RESEARCH PAPERS STUDENT SUCCESS IN TOP 20 COURSES OF AN ONLINE INSTITUTION: DEMOGRAPHIC DIFFERENCES IN A MULTI-SEMESTER CROSS-CURRICULAR STUDY By ANGELA M. GIBSON* LORI KUPCZYNSKI** PHIL ICE*** * Instructional Design Project Leader, American Public University System. ** Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, Texas A&M University – Kingsville. *** Director of Course Design, Research and Development, American Public University System. ABSTRACT Student success is vitally important. Without academic achievement student self-efficacy is lost, persistence is blocked, and matriculation is unachievable. Exponential growth at online institutions necessitates the inquiry into factors that play a role in student success. In this study, approximately 15,000 cases from the Top 20 enrolled courses of undergraduate students at a large national fully online university were examined to determine if course Grade Point Average was related with student characteristics, e.g., student gender, ethnicity, age, and military status. Multiple semester sessions were analyzed across multiple curricular areas. Results and recommendations are discussed. Keywords: Student Success, Academic Achievement, Online Learning, Higher Education, Undergraduate Students, Ethnic Membership, Gender, Minority, Age Status, Non-traditional Students, Military Status. INTRODUCTION plan. Schools faced dilemmas over state funding and Semester Cross-Curricular Study budget crises. State legislators began to question colleges that had declining retention rates while students did not One in three college students leave their institution after the seem to be learning. first year (Barefoot, 2000; Kinzie, 2009) frustrating administrators who then attempt to ascertain the reasons In Leaving College (1993), Tinto indicated the problems in for lack of persistence and low retention levels. Just under higher education are not just about the numbers and are half of college seniors indicate attending multiple not just attrition or retention issues, these problems are institutions for classes (Marklein, 2005). Graduation rates in achievement issues based in learning and development. the United States account for only slightly more than half of Additionally, Pascarella and Terenzini stated “Modern those enrolling in college (Center for the Study of College colleges and especially universities seem far better Student Retention, 2008). Institutions of higher learning (IHL) structured to process large numbers of students efficiently continue to struggle with issues related to student retention than to maximize student learning” (1991, p. 646). as it is difficult to obtain accurate data on why students Another reason cited in the literature for the increase in leave an institution. Reasons for attrition are complex. college student attrition, connected to learning and Serious issues and challenges to student success in higher development, is lack of engagement both in and outside education were reported in the 1980s (Chickering & the classroom. Students who do not connect with their Gamson, 1987). During the 1980s and 1990s over 20 college environment through educationally purposeful national study groups determined from research the need activities, meaningful interactions with faculty members, or to put students first (Schroeder, 2003). Yet, attrition of by fraternizing with other students in social and extra- students, especially in the first year of college, continued to curricular settings, are at a greater risk to disengage rise. Institutional matriculation numbers provided evidence themselves from their academic purpose and, therefore, students were no longer graduating in the traditional four- from the institution itself. When engaged, students are more year period but were on the five, six, or even seven year likely to learn and achieve academic goals (Astin, 1993; 18 i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 RESEARCH PAPERS Kuh, 1995; Kuh, 2007; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991, 2005; chosen to improve academic performance and Tinto, 1993). information that is retained after studying has been completed (Garcia & Pintrich, 1994; Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, Most work on student achievement and student attrition & McKeachie, 1993). focused on four-year institutions of higher education. Assessment tools measuring student engagement have Ethnicity been tailored to brick and mortar four-year institutions and Post-secondary enrollment does not automatically lead to have been implemented ineffectually or not at all at online participation in college or matriculation. Increased and at community colleges. Only recently research numbers in enrollment, particularly for students of focusing on student engagement at two-year community traditionally underserved populations and minority colleges has taken place and national assessment tools populations, are sought by IHLs, yet it is the persistence in are providing rich data for analysis and decision making college, through academic achievement, student purposes (“Community College Retention”, 2005; Ouimet, satisfaction, and engagement, that leads to probable 2003). There is a massive gap in the literature concerning degree attainment. assessment of engagement, let alone student Minority students still lag in academic achievement behind achievement in general, for online institutions. White students in the United States (“Minority College Academic Preparation Enrollment”, 2003). Research also indicates that at-risk Lack of