| The qualitative case study of two courses in an online past-baccalaureate professional certification program in child care program administration shows that the students' experiences in online distance education were convenient, satisfying and successful. Students demonstrated high levels of knowledge construction. Factors that affected their experience and knowledge construction were the online interactions with the instructor and other students, reflection, feelings of social presence, and course materials. Students reported spending large amounts of time doing course work that were beyond the instructor's expectations. The benefits of the online courses included: professional collaboration, high quality child care programs, job advancement, and additional skills and knowledge. Content analyses of online discussions confirm the students' and instructor's reports of high levels of knowledge construction and feelings of social presence. |
