John K Atkinson | Western Kentucky University (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by John K Atkinson

Research paper thumbnail of Web-based versus classroom-based instruction: an empirical comparison of student performance

aabri.com

Higher education expenditures are being increasingly targeted toward distance learning, with a la... more Higher education expenditures are being increasingly targeted toward distance learning, with a large portion focused specifically on web-based instruction (WBI). WBI and classroombased instruction (CBI) tend to offer students diverse options for their education. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Journal of Instructional Pedagogies Simulation

software’s effect on college students spreadsheet project scores

Research paper thumbnail of Journal of Instructional Pedagogies

Web-based versus classroom-based instruction: an empirical comparison of student performance

Research paper thumbnail of The implications of broadband Internet on online adult community learning

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational ne... more Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rural-based learners within the context of online learning opportunities. I hoped to ascertain whether rural learners' needs differ in terms of learning choices from that of their urban ...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Media and the Supply Chain: Improving Risk Detection, Risk Management, and Disruption Recovery

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Data Analytics

International journal of business, 2021

Several class sections at a Midwestern, public university were instructed in basic data analytics... more Several class sections at a Midwestern, public university were instructed in basic data analytics concepts using SimNet® preparatory assignments with Microsoft Excel®, additional instructional materials, and subsequent analytics projects. Performance on each analytics project was measured against performance on the preparatory Excel assignments as well as the student final course performance. The preparatory assignments prepared students for associated analytics projects as well as the final assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Social media and supply chain risk management: improving risk detection and supply chain resilience

Journal of Transportation Management

The introduction of social media has changed the methods by which many individuals, communities, ... more The introduction of social media has changed the methods by which many individuals, communities, and organizations communicate and interact. The increasing popularity of social media within a business context has forced executives to rethink how they operate their businesses. Chae (2015) observed that the field of supply chain management (SCM) has been lagging in identifying the potential role and use of social media in both research and practice. Recently, greater attention is being given to social media and its potential uses within the supply chain. This paper investigates the potential use for social media as a technology to help with supply chain risk detection and supply chain resilience.

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Theories of Learning for the Workplace: Building Blocks for Training and Professional Development Programs by Dochy, F., Gijbels, D., Segers, M., and Van Den Bossche, P

Adult Education Quarterly

Research paper thumbnail of College Student Online Learning Readiness of Students in China

China-USA Business Review

In this research, a group of Chinese university students was surveyed to determine their readines... more In this research, a group of Chinese university students was surveyed to determine their readiness for online education. A significance in differences between Chinese online learners is useful as one predictor of success in online formal post-secondary courses and may also be used to promote social change among Chinese governmental policy and institutions of higher learning. The McVay online learning readiness survey was used in this research and was first administered to Australian university graduate students, and later to undergraduate students in the United States. Previous research using the McVay Online Readiness survey compared U.S. undergraduate students at a public university in the United States to a select group of Asian students and identified some differences in factor loadings. This study contained 115 students in China Additional data were collected from a university in China to determine whether differences would exist between the previous group of Asian students and whether additional factors would surface. Furthermore, an instructor teaching courses in China provided observations as to the current educational climate and infrastructure in this emerging nation. These comments were interwoven in this study to provide a perspective that might aid in explaining differences in factor loadings. The conclusion is that the model for effective online learning among Chinese students is quite different from that of their western counterparts based upon the factor analysis loadings. While there are common factors involved, additional research is needed to refine the way international students interpret the topics covered by the questions in the questionnaire.

Research paper thumbnail of Potential Solutions to Rural Broadband Internet Deployment

