Online educators are always on the search for another teaching strategy to improve that number one goal of all online educators: to engage the students. Once this is accomplished assignments of better quality appear, assignments are submitted--and on time, students are more inclined to pursue and peruse all components of the course, and they will…

This article offers an example of how to use embodied learning effectively in online education. The discussed assignment is designed for classes in rhetoric, visual communication, or public memory, and places pedagogical research in conversation with scholarship in visual, aesthetic, and rhetorical communication. This type of digital aesthetic…

This article explains why a full course on LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus) families is needed for family science curriculum instead of incorporating small amounts of LGBTQ+ family content into preexisting courses. It also describes the development of a feminist-informed online, hybrid undergraduate course focusing on…

Researchers have long cast grades as an unreliable proxy for student learning despite their enduring use in higher education. Grounding assessment instruments in student learning outcomes (SLOs) provides an accurate and accessible means of evaluating student performance and guiding instructional practice. Using a SLO-guided pretest/posttest…

Procrastination presents problems not only for undergraduate students, but also for undergraduate faculty, and the effects of student procrastination on academic performance is a joint concern. This two-year follow up study seeks to better understand the relationship between academic performance and the actual time of submission of assignments…

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework is becoming increasingly popular for designing instruction in the university setting. The use of the UDL framework ensures that online learning environments are inclusive and equitable for students with a variety of learning needs and preferences. This article focuses on the third UDL principle:…

While I have always considered my approach to teaching to be student-centered, teaching during a pandemic challenged me to critically examine my teaching philosophy and practices. Guided by principles of the pedagogy of kindness, I sought student input as we collaboratively modified our courses during the COVID-19-induced shift to online learning.…

At an institution which serves mostly commuting students who are first generation and often balancing life responsibilities, online learning is enticing and presents challenges. Students can struggle with the required skills of self-regulation, effective time-management, communication, and balancing needs. In the spring of 2022, an innovative…

As courses can get stale in the world of online education, it can become easy to teach the same old same old. Educators want courses that are fresh, that reflect the latest research, that meet and engage their students, and that offer stimulating and interesting information. When approached in a methodical step-by-step manner, successfully…

This study examines the phenomenon of plagiarism and impersonation in online course assignments. Technological advancements, coupled with lower costs and accessibility, have made online courses and programs a practical option for higher education students. Unfortunately, the increasing online enrollment and advancing technology have allowed an…

The demand for intensive educational experiences is increasing, necessitating a focus on ensuring quality and providing adequate student support. Increasing opportunities for student collaboration, including teacher/student co-creation of learning materials, has strong potential to increase engagement and support. Given increased interest in…

Today's undergraduate students often must balance coursework with other personal and professional commitments. While much attention has been placed on effective strategies for helping students manage workload, curriculum optimization has been largely overlooked. In an analysis of a university lower-level online STEM course, a course redesign…

The increasing prevalence of students' use of Google Translate has been the catalyst for re-developing the language classroom. Through progressive adaptations, Google Translate has been integrated to help support meaningful language learning, academic rigor and intellectual curiosity. Five key steps form the foundation of the ADAPT approach:…

In this "Distance Learning" Special Issue, Errol Craig Sull introduces the "Try This" series of articles to assist with Becoming a Better Distance Learning Instructor. Sull notes, in this article, what the distance learning educator does in the first few days in a course can go a long way in setting the tone for the entire…

Much of learning analytics research has focused on factors influencing model generalizability of predictive models for academic performance. The degree of model generalizability across courses may depend on aspects, such as the similarity of the course setup, course material, the student cohort, or the teacher. Which of these contextual factors…