De Gagne, J: Online Teaching Theory to Practice

Over the last decades, the use of educational technology has exploded, changing the complexion of adult higher education. This revolution calls for new perspectives on developing successful online learning communities. As they offer an emic perspective, qualitative studies of online educators are crucial to provide an efficient guidance for practice. This book explores the experience of online educators in institutions of higher education in the United States. By integrating a qualitative meta-synthesis into a hermeneutic phenomenological , the author offers new insights and recommendations to all stakeholders, including faculty and leaders in colleges and universities. Derived from a triangulation process, her study substantiates previous research by filling the gaps between ideal practices and contemporary realities. Originating from a study recipient of the 2009 Dissertation of the Year Award, this book offers itself as an introductory guide for those who want to conduct qualitative metasynthesis or multi-method qualitative studies in education or in other disciplines.