Broadband availability in rural areas continues to be a major topic of concern in many areas of t... more Broadband availability in rural areas continues to be a major topic of concern in many areas of the country but especially in our rural communities. Several grassroots organizations including the Wireless Communication Association International, and the Rural Broadband Coalition were created for the sole purpose of closing the "Digital Divide" for underserved Americans. Government should support efforts to offer broadband to the masses, but in some cases special legislation is required to pave the way. In Kentucky, the Supreme Court rendered an August 2005 decision that may have severely hindered broadband deployment by restricting rural electric cooperatives from providing any service other than that of electricity. It is unclear whether this decision adversely affected rural cooperative's plans to pursue providing highspeed Internet to their constituents but it certainly caused them to their entrance into a less than competitive market for rural areas. Reacting relatively quickly to this decision the Kentucky Legislature passed legislation that empowered these organizations to once again offer services like Internet, long distance telephone, and propane gas service (ConnectKentucky, 2006). HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE According to the Connect Kentucky Web-site, the percentage of Kentuckians with high-speed Internet access has grown to 92%. Connect Kentucky is a designated 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization commissioned by Governor Ernie Fletcher to ensure all citizens have broadband access by the end of 2007 by coordination of "the planning, funding, deployment and adoption of high-speed Internet, also called broadband, and related technology at the local level" (ConnectKentucky, 2006). Several issues may be unclear however, for example what is defined as broadband access, and whether affordability is a primary concern, for example, is high speed dialup included in the broadband categorization? Cellular telephones providers like Cingular, Verizon and Sprint are all offering broadband services to select areas that tout broadband download speeds (Lawton, 2005). Most common to rural areas is the EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) network which affords 384 kbps burst speeds (Duryee, 2005). The FCC (2001) defines broadband as 200 kbps for both upstream and downstream transmission speeds from provider to subscriber, but also refers to 200 kbps capabilities in a single direction as sufficient to qualify. Dennis (2002) defines any communication circuit with data speeds of 1 Mbps or greater. What remains in question is whether 200 kpbs is truly fast enough to handle the expanding venue the Internet offers users?

Research paper thumbnail of Implications on Rural Adult Learning in the Absence of Broadband Internet

The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rur... more The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rural-based learners within the context of online learning opportunities. It was hoped to ascertain whether rural learner's needs differ in terms of learning choices from that of their urban counterparts. The basis for the urban examples is based totally upon available literature. This study is particularly interested in identifying predictors for why rural learners choose to participate in online based adult and community education using a case study approach. Seven themes were identified during this study and are presented as a model for potential predictors of formal and informal online learning in rural communities.

Research paper thumbnail of A study of the gender differences on spreadsheet grades for undergraduate students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between genders on the scores of a se... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between genders on the scores of a series of spreadsheet projects in a survey computer information systems course. This study hypothesizes that there will be significance in scores in the ten assigned projects between female students and males students; with the female students scoring higher than male students in a majority of the projects. Additionally, this study hypothesizes that there will be a significant difference in the mean project score for all ten projects with the female students scoring higher than the male students. Group statistics and t-tests were used to determine significance between females and males. Among the discoveries, except for a slight difference in two of the projects, there was no significance between female and male students' project scores. An interesting downward trend in mean scores emerged as the projects progressed.

Research paper thumbnail of Simulation software's effect on college students spreadsheet project scores

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential impact of support materials on student spre... more The purpose of this study is to explore the potential impact of support materials on student spreadsheet skill acquisition. Specifically, this study examines the use of an online spreadsheet simulation tool versus a printed book across two independent student groups. This study hypothesizes that the online spreadsheet simulation tool will have a greater positive impact on student performance than a printed book. Student performance was measured using scores on 10 individual spreadsheet projects and an overall average of these 10 scores. T-tests were used to determine significance since the project scores are independent and means were compared only across two groups. Significant differences were observed between the groups for two of the ten projects, but further research is needed to identify additional factors that may influence these findings.

Research paper thumbnail of What Data Analytics Can Do for You

In this presentation, we describe how the WKU Initiative for Applied Data Analytics (ADA) can pla... more In this presentation, we describe how the WKU Initiative for Applied Data Analytics (ADA) can play a key role in helping YOU as a business organization or an environmental research entity make sense of YOUR data and how to best utilize it. As an example, we will present our first grant proposal entitled “Designing and Implementing a Cloud-based Repository for the WKU Green River Preserve: Moving from Entrenched Data Structure to Semantic Web.” The ADA Initiative recently offered his research services in Data Mining and Predictive Analytics to WKU Green River Preserve (GRP). Dr. Albert Meier (Executive Director of the GRP) and Dr. Ouida Meier have decades of experience and honorable efforts to host numerous projects focused on the Preserve or included it as a study site in a larger project. Through a grant proposal, we are planning to work with Dr. Meier to capture, organize, store, and release various types of datasets that are being accumulated and that are growing at an accelerate...

Research paper thumbnail of Web-based versus classroom-based instruction: an empirical comparison of student performance

aabri.com

Higher education expenditures are being increasingly targeted toward distance learning, with a la... more Higher education expenditures are being increasingly targeted toward distance learning, with a large portion focused specifically on web-based instruction (WBI). WBI and classroombased instruction (CBI) tend to offer students diverse options for their education. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Journal of Instructional Pedagogies Simulation

software’s effect on college students spreadsheet project scores

Research paper thumbnail of Journal of Instructional Pedagogies

Web-based versus classroom-based instruction: an empirical comparison of student performance

Research paper thumbnail of The implications of broadband Internet on online adult community learning

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational ne... more Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rural-based learners within the context of online learning opportunities. I hoped to ascertain whether rural learners' needs differ in terms of learning choices from that of their urban ...

Research paper thumbnail of Social Media and the Supply Chain: Improving Risk Detection, Risk Management, and Disruption Recovery

Research paper thumbnail of Strategies for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Data Analytics

International journal of business, 2021

Several class sections at a Midwestern, public university were instructed in basic data analytics... more Several class sections at a Midwestern, public university were instructed in basic data analytics concepts using SimNet® preparatory assignments with Microsoft Excel®, additional instructional materials, and subsequent analytics projects. Performance on each analytics project was measured against performance on the preparatory Excel assignments as well as the student final course performance. The preparatory assignments prepared students for associated analytics projects as well as the final assessment.

Research paper thumbnail of Social media and supply chain risk management: improving risk detection and supply chain resilience

Journal of Transportation Management

The introduction of social media has changed the methods by which many individuals, communities, ... more The introduction of social media has changed the methods by which many individuals, communities, and organizations communicate and interact. The increasing popularity of social media within a business context has forced executives to rethink how they operate their businesses. Chae (2015) observed that the field of supply chain management (SCM) has been lagging in identifying the potential role and use of social media in both research and practice. Recently, greater attention is being given to social media and its potential uses within the supply chain. This paper investigates the potential use for social media as a technology to help with supply chain risk detection and supply chain resilience.

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Theories of Learning for the Workplace: Building Blocks for Training and Professional Development Programs by Dochy, F., Gijbels, D., Segers, M., and Van Den Bossche, P

Adult Education Quarterly

Research paper thumbnail of College Student Online Learning Readiness of Students in China

China-USA Business Review

In this research, a group of Chinese university students was surveyed to determine their readines... more In this research, a group of Chinese university students was surveyed to determine their readiness for online education. A significance in differences between Chinese online learners is useful as one predictor of success in online formal post-secondary courses and may also be used to promote social change among Chinese governmental policy and institutions of higher learning. The McVay online learning readiness survey was used in this research and was first administered to Australian university graduate students, and later to undergraduate students in the United States. Previous research using the McVay Online Readiness survey compared U.S. undergraduate students at a public university in the United States to a select group of Asian students and identified some differences in factor loadings. This study contained 115 students in China Additional data were collected from a university in China to determine whether differences would exist between the previous group of Asian students and whether additional factors would surface. Furthermore, an instructor teaching courses in China provided observations as to the current educational climate and infrastructure in this emerging nation. These comments were interwoven in this study to provide a perspective that might aid in explaining differences in factor loadings. The conclusion is that the model for effective online learning among Chinese students is quite different from that of their western counterparts based upon the factor analysis loadings. While there are common factors involved, additional research is needed to refine the way international students interpret the topics covered by the questions in the questionnaire.

Research paper thumbnail of Potential Solutions to Rural Broadband Internet Deployment