academic preparation heavily adds to factors student populations and historically underrepresented and putting students at high-risk for attrition (Braxton, 2000, underserved minority students are at even higher risks of Chickering & Gamson, 1987, 1991; Kuh, 2007; McCabe, dropping out of college (Braxton, 2000; Nelson Laird, 2000; Marklein, 2005; Tinto 1993, 2004). Often a gap exists Bridges, Holmes, Morelon, Williams, 2004). Information between what the student expects and what the institution provided by the American Council on Education (2005) expects (Gonyea, Kuh, Kinzie, Cruce, & Nelson Laird, 2006). found that the rate of degree attainment within a five year Filling in the expectation gap can facilitate the student's period for students who started college in 1995 was better understanding and increase opportunities for reported as Asian Americans at 62% and White students at academic goal setting (Young, Klemz, and Murphy, 2003). 58%. African American students without bachelor degrees Yet, educators still search for other factors that may impact but still participating in college after a five year period were student academic success. listed at 26%. Additionally disappointing is that African Americans accounted for the leading racial group for Self-regulation, a core component in social cognitive students who left college without a degree at 30% (“ACE theory, covers three cognitive processes, self-monitoring, Releases”, 2005). self-judgment, and self-reaction, used by an individual trying to reach a goal (Bandura, 1986). Self-monitoring The number of barriers students encounter on their road requires an individual's control over how many resources he toward college is often more pronounced for minority or she uses to approach learning. Factors include time students. As reported by Kuh, Cruce, Shoup, Kinzie, & allotted for a task, environment used for studying, and how Gonyea “the nature of the undergraduate experience of many faculty members are approached for assistance in historically underserved students can differ markedly from learning (Garcia & Pintrich, 1994; Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & that of majority White students in Predominantly White McKeachie, 1991). Self-judgment covers how effective Institutions (PWIs)” (2008, p. 542). Underrepresented minority and ambitious a student is when it comes to adapting to students have the lowest levels of college degree courses with varying levels of difficulty. Learning to control attainment in higher education (Astin & Oseguera, 2005). and switch habits such as anxiety and motivation level can Gender have a great impact on a student's performance in a The matter of the gender gap has been widely discussed course. Self-reaction utilizes study strategies that are both in the classroom and the workplace. A 2010 report i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 19 RESEARCH PAPERS released by the American Council on Education has found Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill are two programs that that while this gap has mostly diminished, there are a few make it possible for military members to cover expenses exceptions (Gender Gap Stops Growing, 2010). Currently, and have online classroom access from multiple locations men comprise no more than 43% of recent enrollments (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, 2009). and graduates, a figure that newly stirred up talk amongst Unfortunately, there is very sparse research in the body of some educational institutions about pursuing affirmative literature concerning active military and military affiliated action for men. students. Particularly, there is a void of research on military students and online learning. Thirty-seven percent of Hispanic women ages 18 to 24 years old attend college compared to their male The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program counterpart at 31%. African American women of the same can be applied by degree-granting institutions in the U.S. to age group participate in at a rate of 42% contrasted with cover up to 50% of the highest, public, undergraduate 37% of African American males (“Minority College tuition rate. The Program is part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Enrollment”, 2003). Additionally, in each ethnic group Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and requires that the attending higher education, apart from Asian Americans, IHL agrees to five requirements. The dollar amount must be the gender of majority are female students (American stated and the number of individuals to whom Council on Education, 2004). contributions are made in a given academic year needs to be stated. Also, contributions have to be provided to Age - Traditional and Non-traditional those who are eligible on a first-come first-serve basis and The traditional college student demographic is quickly continued contributions through subsequent years are evolving away from the 18-22 year old classroom- made given that the student meets standards for conduct, attending student. Adults who passed on college during attendance, and progress. The IHL must also make their youth are now finding that for professional success, contributions for the individual as a scholarship, grant, or education is necessary. Additionally, those who did attend other format (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, postsecondary institutions right out of high school may now 2009). The Post-9/11GI Bill will cover up to the highest find the need to return for a second degree to