Developmental Relationships: An Examination into the Perceptions of Students on Their Relationships with Faculty Members

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of students on the importance of developmental relationships related to teacher satisfaction and retention. It involved the use of a 20-question survey that was focused on perceptions of on-ground undergraduate students on components of The Developmental Relationship Framework from the Search Institute. Cronbach’s Alpha, T-tests, and a Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. Independent T-tests and the Mann-Whitney U Item Analysis discovered no significant differences in mean scores of survey questions and the demographic variables. While the statistical results were not significant, areas for further research were identified.

Asynchronous Online Discussion Forums: Effective Undergraduate and Graduate Course Approaches

Asynchronous online discussion (AOD) can provide an interactive educational experience through formation of learning communities that enable students to develop professional knowledge and critical thinking skills as they engage with colleagues and instructors. We find significant differences between undergraduate and graduate student perceptions of the efficacy of AOD. In this paper, we explore the pedagogical benefits of AOD and describe considerations that guide how they are designed and managed effectively and efficiently. Additionally, we report the results of a survey that measures student perceptions of the extent to which AOD provided a positive educational experience and contributed to their learning.