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Distance Learning Insights

The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration (OJDLA) is a peer-reviewed electronic journal offered free each quarter. The journal welcomes manuscripts based on the original work of practitioners and researchers with specific focus or implications for the management of distance education programs.


Fall 2024 - Volume 27, Issue 3

Balancing Technology and Mental Health: A Study of Online Education's Influence on Graduate Student Achievement

Headshot of Dr. Kyle Brezinski
Dr. Kyle Brezinski
Headshot of Hanah Ploub
Hanah Ploub
Headshot of Tzvi Tabakman
Tzvi Tabakman

Universities increasingly integrate online education into their pedagogical practices, utilizing digital tools like video conferencing and discussion boards to enhance learning and foster global collaboration. Research shows that technology influences social interactions and collaborative…

A Strategic Framework for Developing a Master Plan for Online Learning at Your Institution

Headshot of Firm Faith Watson
Firm Faith Watson
Headshot of Anthony A. Piña
Anthony A. Piña
Headshot of Jonathan Small
Jonathan Small

Launching a successful new online learning initiative or expanding existing online learning offerings takes careful planning and preparation. Online learning is an institution-wide endeavor, involving multiple departments, functions, and personnel, many of which require modifications or…

Improving Online Course Design in a Nursing Education Program: A Design Case

Headshot of John W. Smoot
John W. Smoot
Headshot of Abbie H. Brown
Abbie H. Brown

This is a design case of the development, implementation, and evaluation of an online course for nursing educators at a large southeastern college. The course teaches best practices for organizing online instruction with a focus on the Quality Matters standards. Implementation with a small group…

Insights for Online Program Administrators from PhD Learners’ Summer Institute Residency Experiences

Headshot of Michelle E. Bartlett, Ph.D.
Michelle E. Bartlett, Ph.D.
Headshot of James E. Bartlett, II, Ph.D.
James E. Bartlett, II, Ph.D.
Headshot of Mitchell R. Williams, Ed.D.
Mitchell R. Williams, Ed.D.

The week-long, in-person Summer Institute offers students a unique and enriching experience that greatly influences their educational journey. One of the key benefits is the opportunity for face-to-face interactions, which can be transformative in an era dominated by online learning. Students…

From the Editor

Headshot of editor

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to present the Fall 2024 edition of the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. While conducting the final review of this edition, I was particularly drawn to the research by Brezinski, Ploub, and Tabakman looking at the relationships between anxiety and online student performance. While their findings differ from some other recent research, their contributions are important in bringing more attention to this critical area.

For the past decade, it seems that there is an overwhelming sense of anxiety in the United States due to the political polarization, unchecked social media, and violence. As distance learning administrators, we cannot simply compartmentalize our work from these complex realities.

While many of us do well in setting up systems to support online students academically, our online support systems for mental health sometimes seem to be an afterthought, at best. We can do far more to train faculty to emphasize civility (inside the classroom and out) within courses. We can also escalate our own support systems by training our teams on better ways to talk to students openly and to ensure that mental health resources are front and center.

Too often, we rely on simply pointing online students in need to other resources. Help must authentically begin with that first contact. This is our challenge in the coming months and years. Progress in this area can have exponential potential in bettering our world.

Peace to all,

Melanie N. Clay, Ph.D.

OJDLA Editor-in-Chief

September 16, 2024