71.2 75.4 53.7 26.7 Flexibility of Schedule 64.2 69.8 70.7 53.3 Better Fit Around Work 57.0 57.5 56.1 60.0 Class Only Online 33.8 32.9 36.6 33.3 Avoid Commuting 30.3 35.3 29.3 26.7 Ability to Learn Own Pace 28.9 32.9 31.7 40.0 Better Manage Family Resp. 19.7 27.8 19.5 20.0 More Comfort Learning at 19.4 28.2 17.1 20.0 Home Enjoy Online Learning Format 19.3 23.4 19.5 13.3 Lack of Transportation 7.6 7.5 0 13.3 Manage Mental Health Symp 0.5 7.1 0 0 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Top Reasons to Enroll (%) No Psych Learn Dis Physical Disability Dis Dis Flexibility of 23.7 20.7 20.0 -- Schedule Convenience 20.3 19.5 10.0 -- Better Fit Around 19.0 17.9 22.5 26.7 Work Class Only 17.9 20.7 22.5 26.7 Online Avoid -- -- 10.0 13.3 Commuting Learn at Own -- -- -- 13.3 Pace Rutgers School of Health Professions

Results – Benefits (%) ITEM NO DIS PSYCH LEARN PHYS More Flexibility 80.0 79.8 68.3 86.7 Longer to Form Responses 41.8 46.4 41.5 26.7 Increased Study Time 29.5 27.4 26.8 20.0 No Textbook/Cheaper 19.6 19.0 12.2 20.0 More Comfort Online 18.3 23.0 19.5 46.7 Reduced Anxiety 16.2 31.0 7.3 33.3 Limited Distractions 16.0 18.7 24.4 33.3 Money Saved 11.3 12.7 9.8 20.0 More Detailed Instruction 11.0 6.3 7.3 20.0 Increased Support from Peers 5.1 4.4 7.3 0 Manage Mental Health Symp 1.7 9.9 0 6.7 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Top Benefits (%) No Psych Learn Physical Disability Dis Dis Dis More Flexibility 69.8 64.4 60.5 50.0 More Comfort -- -- -- 14.3 Online Other Benefits -- -- 18.4 14.3 16 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Results – Challenges (%) ITEM NO DIS PSYCH LEARN PHYS Lack of In-Person Contact w/ Prof 51.3 55.6 53.7 46.7 Time Management 31.6 42.9 36.6 46.7 No Hands-On (live) Learning 30.3 34.9 56.1 20.0 Decrease Possibility of Social Int. 29.0 24.6 24.4 26.7 Lack of Self-Motivation 25.7 31.7 36.6 26.7 Inability to Comm. Effect. Online 20.0 22.6 22.0 20.0 Difficulty Concentrating/Focusing 19.5 27.0 29.3 26.7 Diff. Navigating Course Website 17.2 26.2 17.1 13.3 Diff. Understand Online Speech 7.9 7.9 12.2 20.0 Lack of Technical Skills 4.9 5.2 7.3 6.7 Lack of Support Disability Office 0.4 0.4 9.8 6.7 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Top Challenges (%) No Psych Dis Learn Dis Physical Disability Dis Lack In Person 30.9 25.1 37.1 -- Contact w/ Prof Time Management 16.9 23.3 11.4 38.5 Lack of Self- 12.0 14.9 -- -- Motivation No Hands on -- -- 11.4 11.8 Learning Difficulty -- -- -- 23.1 Understand Online Speech Other Challenge -- -- 11.4 -- 18 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Strategies: So What Can We Do? 19 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

That’s Why We’re Here • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) • Intuitive Site Navigation • Course Organized & Uncluttered • Accessibility • Quality Matters • Department Standardization 20 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Top Barrier Reported Lack of In-Person 1:1 contact with Professor What can be done? 21 Rutgers School of Health Professions

If you could change one thing about online learning (big or small) what would it be? “Utilize more applications that will increase the ‘appearance’/feel of one-on-one face-to-face interaction with the instructor.” “I would appreciate seeing the professor.” “I would like to know the instructors a little bit better. Even just a picture of them would be helpful to place a face behind the email.” 22 Rutgers School of Health Professions

If you could change one thing about online learning (big or small) what would it be? “I would change the fact that often teachers just put up links to read tons and tons of work but don’t ever really teach anything.” Improve “…the ability to talk about what we are learning (beyond) pre-defined discussion questions to answer. No real way for more spontaneous, candid, and real interaction.” “Better quality. The professor should act like they’re making a video. They shouldn’t tape live lectures.” 23 Rutgers School of Health Professions

If 1:1 Contact’s What They Want… • Solicit student feedback earlier • Assumptions when a student stops participating • Outreach when they drop off • Value of a non-auto generated email Personal Greater student connection engagement with and motivation instructor 24 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Perception of Accommodations & Language 25 Rutgers School of Health Professions

In the End, What Do We Want? “Just a user ID in many We don’t want online courses.” “The professors have to be willing to help. Being online can feel a bit isolating as is, We do want so it doesn’t help if the instructor does not offer her genuine help.” 26 Rutgers School of Health Professions

Thank you for attending! • Questions? – Derek Malenczak – malencde@rutgers.edu – Ann Murphy – murphyaa@rutgers.edu • Feedback from you on our possible next steps? – Follow up survey – Qualitative ideas 27 Rutgers School of Health Professions