change amount of in-state undergraduate tuition and fees. If the careers or to supplement their professional development. candidate intends to go out-of-state, pursue a graduate Women currently comprise two-thirds of undergraduates degree, or attend a private institution, fees may exceed 25 years and older. African Americans and Native that amount (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Americans in the 25 years and older category now exceed 2009). the number of undergraduates who are 24 years old and Engagement and self-efficacy may be factors in student younger (Gender Gap Stops Growing, 2010). academic achievement for active military students in Non-traditionally aged learners, also known as adult online courses. One study, Artino (2009), found boredom learners, tend to have more varied learning experiences and frustration were negative impacts on a military than traditional aged students. Kolb (1984) contented that students' satisfaction and continuing motivation in an adult learners bring different experiences to the classroom online course. Once again, there is very little research on than their younger counterparts. These rich experiences military students in institutions of higher education, can be intertwined with curriculum, instruction, and especially students in online courses, yet further discussion in the classroom that benefits all learners. investigation must be done for this growing population of Military Students online student soldiers. Online education at postsecondary institutions is frequently Online Learning pursued by both male and female members of the military Online learning in higher education is growing as they work towards a degree of their choice while being exponentially. More students are enrolling in online courses based, deployed, active, or veteran. The Yellow Ribbon 20 i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 RESEARCH PAPERS at a higher rate than the total number of students enrolling is that, when 1 student in 4 is taking classes online, you must in colleges and universities. A Sloan Consortium report, step up and begin to think strategically about this" (Greer, Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United 2010). According to a study from the U.S. Department of States, 2009, discovered “over 4.6 million students were Education, full- and part-time students at online career taking at least one online course during the fall 2008 term” colleges have higher retention rates than competitors. Of an increase of over 17 percent from 2007 (para. 3). those who return for a second year, 72% are full time, and Additionally, it was determined that “more than one in four 57% return to public two-year institutions (Gonzalez, 2010). college and university students now take at least one The percentage of students who graduate from two-year course online” (para. 5). career colleges is 59% whereas the percentage at public two-year institutions is 23 % (Greer, 2010). At a time in history when Internet use and college degrees are becoming a necessity, trends in online education Between the tough economy and the demand for more continue to reflect the surge in growth among the and more jobs that require a college degree, the concept redefined traditional student who has turned to online of higher education is more popular now than it has ever classes for a variety of reasons. The majority of the 10 million been. Of the institutions with online education programs, jobs that are projected for creation in the coming decade 50% have seen their institutional budgets drop, while 25% will have mandatory skill requirements in their job have observed that their budgets increased (Greer, 2010). descriptions. These expectations will surpass what a high The Sloan Consortium (2009) revealed that due to the school education can offer (Greer, 2010). recent economic downturn a considerable increase has occurred at a rate of 66% for new online courses and However, not all faculty are interested in teaching online. programs and 73% of colleges and universities saw People are naturally opposed to change, and those who “increased demand for existing online courses and are used to the traditional classroom are not adapting their programs” (para. 5). views so easily. According to Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States in 2009, the seventh annual The trend of online education shows no signs of slowing or Sloan Survey of Online Learning report (Seaman & Seaman, moving in the reverse direction. Reasons for this choice vary 2009), less than one third of chief academic officers felt by individual, income, demographic, cost, time savings, that their faculty viewed online education as possessing and professional need. As this viable option for the student high value and being legitimate. population expands, educational institutions will embark on new studies and budget increases, and the various gaps This is not a consensus, however. Another study from 2009, will eventually be all but closed. this time published by the Association of Public and Land- Grant Universities-Sloan Commission on Online Learning, Statement of the Problem (Udas, 2009) stated that one third of professors at public Exponential growth has occurred in online learning and at universities are, in fact, teaching online courses. Over 50% online institutions nation-wide. Massive growth in enrollment of professors suggested that students enroll in online at both non-profit and for-profit colleges offering distance courses. Annual figures from the 2008-2009 school