ERIC Number: EJ1228762
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1556-3847
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
eCelebrations: Virtual Graduations to Celebrate Online Students
Waldner, Leora; McDaniel, Dayna; Esteves, Tammy
Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, v22 n3 Fall 2019
Online students are often short-changed when they reach their most important milestone--graduation. For many institutions, virtual graduation has proven to be a holy grail of sorts--critically important to student experience, but illusive in form and difficult to achieve. This article explores several existing models of virtual graduations, and proposes a framework to evaluate the quality of synchronous virtual graduation events. We also present an example of a synchronous virtual graduation celebration in a master's degree program that optimizes social presence and engagement. This robust event features real-time audio and webcam participation by all participants, keynote speakers, interactive prize contests, and personalized announcement of graduates. By illuminating the logistics, we enable other universities to consider adoption of this powerful innovation to enhance the online learning experience and further engage online learners.
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Recognition (Achievement), Graduation, Synchronous Communication, Masters Degrees, Audio Equipment, Interpersonal Relationship, Seminars, Internet, Public Administration Education, Interactive Video, Student Participation
State University of West Georgia. 1601 Maple Street, Honors House, Carrollton, GA 30118. Tel: 678-839-5489; Fax: 678-839-0636; e-mail: distance@westga.edu; Web site: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Alabama
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A