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journal of public affairs education - NASPAA *The Global Standard ...

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Staying Connected: MPA StudentPerceptions <strong>of</strong> Transactional PresenceLorenda A. NaylorUniversity <strong>of</strong> BaltimoreLaura A. WilsonUniversity <strong>of</strong> BaltimoreABSTRACTOnline <strong>education</strong> has increased exponentially in the past five years and is nowconsidered part <strong>of</strong> mainstream higher <strong>education</strong>. It has significantly changedbricks and mortar institutions, but has the change been effective? One <strong>of</strong> the mostcommon concerns regarding online <strong>education</strong> is the physical separation betweenteachers and students (Robertson, Grant, & Jackson, 2005; Moore, 1997). Inorder to bridge the physical distance <strong>of</strong> online <strong>education</strong>, Shin (2003, 2002)argues that universities should enhance transactional presence. However, little isknown about transactional presence and online <strong>public</strong> administration courses.This study examines Master’s <strong>of</strong> Public Administration (MPA) studentperceptions <strong>of</strong> transactional presence with two groups: faculty and peers. Findingssupport previous research <strong>of</strong> no significant difference between teaching mediumsin regards to student perceptions. Contrary to previous studies, neither ethnicitynor gender appear to play a prominent role in whether students are satisfied withthe contact they have with peers or with faculty.INTRODUCTIONOnline <strong>education</strong> in the U.S. has increased exponentially in the past five yearsand is now considered part <strong>of</strong> mainstream higher <strong>education</strong> for most academicinstitutions. In fact, some experts predict that traditional face-to-face classes willbecome a model <strong>of</strong> the past (Blustain, Goldstein, & Lozier, 1999; Drucker,1997, as cited in O’Malley & McGraw, 1999). In a 2007 report, OnlineEducation: Five Years <strong>of</strong> Growth, the authors found that online enrollment in atleast one course doubled at U.S. degree-granting institutions — from 1.6million in the Fall 2002 semester, to approximately 3.5 million students in theFall 2006 semester. This shows a compound annual growth rate <strong>of</strong> 21.6 percentfor online <strong>education</strong>, compared to a growth rate <strong>of</strong> 1.5 percent for the totalJPAE 15(3): 317–331 Journal <strong>of</strong> Public Affairs Education 317

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