Gaining Applicable Knowledge in the University Online Environment: An Exploratory Case Study

• In Event: College Classroom Structures and Student Engagement and Outcomes

Abstract

It has been no secret that schools are faced with many challenges: low test scores, high drop-out rates, teacher attrition and economic cut-backs. Additionally, student populations have become extremely diverse. This study used a purposive sample. The participants were students from two sections of the same university online course, based on a culturally-responsive curriculum framework. Through our analyses, we concluded that a dialogic, problem-based environment was present and sustainable in the online environment. The participants were consistently discussing (electronically) their experiences and beliefs based on their past experiences and pre-dispositions. Additionally, the dialogic, problem-based environment supported the pre-service teachers’ ability to develop more openness based on their decline usage of “self-focused” belief statements to “others-focused”.

Authors

• Michelle L. Rosser, The University of Oklahoma

• Robert M. Nelson, University of Central Oklahoma