The Role of Intercessory Prayer in Fostering Students’ Sense of Connectedness in Distance Education Courses
article
Robin LaBarbera, Biola University, United States
International Journal on E-Learning, ISSN 1537-2456 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC USA
Abstract
Students in any classroom, whether online or in face-to-face settings, who feel a strong sense of community or connectedness are more likely to be successful and perceive satisfaction with the overall learning experience compared to those who feel separated from the community. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences in students’ perceived connectedness with the instructor and overall satisfaction with the course when the instructor communicated through individual, personalized email correspondence about intercessory prayers, compared to the group who did not receive personalized email communications from the instructor. Students in four online courses were assigned to one of two treatment groups: those who corresponded through personalized email and those who did not. Data were collected using an online survey, and findings revealed that students who corresponded with the professor through personalized emails felt more connected with their instructor. Although students in the email group reported greater satisfaction overall with their online learning experience, results were not statistically significant between treatment groups.
Citation
LaBarbera, R. (2016). The Role of Intercessory Prayer in Fostering Students’ Sense of Connectedness in Distance Education Courses. International Journal on E-Learning, 15(3), 361-378. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 28, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/111920/.
© 2016 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)
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