Share Paper: A Means to an End: Perceptions about Online Learning at a Historically Black University

  1. J. Maria Merrills, Winston Salem State University, United States
  2. Jewell Cooper, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
  3. Nora Bird, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, United States
Wednesday, October 19 11:15 AM-12:15 PM Waimea Canyon

Abstract: The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how perceptions about online learning affect nontraditional African American students’ participation in online world literature courses at a historically Black university (HBCU) in the southeastern United States. An instrumental case study was the research design used. Data were collected from individual interviews of participants and non-participatory observations of Blackboard course shells were analyzed through content analysis. The findings of the study explained how nontraditional African American students were drawn to online learning for the convenience. While many participants found learning to be accessible and convenient through online courses, many of them ...