2003-2004 MIL Fellows: Dean Stover's Project

2003-2004 MIL Fellows: Dean Stover's Project
the maricopa institute for learning

As a MIL Fellow, my research goals are based around two questions: Do hybrid courses help students become better independent/self-directed learners? Do students become more or less interested in civic engagement by researching a social issue and writing letters to civic leaders?

For each of the questions, I will collect the latest research on independent/self-directed learning and civic engagement in order to develop a framework from which to address the data I collect. For each of the questions, I will develop a pre-post quantitative instrument and pre-post qualitative reflection to (1) assess students' perception about their ability to be become better self-directed learners and (2) measure social efficacy or the students' perception of the ability of an individual to affect social change. I will cross-check students' assessment on the quantitative and qualitative measures to see if the different measures lead to the same conclusions about self-directed learning and civic engagement.

In addition to these methods, I will develop information and activities based on my research that will help students think about their self-directed learning and civic engagement. At the end of the year, I will post my observations and research findings on the MCLI website.

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