Jules Beck & Bobbie Biggs

This is the culmination of a 2-year qualitative study. They used Blackboard

Many states in the US are rural, and there is not an infrastructure that supports this work.

This is a hermeneutic / phenomenological study

Looking for 2 points to follow-up. They have information from cohorts that began 10 years ago.

Purposive sample. They used Van Manen’s bracketing method, with response followed by probing questions.

Preliminary Themes:

1. accessible
2. achievement
3. enlightenment
4. useful at work
5. useful personally
6. personal interaction
7. structured
8. educational
9. group support
10. technology
11. stressful

I found it interesting that this presentation had people with me being the only person with a laptop that is being used.

They then presented their other findings, in order.

They then had some quotes about the students, and their experiences and what they learned.

This research looks really interesting, and I am wondering how the initial findings can be useful for research as well as for practice? I will ask this question, knowing that this research project is still ongoing. Little research has been done that is blended, rather than just online. For practice, the immediacy and for those who do not have the immediacy, since the technology and support within a home community rather than just online. Also, this helps to bring smaller communities together across the state. This helps to develop the talent that is already out there.

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