Abstract:

Considerable research has been conducted in the domain of K-12 online learning, however, a limited number of studies have been conducted on the quality learning using this format and best practices (Barbour, 2019; Linton, 2016). While standards have been created for developing online learning environment (e.g., iNACOL, 2011), no formally developed, evidence-based, reliable and validly scales for evaluating online learning for K-12 students were found. The purpose of this study, then, was to develop and evaluate a scale to assess the quality of K-12 online learning. The Online Learning Evaluation Scale (OLES), based on Garrison’s (2016) Community of Inquiry Framework, consisted of three constructs: social presence (n=4 items), cognitive presence (n=5 items), and teacher presence (n=5 items). The OLES was tested on 315 secondary school students (females = 237, males = 78) from 28 courses covering a wide range of subject areas. The analysis revealed that the OLES demonstrated good internal reliability for each of the three constructs, convergent validity, construct validity, and predictive validity.

References:
[1] Barbour, M. K. (2019). The landscape of k-12 online learning: Examining what is known. In Handbook of Distance Education (4th Ed.) New York: Routledge. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330275960_The_Landscape_of_K-12_Online_Learning_Examining_What_Is_Known
[2] Garrison, D. R. (2016). ELearning in the 21st century. New York: Routledge.
[3] International Council for K-12 Online Learning. (2011). National standards for quality online courses. Vienna, VA: Retrieved from https://www.inacol.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/national-standards-for-quality-online-courses-v2.pdf
[4] Linton, J. (2016). Electronic learning communities as a support for building relationships with students in a statewide virtual high school. Journal of Online Learning Research, 2, 419–445. Retrieved from https://www.learntechlib.org/j/JOLR

Keywords:

Online learning, secondary school students, scale, evaluate, measure, social presence, cognitive presence, teacher presence.