Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) framework, expanded to include an institutional/school community of support¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 2 claims (1 for, 1 against) · 1 study (1 associational), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The ACE framework explains how supports help online learners engage affectively, behaviorally, and cognitively. It groups support actors into a course community and a personal community, hypothesizing that independent engagement "is limited and likely insufficient for academic success and requires support from their personal and course communities." This study expands it with a school/institutional community of support, arguing the distinction "provides a broader and more nuanced understanding of both the communities of support." It also aligns specific support elements (e.g., instructing and collaborating with cognitive engagement; facilitating communication and developing relationships with affective engagement) to engagement dimensions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Support actors within the course and personal communities whose relationships and support efforts can be distinguished and measured

Constraints¶

• The original framework focused on engagement at the course level rather than the institutional/school level; the study was conducted at a single university in Colombia

Target Learners¶

• higher education students in online and blended courses

Target Learning Objectives¶

• affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement in online and blended learning

Claims¶

• Affective Support Predicts All Engagement Dimensions [-M]
• Overall Support Strongly Predicts Engagement [+M]

Related Theories¶

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Graham, C., Borup, J., Tuiloma, S., Martínez Arias, A., Parra Caicedo, D., Larson, R. (2023). Institutional support for Academic Engagement in online and blended learning environments: Exploring affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions. Online Learning, 27(3), 4-40. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v27i3.4001