kathy snead servicemembers opportunity colleges karen vignare university of maryland university...

http://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/jaln/index

Understanding Impact of Online Learning for the Military Student

Population

Kathy Snead Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges

Karen Vignare University of Maryland University College


Need to have peer reviewed research

Twenty five submissionsNine final papers Available online: http://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/jaln/index

Special Issue from Online Learning Journal





Review of literature provides substantial overview of current generation research

Using technology effectively for online Building a more comprehensive university

knowledge Helping military learners transfer to role of

students Building customized academic programs

Summary of Articles


Significant shortage of peer-reviewed research on this population

Statistically confirmed the emphasis in the persistence literature on the importance of academic support mechanisms

Military learners coexist with two personas Very interesting uses of simulations for

staff and students

Major Findings


The Evolving Military Learner Population: A Review of the Literature, Kate Ford & Karen Vignare Synthesizes both scholarly and grey

literature to update the readers on demographics, attributes, college experiences and academic outcomes

Combine research review with conceptual theories on adult learners’ transition and persistence along with institutional responsiveness.

Review of Literature


Military learners were most similar to nontraditional, first generation learners

Faced additional challenges associated with service-connected injuries and disabilities.

Juggling work, family, and academic responsibilities

Military learners are increasingly reliant on online learning

These learners often faced more difficulty when attending campuses that predominately serve full-time or traditional populations



Military learners adapt and persist in college by drawing upon deeply engrained military traits and tendencies, including self-discipline, mission-first focus, and reliance on fellow military learners

Confirming these findings requires additional quantitative empirical research ◦ institutional response support systems for military

learners, such as offering customized services and courses online, contributed to learner satisfaction and persistence.



Need better analysis of technology versus just a comparison of face-to-face and online

Need military learner retention models which consider learning modalities and institutional student supports needed to enhance success

Must understand the pathways through multiple institutions



An Analysis of Supports for Persistence for the Military Student Population Bruce Mentzer, Ellen Black, R. Terry Spohn Correlation of academic of academic,

financial, and social supports to persistence in military student populations

All three elements play a role in persistence Institutional and academic support had

impact on intent to persist

Addressing Military Students


Rules of Engagement: Considering Good Policy and Practice with Online Military Learners Conceptual piece by David Starr-Glass Awareness of cultural dimensions of the

military learners Recommends rules of engagement for

harnessing strengths of military learners in online environment

Addressing Military Students


Planning for Veterans’ Success! The Degree Map as an Advising Solution Mixed Methods research by Tracey Richardson,

Jason Ruckert, and James Marion The degree map as tool to help online

students through class selection and sequencing

Increases in new student matriculations, returning students, and number of courses taken per year by both military and civilian student populations

Aiding in the transition to the role of military learner


Game-Based Role-Plays to Build Military Cultural Competency and Helping Behaviors in Faculty and Staff

Chris Andrew Cate, Glenn Albright Gatekeeper training simulation for faculty/staff

(Veterans on Campus developed by Kognito) Promotes understanding of veteran value, military

culture, the obstacles they face in their pursuit of a college degree through virtual role play

Effective tactics for managing challenging conversations, best practices for connecting student veterans exhibiting signs of psychological distress with appropriate support services.

Using Technology Effectively


Bridging the Gap: Technology and Veteran Academic Success

David Cass, Shane Hammond Uvise, online mentoring and advising

platform for military student learners Serves as online veterans center to help

with academic skills, mentoring, and support

Adoption/adaptation at 3 institutions (John Carroll University, George Washington University and Duke University)

Using Technology Effectively


Online Training for Working with Student Veterans: A Social Work Elective

Katherine Selber, Mary Jo Garcia Biggs, Nancy Feyl Chavkin, Micah C. Wright

MSW Online elective course prepare students for engagement with military, veterans and their families

Team-based service learning component (Tutoring Corps, Writing Workshop); participation in veteran events and activities in student's community

Interdisciplinary course-90% Social Work; 10% in therapeutic recreational sports, education, student affairs and leadership studies

Building Academic Programs


Building an Accelerated Online Graduate Program for Military Officers

Royce Ann Collins, Haijun Kang, Susan Yelich Biniecki, and Judy Favor

Accelerated online degree program for military officers

How faculty pedagogically and effectively

addressed instructional challenges Developed online best practices for other

courses delivered to military student populations



A Core Course on Veterans' Health in an Online RN to BSN program

Elaine Keavney

BS in Nursing developed in response to Joining Forces Initiative; incorporate veteran-specific content into its curriculum

Core course in curriculum addresses unique healthcare issues facing veterans

Experiential component enables nursing students to study and evaluate real-life situations related to care of veterans



Limited amount of scholarly research about military student learners over past decade

Scholarly research about online military learners even more limited

Summary


Significant shortage of peer-reviewed research on this population

Statistically confirmed the emphasis in the persistence literature on the importance of academic support mechanisms

Military learners coexist with two personas Very interesting uses of simulations for

staff and students

Major Findings


Greater national research focus, given the number of military learners engaged in online learning,

Finding common ground for collaborative research—institutional research, government agencies (ED, DoD, VA), campus service providers (veteran centers, student personnel)

Is there value in creating a common research forum centered on military learners?

Next Steps


Karen [email protected] Kathy [email protected]

Contact Information

mailto:[email protected]

kathy snead servicemembers opportunity colleges karen vignare university of maryland university...

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