Employing the EPEC Hierarchy of Conditions (Version II) To Evaluate the Effectiveness of Using Synchronous Technologies with Multi-Location Student Cohorts in the Tertiary Education Setting

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i3.2676

Keywords:

e-learning, synchronous technology, multi-locations, EPEC model

Abstract

As e-learning maintains its popularity worldwide, and university enrolments continue to rise, online tertiary level coursework is increasingly being designed for groups of distributed learners, as opposed to individual students. Many institutions struggle with incorporating all facets of online learning and teaching capabilities with the range and variety of software tools available to them. This study used the EPEC Hierarchy of Conditions (ease of use, psychologically safe environment, e-learning self-efficacy, and competence) for E-Learning/E-Teaching Competence (Version II) to investigate the effectiveness of an online synchronous platform to train pre-service teachers studying in groups at multiple distance locations called satellite campuses. The study included 58 pre-service teachers: 14 who were online using individual computers and 44 joining online, sitting physically together in groups, at various locations. Students completed a survey at the conclusion of the coursework and data were analyzed using a mixed methods approach.

This study’s findings support the EPEC model applied in this context, which holds that success with e-learning and e-teaching is dependent on four preconditions: 1) ease of use, 2) psychologically safe environment, 3) e-learning self-efficacy, and 4) competency. However, the results also suggest two other factors that impact the success of the online learning experience when working with various sized groups. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of a multi-location group model may not be dependent only on the EPEC preconditions but also the effectiveness of the instructor support present and the appropriateness of the tool being implemented. This has led to the revised EPEC Hierarchy of Conditions for E-Learning/E-Teaching Competence (Version III).

Author Biographies

Michelle Jean Eady, University of Wollongong

Dr Michelle Eady is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Wollongong, Australia. She is also the Associate Director, Bachelor of Social Science - Education for Change. A national teaching excellence award recipient, she collaborates with and learns from Indigenous communities worldwide.

Stuart Woodcock, Macquarie University

Dr. Stuart Woodcock is a senior academic at Macquarie University in Sydney Australia. He specialises in educational psychology and inclusion, particularly focusing on teacher self-efficacy, attribution theory, and classroom management. Having trained and studied in the UK and Canada, and completed his PhD in Australia, Stuart focuses his research inter-nationally

Ashley Sisco, University of Western Ontario

Dr. Ashley Sisco is a Community Research Associate with Western University and Owner/Principal Consultant of White Buffalo Consulting Inc., both in London, Ontario, Canada. Ashley has a PhD in education, MA in Canadian studies (Aboriginal and Northern Stream) and BA (Hons.) in socio-cultural anthropology.

Published

2017-05-12

How to Cite

Eady, M. J., Woodcock, S., & Sisco, A. (2017). Employing the EPEC Hierarchy of Conditions (Version II) To Evaluate the Effectiveness of Using Synchronous Technologies with Multi-Location Student Cohorts in the Tertiary Education Setting. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v18i3.2676

Issue

Section

Research Articles