Inspire Blog Tag: research

AI Disclosure Matters: Closing the alignment gap between online instructors and students

In online education, transparency is foundational to high-quality learning experiences (Ecampus Essentials, 2026). Transparency about who the instructor is, how the course set-up, what tools are available, and how learning will be assessed helps students trust the learning process. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in higher education raises important questions about transparency in online courses, particularly regarding instructor and student disclosure of AI use. Disclosure of AI use in online teaching and learning can be challenging for a number of reasons. First, it may be difficult to know what constitutes “use.” For example, is a Google search that resulted in an AI generated summary to gather information for course development considered “use”?  What about a student using … AI Disclosure Matters: Closing the alignment gap between online instructors and students
by · September 8, 2026

What Our Online Students Told Us About Navigating Canvas (and What It Means for Course Design)

Authors: Mary Ellen Dello Stritto & Dana Simionescu What We Did and Why When we design online courses, we make hundreds of small decisions about where to put things or how to introduce them. Should assignment instructions come before or after the readings? Does anyone look at the Module Learning Outcomes? Most of these calls get made on how we know people learn, what we think learners do, or what the program has always done, but rarely on concrete evidence about how students actually move through a Canvas course. So, we asked them. During Winter 2026, we surveyed 463 Oregon State University Ecampus students about how they navigate Canvas, where they look for information, how they engage with course elements, … What Our Online Students Told Us About Navigating Canvas (and What It Means for Course Design)
by · July 13, 2026

Problem Solving, Team Conflict and Large Enrollment in Online Courses: Research and Design

Core Education at Oregon State University launched summer 2025 and is designed to deepen how students think about problem-solving in ways that transcend disciplinary-specific approaches. It aims at preparing students to be adaptive, proactive members of society who are ready to take on any challenge, solve any problem, advance in their chosen career and help build a better world (Oregon State University Core Education, 2025). Designing Seeking Solutions Signature Core category courses presents a few challenges, such as the nature of wicked problems, cross-discipline teamwork, and the global impact of wicked problems, to name just a few. In the past eight months, instructional designers at Oregon State University Ecampus have worked intensively to identify design challenges, brainstorm course design approaches, … Problem Solving, Team Conflict and Large Enrollment in Online Courses: Research and Design
by · August 25, 2025

Reducing ‘Distancing’ in Distance Learning: Insights from Student Feedback in Online Education

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, online, distance learning has emerged as a dynamic and accessible platform for students worldwide. However, with this shift to asynchronous online classrooms we must prioritize inclusivity and engagement in our educational strategies. Recognizing this need, Ecampus embarked on a journey to understand inclusive course design and teaching practices through the eyes of the learners. Survey Summary  In 2021, Ecampus implemented an Inclusive Excellence Strategic Plan. One goal of this plan focused on enhancing inclusive teaching and learning in online courses. As part of this initiative, a pilot study was conducted during the academic year 2022-2023, to develop a mechanism for students to provide feedback on their learning experiences. The study employed a series … Reducing ‘Distancing’ in Distance Learning: Insights from Student Feedback in Online Education
by · October 14, 2024

The CAQDAS Quandary Part 2: How a low-cost solution could help with your qualitative analysis

By Greta Underhill In my last post, I outlined my search for a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) program that would fit our Research Unit’s needs. We needed a program that would enable our team to collaborate across operating systems, easily adding in new team members as needed, while providing a user-friendly experience without a high learning curve. We also needed something that would adhere to our institution’s IRB requirements for data security and preferred a program that didn’t require a subscription. However, the programs I examined were either subscription-based, too cumbersome, or did not meet our institution’s IRB requirements for data security. It seemed that there just wasn’t a program out there to suit our team’s needs. However, … The CAQDAS Quandary Part 2: How a low-cost solution could help with your qualitative analysis
by · December 26, 2023