year learning has focused a spotlight on the practices of these demonstrate that since 2007, there has been a 17% categories of institutions, yet students at all institutional increase in the number of students in postsecondary types can suffer and struggle academically. Research institutions taking an online course. That figure equals over concerning retention and best practices at fully online 4.6 million individuals, or 1 in every 4 students, who are institutions, specifically on academic achievement and opting to pursue higher education with the capacity of the particularly those with a large majority of non-traditional (i.e. Web (Greer, 2010). adult) and active military learners, is greatly needed. According to Frank Mayadas, adviser to the Alfred Sloan Purpose of the Study Foundation's project, "The biggest challenge for institutions Examination of information obtained from the internal data i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 21 RESEARCH PAPERS collection of a fully online university provides rich details. students with over 90% of students over the age of 24. Such information can assist in determining the relationship Conversely from most colleges in the U.S., males constitute between end of course Grade Point Average (GPA) with any a majority of students enrolled at the university (“Ace specific student demographic characteristics. The Releases”, 2005; Braxton, 2000; Nelson Laird et al., 2004). investigation of such data may allow for researchers, Instructional Setting institutions, and policy makers to better understand the American Public University System (APUS), founded in 1991, impact of student characteristics on student achievement is an online, for-profit university. First created as American and success. As the institution from which the data was Military University (AMU) a second virtual university, obtained includes a very large majority of non-traditional American Public University, was added in 2002. Fully as well as active military learners, investigation into the data accredited under the Higher Learning Commission of the may provide information yet to be fully reported in the North Central Association, APUS serves the needs of military literature and assist educational leaders in decision students, those in public service, and civilians alike. As of making. mid 2010, APUS serves over 70,000 students, offers nearly The purpose of the study was to determine if end of course 80 degrees and experiences an annual student enrollment Grade Point Average (GPA) was related with student growth rate of approximately 30%. Students in 109 demographic characteristics in the top 20 enrolled courses countries participate in courses that commence at the of undergraduate students at a large national fully online beginning of each month as either eight or 16 week university. courses. APUS offers certificates, Associate degrees, Research Questions Bachelor degrees, and Master degrees. ·What is the relationship of end of course GPA to gender Instrumentation and Procedures in the top 20 enrolled undergraduate courses at a Archival data were acquired from the APUS Office of large national fully online university? Institutional Assessment through a request for data. ·What is the relationship of end of course GPA to Information requested was provided to the researchers ethnicity in the top 20 enrolled undergraduate courses through an excel file for end of course grade and student at a large national fully online university? demographic variables of gender, ethnicity, age, and ·What is the relationship of end of course GPA to age in military status. The courses represent a set of cross- curricular classes consisting of the top 20 enrolled the top 20 enrolled undergraduate courses at a large undergraduate courses at APUS for the 2009 year. national fully online university? ·What is the relationship of end of course GPA to military Data were analyzed through multivariate regression using forward entry. Multivariate regression was used as the status in the top 20 enrolled undergraduate courses at analysis that provides outcomes “predicted by a linear a large national fully online university? combination of two or more predictor variables” (Field, Method 2005, p. 738) and that the degrees of freedom are Participants adjusted to reflect the number of explanatory variables Data from six months of end of course grades for included in the model. Within the data set were dummy undergraduates in the top 20 enrolled courses for 2009 variables so to cause the general class of ANOVAs to break were obtained for this study. Total cases selected for the down with respect to heteroscedasticity. As regression study included 14,987 undergraduate students. The analysis utilizes the assumption of equal variance, population included fully online learners at a large national heteroscedasticity within this data is predicted as it is the for-profit online institution of higher education. The institution variance of dependent variables across the data (Field, as a whole serves military, military affiliated, and civilian 2005). 22 i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 RESEARCH PAPERS Results Model R R Adjusted Std. Error R F df1df2 Sig. F Square R of the Square Change Change To ascertain whether relationships in end of course grade Square Estimate Change and student demographic variables were present, 1 .140a .020 .020 1.00397 .020 408.278 1 20321 .000 multivariate regressions were conducted. From the initial 2 .169b .029 .029 .99938 .009 188.006 1 20320 .000 3 .197c .039 .039 .99413 .010 216.436 1 20319 .000 run of an ANOVA, the P-value for the F test statistic is less than 4 .210d .044 .044 .99157 .005 106.007 1 20318 .000 0.05, providing strong evidence against the null hypothesis. 5 .220e .049 .048 .98918 .005 99.298 1 20317 .000 A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was calculated on 6 .230f .053 .053 .98694 .004 93.190 1 20316 .000 the relationship of student demographics to end of course 7 .235g .055 .055 .98575 .002 50.145 1 20315 .000 8 .237h .056 .056 .98537 .001 16.455 1 20314 .000 GPA. The analysis was significant, F(19, 20303) = 67.16, p < 9 .238i .057 .056 .98511 .001 11.980 1 20313 .001 .05. 10 .239j .057 .057 .98487 .001 10.861 1 20312 .001 11 .240k .057 .057 .98467 .000 9.069 1 20311 .003 Overall the variables were significant predictors. However, 12 .240l .058 .057 .98456 .000 5.788 1 20310 .016 ANOVA offers only limited insight as the test only shows 13 .241m .058 .057 .98446 .000 4.906 1 20309 .027 significant relationship but does not illuminate the 14 .242n .059 .058 .98407 .001 17.251 1 20308 .000 variances in the variables. For this purpose, regression a. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic b. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21 modeling was used. Using multiple regression, an adjusted c. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24 d. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29 R Square of .058 was found, which indicates that even e. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, though the equation is significant the independent Hispanic f. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, variables (student demographic characteristics) account Hispanic, 18 to 19 g. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, for only 5.8% of the dependent variables (GPA). Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34 To further illustrate issues related to significant and variance h. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military accounted for by independent variables, the regression I. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18 model was rerun using the forward entry method. Forward j. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18, Female entry is informative in that it reveals 14 independent k. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, variables that are significant in the regression equation that Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18, Female, 35 to 39 l. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, cumulatively accounts for the aforementioned adjusted R Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18, Female, 35 to 39, NativeAlaskan Square of .058. However, three of these variables account m.Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18, Female, 35 to 39, for 3.9% of the variance with the remaining 11 NativeAlaskan, WhiteNonHispanic independent variables only accounting for 1.9% of the n. Predictors: (Constant), BlackNonHispanic, 20 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29, Hispanic, 18 to 19, 30 to 34, Military, Under 18, Female, 35 to 39, variance. The three variables that can be seen as NativeAlaskan, WhiteNonHispanic, Male o. Dependent Variable: GPA meaningful predictors are: Black, Non-Hispanic; 20 to 21 year old IPEDS age band, and 22 to 24 year old IPEDS age Table 1. Forward Model Regression Summary band. Significantly, all three of these variables have a ethnicity, age, and military status, were significant. negative standardized coefficient beta. However, it is However, the relevance of significance is limited since only important to note that given the extremely low degrees of 5.8% of the variance in the criterion variable was variance accounted for and the corresponding relative accounted for by the predictor variables. weakness of the standardized coefficient betas, this Even though significance was found through analysis of the analysis is at best inconclusive. Results from the Forward data, though with a very small amount of variance Entry Regression analysis are presented in Table 1. accounted for in the independent variables (student Discussion demographic characteristics), a theme that is so pervasive Analyses of the data showed significance in the in the general literature is not significant in this study. Review relationship between student demographics and end of of the literature has shown that student demographics are course GPA in all areas tested. All variables, gender, a factor in a students' academic success. Engagement, i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 23 RESEARCH PAPERS satisfaction, and academic achievement, including military and military affiliated students have an effect on persistence and matriculation, have been tied to certain the learning environment. Little is known in the body of student demographics, especially age, gender, and literature on this topic. Also to be further explored is the ethnicity (Astin, 1993; Gonyea et al., 2006; Kuh, 1995; Kuh, overall effect of the online university. As little has been 2007; Kuh et al., 2008, McCabe, 2000; Pascarella & researched about fully online institutions of higher Terenzini, 1991, 2005; Tinto, 1993). The preponderance of education, for-profit and non-profit alike, it is possible that the literature stems from research on traditional brick and traditional measurements and instruments may not even mortar institutions. Further, the research on military students apply. and student academic achievement is very inadequate