Nine Faculty Research Projects from Seven Universities to Study the Impact and Effectiveness of Online Learning

Academic Partnerships (AP), one of the world’s largest representatives of online learning, today announced that it has awarded nine grants to researchers from seven universities to study the impact and effectiveness of online learning. These grants are part of AP’s commitment to supporting the research conducted by partner university faculty members and increasing our collective understanding about the effect of online learning.

The research conducted by the AP grantees will provide important data relating to the factors influencing retention rates for RN to BSN students; exploring the career paths of leadership preparation program graduates; RN-BSN program at A-State Jonesboro; a comparative look at community, connectedness, and learning within the online and traditional face-to-face environments; using anonymous avatar-based discussions to engage in discourse on stereotyping in Master’s level diversity courses; improving learning engagement using interactive feedback in online learning; teaching with interactive OERs; student satisfaction and perceived learning in online learning environments; and comparing the transcultural competencies of online RN-BS students with on-campus baccalaureate nursing students.

“The faculty members at our partner universities are ideally positioned to provide new insight into the rapidly developing field of online learning,” said Vice President of Academic Services Dr. Judy Zimny. “We are pleased to support their important research and look forward to sharing the results later this year.”

Grants were awarded to the following individuals:

Arkansas State University:

• Brinda McKinney, RN, MSN Ed., PhD(c), Clinical Instructor, School of Nursing, RN-BSN coordinator

Louisiana State University

• Carlos Lee, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership

University of Cincinnati

• Eugene Rutz, Academic Director, College of Engineering
• Suzanne Ehrlich, EdD, CI, NAD IV, Field Service Assistant Professor, Teacher Education; 
College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services

University of North Carolina-Wilmington

• Pamela Levesque, DNP, APRN-BC, FNP, CNE, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
• Traci Bramlett, DNP, RN, FNP-C, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

University of Texas at Arlington:

• Bradley Davis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
• Ernest Johnson, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
• David Sparks, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Science Education
• Kathryn Pole, MLS, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
• Jiyoon Yoon, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Assistant to Dean, Department of Science Education

University of Texas at El Paso

• Audrey Tolouian, EdD, RN, Clinical Instructor, School of Nursing

University of West Florida

• Melanie Diloreto, Ph.D., Instructor, Department of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership
• Julia Gray, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership