Engaging Students in Online Educational Leadership Programs: What Predicts Student Online Academic Engagement?

• In Event: Meeting the Challenges of School Leaders' Professional Growth

Abstract

Educational leadership programs are a primary means for training aspiring leaders. They are currently undergoing redesigning processes through the CPED, initiatives led by the Wallace Foundation and the states, and support from the UCEA. Although these initiatives are welcomed, they should be discussed in tandem with strategies to improve the quality of online instructions and hence student academic engagement, as a large number of these programs are now offered partially or completely online. Little research has systematically examined student online academic engagement. This study fills this gap in the literature and analyzes longitudinal online course data merged with student and instructor characteristic data. Results from this study may be used to design online courses and develop professional development for instructors.

Authors

• Hajime Mitani, Rowan University

• Susan Tipperman, West Chester University