Limitations and though there was no significance for the military As with all single institution studies, the findings may not be variable in this study, there is no comparison to other generalizable to other populations. Duplication of this study research within the body of literature. at other institutions is needed to validate this study. Likewise, Whereas other colleges and universities, both two-year and multi-institutional comparison of factors related to success four-year, will report a difference in end of course GPA with would provide insight into differences that may be present some set of student demographic variables, this particular among various student demographics. Finally, this study institution has no significance. This, in itself, is very significant. examined only the top 20 enrollment courses at APUS. A No demographic variable, within a large sample, was deeper analysis is needed in which success in all courses is found to have relationship to end of course grade in a top needed to determine if differences exist by program type 20 enrollment undergraduate class. or level. Implications and Recommendation Conclusion Further research is warranted to investigate these findings. Components of successful programs include increasing Though the data were derived from a large sample and student-to-student interaction, increasing faculty-to- taken from the results of classes across curricula, student interaction, increasing student involvement, linking recommendations for a repeat of the study may be the curriculum and the co-curriculum, increasing beneficial. Once another six months or years' worth of data academic expectations and levels of academic is available for analysis, such a repeated study may be engagement, and assisting students who have insufficient possible. academic preparation for college (Barefoot, 2000). Another consideration in review of the results of the study is Review of the literature indicates the need for additional that within this particular institution there will be no study of factors that determine student success outcomes. relationship, even in repeated validation studies, between Through engagement, satisfaction, and achievement, student demographics and end of course GPA. If that students can obtain success in college. Understanding the hypothesis was determined to be true, questions factors that increase student academic achievement and concerning other factors would need to be examined. the issues that prevent student persistence and Curriculum and instruction, specifically the construct of the matriculation is imperative for institutions to survive. course and pedagogical and androgogical methods Continually striving to serve the student, from research and employed, may be a factor in either evening out the then application of best practices through policies and student demographics or may factor into student initiatives, is the goal for every educator. achievement. The overwhelming majority of non- References traditional students may also be an aspect of the institution [1]. American Council on Education, Center for worth investigating. 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Learning on 26 i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 RESEARCH PAPERS ABOUT THE AUTHORS Angela M. Gibson, Ed.D. serves as the Instructional Design Project Leader for the Instructional Design and Development Team at American Public University System. She has a background in educational leadership, adult education, community college education, higher education, and student affairs with emphasis in instructional design and development. She also teaches courses online in the Masters of Adult Education program at the Texas A&M University–Kingsville and serves as adjunct faculty at APUS. Her research interests include student engagement and success, the role of online and emerging technology in course design and instruction, and Hispanic student success. She is active in regional and national education associations and serves on an editorial review board. Lori Kupczynski, Ed.D. serves as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. In addition, she works as an educational consultant across the United States at multiple institutions of higher learning. Her research interests center on Internet-based instruction and the role of the adult learner, with emphasis in instructional design. With a strong background in leadership and adult learning, she focuses on student and collaborative research at the doctoral level, serving as an advisor and mentor. Phil Ice holds an Education Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with minor concentrations in Instructional Technology and Science Education. Currently, he is the Director of Course Design, Research and Development at American Public University System (APUS). His research is focused on the impact of new and emerging technologies on cognition in online learning environments. Work in this area has brought him international recognition in the form of three Sloan-C Effective Practice of the Year Awards (2007, 2009, and 2010). Sloan-C has also recognized Phil through awarding a team he led at APUS with the Gomory Award for Data Driven Quality Improvement in 2009. He has been recognized by industry through membership in Adobe's Education Leaders Group and Adobe's Higher Education Advisory Board, as well as a recipient of the Adobe Higher Education Leaders Impact Award, 2010. i-manager’s Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 7 l No. 2 l July - September 2010 27