Broadband availability in rural areas continues to be a major topic of concern in many areas of t... more Broadband availability in rural areas continues to be a major topic of concern in many areas of the country but especially in our rural communities. Several grassroots organizations including the Wireless Communication Association International, and the Rural Broadband Coalition were created for the sole purpose of closing the "Digital Divide" for underserved Americans. Government should support efforts to offer broadband to the masses, but in some cases special legislation is required to pave the way. In Kentucky, the Supreme Court rendered an August 2005 decision that may have severely hindered broadband deployment by restricting rural electric cooperatives from providing any service other than that of electricity. It is unclear whether this decision adversely affected rural cooperative's plans to pursue providing highspeed Internet to their constituents but it certainly caused them to their entrance into a less than competitive market for rural areas. Reacting relatively quickly to this decision the Kentucky Legislature passed legislation that empowered these organizations to once again offer services like Internet, long distance telephone, and propane gas service (ConnectKentucky, 2006). HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE According to the Connect Kentucky Web-site, the percentage of Kentuckians with high-speed Internet access has grown to 92%. Connect Kentucky is a designated 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization commissioned by Governor Ernie Fletcher to ensure all citizens have broadband access by the end of 2007 by coordination of "the planning, funding, deployment and adoption of high-speed Internet, also called broadband, and related technology at the local level" (ConnectKentucky, 2006). Several issues may be unclear however, for example what is defined as broadband access, and whether affordability is a primary concern, for example, is high speed dialup included in the broadband categorization? Cellular telephones providers like Cingular, Verizon and Sprint are all offering broadband services to select areas that tout broadband download speeds (Lawton, 2005). Most common to rural areas is the EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) network which affords 384 kbps burst speeds (Duryee, 2005). The FCC (2001) defines broadband as 200 kbps for both upstream and downstream transmission speeds from provider to subscriber, but also refers to 200 kbps capabilities in a single direction as sufficient to qualify. Dennis (2002) defines any communication circuit with data speeds of 1 Mbps or greater. What remains in question is whether 200 kpbs is truly fast enough to handle the expanding venue the Internet offers users?

Research paper thumbnail of Implications on Rural Adult Learning in the Absence of Broadband Internet

The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rur... more The purpose of this study was to establish a deeper understanding of the educational needs of rural-based learners within the context of online learning opportunities. It was hoped to ascertain whether rural learner's needs differ in terms of learning choices from that of their urban counterparts. The basis for the urban examples is based totally upon available literature. This study is particularly interested in identifying predictors for why rural learners choose to participate in online based adult and community education using a case study approach. Seven themes were identified during this study and are presented as a model for potential predictors of formal and informal online learning in rural communities.

Research paper thumbnail of A study of the gender differences on spreadsheet grades for undergraduate students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between genders on the scores of a se... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between genders on the scores of a series of spreadsheet projects in a survey computer information systems course. This study hypothesizes that there will be significance in scores in the ten assigned projects between female students and males students; with the female students scoring higher than male students in a majority of the projects. Additionally, this study hypothesizes that there will be a significant difference in the mean project score for all ten projects with the female students scoring higher than the male students. Group statistics and t-tests were used to determine significance between females and males. Among the discoveries, except for a slight difference in two of the projects, there was no significance between female and male students' project scores. An interesting downward trend in mean scores emerged as the projects progressed.

Research paper thumbnail of Simulation software's effect on college students spreadsheet project scores

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential impact of support materials on student spre... more The purpose of this study is to explore the potential impact of support materials on student spreadsheet skill acquisition. Specifically, this study examines the use of an online spreadsheet simulation tool versus a printed book across two independent student groups. This study hypothesizes that the online spreadsheet simulation tool will have a greater positive impact on student performance than a printed book. Student performance was measured using scores on 10 individual spreadsheet projects and an overall average of these 10 scores. T-tests were used to determine significance since the project scores are independent and means were compared only across two groups. Significant differences were observed between the groups for two of the ten projects, but further research is needed to identify additional factors that may influence these findings.

Research paper thumbnail of What Data Analytics Can Do for You

In this presentation, we describe how the WKU Initiative for Applied Data Analytics (ADA) can pla... more In this presentation, we describe how the WKU Initiative for Applied Data Analytics (ADA) can play a key role in helping YOU as a business organization or an environmental research entity make sense of YOUR data and how to best utilize it. As an example, we will present our first grant proposal entitled “Designing and Implementing a Cloud-based Repository for the WKU Green River Preserve: Moving from Entrenched Data Structure to Semantic Web.” The ADA Initiative recently offered his research services in Data Mining and Predictive Analytics to WKU Green River Preserve (GRP). Dr. Albert Meier (Executive Director of the GRP) and Dr. Ouida Meier have decades of experience and honorable efforts to host numerous projects focused on the Preserve or included it as a study site in a larger project. Through a grant proposal, we are planning to work with Dr. Meier to capture, organize, store, and release various types of datasets that are being accumulated and that are growing at an accelerate...