TY - THES TI - International distance learning in special education: a program evaluation of a US-Ecuador collaboration AU - McPherson, Rebekah AB - The internationalization of distance learning in special education is at a pivotal point in expansion. Even with concerted efforts through traditional means to increase the supply of special educators, shortages persist; therefore, teacher preparation programs are turning to online education. This dissertation study was a formative program evaluation of a bilingual, two-course sequence within a web-based special education master’s program offered at the University of North Texas (UNT), in Denton, Texas, and at the Universidad Casa Grande (UCG) in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The research design was based on the unfolding model of program evaluation, and it included mixed-methods of data collection. The model focused attention on (1) scientific evidence, (2) cost-benefit differential, (3) underlying values, and, (4) unintended consequences. Data came from archived documents as well as six semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and survey data from 23 student participants. The findings for the general-orientation course, Special Education Programs and Practices, revealed mixed results concerning multicultural awareness on the part of student participants. However, it seemed to have influenced their lesson design and made a difference in other areas. Some multicultural awareness concepts frequented the discussion board. The specialized course, Assistive Technology, which had more frequent communication between UNT and UCG on the discussion board, suggested larger increases in students’ multicultural awareness. With respect to both courses, the stakeholders recommended that the structure be strengthened for non-bilingual instructors and students to be able to communicate more freely. DA - 2010/// PY - 2010 LA - English M3 - Ph.D. PB - University of North Texas UR - https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30493/m2/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf AN - 818457302 KW - 0529:Special education KW - 0530:Teacher education KW - 0710:Educational technology KW - Curriculum Design KW - Data Collection KW - Disabilities KW - Distance Education KW - Distance learning KW - ERIC, Resources in Education (RIE) KW - Ecuador KW - Education KW - Educational Technology KW - Educational technology KW - Evidence KW - Foreign Countries KW - Graduate Students KW - Higher Education KW - International collaboration KW - Interviews KW - Masters Programs KW - Online instruction KW - Online learning KW - Program Evaluation KW - Program evaluation KW - Research Design KW - Special Education KW - Special education KW - Surveys KW - Teacher education KW - Texas KW - Unfolding model KW - United States KW - __:import:01 KW - __:match:final KW - __:matched KW - __:study_id:2098174 KW - __finaldtb ER -