Aubteen Darabi

Instructor–Learner Interaction in Online Courses: The relative perceived importance of particular instructor actions on performance and satisfaction

This article examines the relative perceived importance of 19 instructor actions in online courses according to both instructors and students. The instructor actions were culled from guidelines in the online learning literature base and then reviewed and rated by 14 experts. Thirty‐two online instructors and 170 students from their classes at a large public university and a private online university were asked to review and rate these guidelines. Findings show that the instructors believe that learner performance is more likely tied to instructor actions that are focused on course content and provide both proactive (models, expectations) and reactive (feedback) information to learners about their ability to demonstrate knowledge of course material, but learner satisfaction is more likely tied to learners’ feeling that their interpersonal communication needs are met. Learners rated items focused on communication needs and being treated as individuals as most important, aligning their stated preferences with the instructors’ perceptions of what actions are most satisfying to online learners.

Improving the quality of online discussion: the effects of strategies designed based on cognitive load theory principles

This article focuses on heavy cognitive load as the reason for the lack of quality associated with conventional online discussion. Using the principles of cognitive load theory, four online discussion strategies were designed specifically aiming at reducing the discussants’ cognitive load and thus enhancing the quality of their online discussion. The results indicate that, compared to a conventional discussion strategy, the discussion quality was significantly enhanced for participants using example-posting strategy and limited-number-of-posting strategy. Cognitive load was significantly reduced for participants using filtered-posting and combination strategies. Instructional efficiency of all proposed strategies was found to be significantly better than conventional discussion strategy. The results are discussed and implications of the findings on instructional design application and future research are also presented.

Application of cognitive apprenticeship model to a graduate course in performance systems analysis: A case study

This article reports a case study describing how the principles of a cognitive apprenticeship (CA) model developed by Collins, Brown, and Holum (1991) were applied to a graduate course on performance systems analysis (PSA), and the differences this application made in student performance and evaluation of the course compared to the previous semester. I analyzed the requirements for the CA learning environment and identified the contributions of instructor, students, and the course based on those requirments. I then applied the findings to create an authentic learning environment based on CA principles. In this case the students became performance consultants, immersed in practical application of the PSA content and methodology to authentic organizational performance issues provided by real clients. Finally, I compare student evaluation of the course to student evaluations in the previous semester, and report their responses to a set of open-ended questions concerning the application of CA principles.

Learner Involvement in Instruction on a Complex Cognitive Task: Application of a Composite Measure of Performance and Mental Effort

Abstract This study presents an application of a measure of learner involvement developed by Paas, Tuovinen, van Merrienboer, and Darabi (2005). These authors combined learners’ performance scores with their perceived mental effort invested in instruction and used it to assess learner involvement in instructional conditions. The present study examines the differentiating attributes of the Paas et al. learner involvement measure by using data collected in an experiment that investigated the effectiveness of three computer-based instructional strategies: (a) conventional problem solving, (b) product-oriented worked examples, and (c) process-oriented worked examples. As hypothesized, learners using worked example strategies showed higher involvement scores than those in conventional problem solving. However, no differences in learner involvement were found between the two worked-example strategies. The implications of these findings for designing instructional strategies and suggestions for further research are discussed.

The Role of Supportive Information in the Development and Progression of Mental Models

In learning a complex skill, creation and elaboration of learners’ conceptual and causal models benefit from supportive information provided at the beginning of instruction. On the other hand, it has been documented that practicing problem solving leads to better performance and transfer of complex cognitive skills. Despite the essential role of problem-solving practice for integration and transfer of knowledge and skills, providing novice learners with supportive information before practice can contribute substantially to the progression of a learner’s mental model toward an expert-like mental model. This progression process was examined before and after three phases of the instructional process: supportive information presentation, problem-solving practice, and test performance. Participants’ mental models of the complex learning task were matched against an expert mental model at five observation points through an instructional troubleshooting session. The results indicated a significant change in participants’ mental models after receiving the supportive information and no change after practice or performance.

Effect of worked examples on mental model progression in a computer-based simulation learning environment

In a diagnostic problem solving operation of a computer-simulated chemical plant, chemical engineering students were randomly assigned to two groups: one studying product-oriented worked examples, the other practicing conventional problem solving. Effects of these instructional strategies on the progression of learners’ mental models were examined by comparing representations of their mental models with those of experts at three segments of the instruction. Progression of mental models for the worked example group was significantly greater than those using the problem-solving strategy. However, this progression did not manifest itself in learners’ troubleshooting performance measured by number of correct diagnosis and first time correct diagnosis. The implications of these results for designing instruction tailored to learners’ domain knowledge are discussed.

Comparison of Three Instructional Strategies in Food and Nutrition Education: Developing a Diet Plan for a Diabetic Case.

ABSTRACT This study examines the performance of dietitians-in-training on developing a diet plan for a diabetic patient either independently or after peer discussion. Participants (n = 58) from an undergraduate program in food and nutrition were divided into two groups based on their prior knowledge before being randomly assigned into three conditions: (1) peer discussion with just-in-time information (JIT information), (2) peer discussion without JIT information), and (3) independent performers. The learners’ performance in the three conditions was analyzed. The results presented here describe the role of prior knowledge and JIT information across the conditions and the interaction of the two factors as well as the instructional implications of the findings.