Search

Background: Higher vocational education is an essential part of the higher education system that complements conventional education. In the context of information and communication technology (ICT) development and academic competition, more and more literature has proved the importance of ICT use in educational development (academic achievement and mental health) and the relationship between information literacy and the educational development of higher vocational students. Objectives: Based on one of the most extensive surveys of higher vocational students, the study combined the Opportunity‐Propensity (O‐P) framework and ecological model to explore the direct effects of different types of ICT use on educational development and the indirect effects from psychological and social factors. Methods: The data involved 28,956 students from seven higher vocational colleges. The class fixed effect and causal mediation analysis models verified the results. Results and Conclusion: The results found differential effects of different types of ICT use on academic achievement and mental health. Information literacy ability can improve the academic achievement of higher vocational students, but at the cost of mental health. ICT use not only directly impacts the academic achievement and mental health, but also has an indirect impact through psychological factors represented by self‐efficacy and technostress and social factors represented by social support. Implications: This study promotes integrating and expanding the O‐P framework and ecological model, enriching the relevant research in ICT use and educational development. Meanwhile, it also provides practical suggestions for realizing rational interventions in ICT use and improving the educational development level of higher vocational students. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Information and communication technology (ICT) use is closely related to the educational development of higher vocational students.The trend of ICT use in higher vocational education has become increasingly apparent.The effects of ICT use are heterogeneous among groups with different information literacy. What this paper adds: O‐P framework and ecological model provide the perspective of theoretical integration.The impact of different types of ICT use on educational development varies.Information literacy can improve academic achievement at the cost of mental health.Psychological and social factors play a mediating role in educational development. Implications for practice and/or policy: The research is helpful to guide students to allocate their time reasonably for different ICT uses.Mental health counselling should be strengthened while cultivating information literacy ability.Develop appropriate ICT usage strategies for students with different information literacy.It is helpful to develop appropriate interventions from a psychological and social perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Education is often the primary arena for exploring and integrating new technologies. AI and human‐machine communication (HMC) are prevalent in the classroom, yet we are still learning how student perceptions of these tools will impact education. Objectives: We sought to understand student perceptions of credibility related to written feedback attributed to a human or an AI grader (Study One). We also investigated how corrective messages containing verbal immediacy and social support influenced student perceptions of an AI grader's credibility based on feedback in an evaluated essay (Study Two). Methods: We used an online experimental design to assess the perceived credibility of a grader. In Study One, we randomly assigned students (N = 155) to a condition that contained a paragraph they were told was evaluated by a human or an AI grader. In Study Two (N = 222), we investigated ways of increasing perceptions of an AI grader's credibility by writing messages with higher/lower levels of immediacy and social support. Results: In Study One, the students rated both the human and AI grader as credible (yet rated the AI grader lower on goodwill). The data suggest that students in Study Two attributed more goodwill (i.e., caring) to the AI grader when the feedback included more verbal immediacy. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of student perceptions and communication styles when integrating technology into education. The two studies imply that students viewed the human and AI graders as competent, caring, and trustworthy, specifically when feedback included more immediacy cues. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topic: An instructor's use of verbal and non‐verbal behaviours is a crucial component of establishing credibility within a student‐instructor relationship.Non‐human actors (artificial intelligence and social robots) are perceived as credible when they use appropriate verbal and non‐verbal messages.Education plays a central role in exploring and integrating new technologies, but initial impressions and perceived utility impact acceptance and adoption. What does this paper add: Students perceived both human and machine graders as credible based on measures of competence, goodwill, and trustworthiness.This is the first study that sought to alter perceptions of a machine grader's credibility by manipulating verbal and non‐verbal immediacy cues.Results suggest that a machine grader's communication style, especially verbal immediacy, would influence student engagement. Implications for practice/or policy: This study offers initial insights into using machine grading as a supplementary engagement tool.Communication style is a key factor to consider when designing courses that include automated scoring systems or AI graders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Study: Technology‐supported learning environments, act as significant observational and enabling indicators for evaluating and encouraging the digital revolution of education, are of vital importance in current educational research. Keeping track of the dynamics of technology‐supported learning environment research allows for the enrichment of theoretical studies and a prompt innovation of talent‐training environments. Objectives: The present study carried out a bibliometric analysis of the core collection of WoS database over the last two decades. Method: This study is a bibliometric research. We applied CiteSpace and VOSviewer for co‐occurrence and evolution analysis. In addition, we extracted the fundamental ideas and thoughts through reading and analysis. Results: First, the study found that technology‐supported learning environment research is in a growth phase, with core journals such as Interactive Learning Environments or Computers & Education. The findings show that a core research team comprised of such scholars as Hwang Gwo‐Jen, Lester James C. and Wong Lung‐Hsiang. Key nations of publishing and research strength are from China, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Second, the hot topics in research on technology‐supported learning environments were virtual learning environments, technology‐enabled learning environments and interactive learning environments. Nine study specifics were derived from these three topics such as moulding function, generating scenario, stimulating sensation, effect verification, design idea, research reflection, inquiry and research, virtual community, and mixed environment. Lastly, the frontier evolution offers a pattern of development from enhancing performance to changing mode to incorporating experience. Conclusion: Looking ahead, our research recommendations for the field of technology‐supported learning environments include a multifaceted approach. We should aim to enhance research designs and methodologies, develop contemporary guiding theories and strive for a balanced representation across various educational domains, expanding our scope to encompass all academic disciplines. In terms of practical application, it is imperative to focus on the design and implementation of technology‐supported learning environments from three critical perspectives: "change‐demand," "student‐learning" and "online‐offline." These approaches will collectively ensure that technology‐supported learning environments are both innovative and responsive to the diverse needs of the educational landscape. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Technology‐supported learning environments are currently a focal and hot research topic in the field of education.Although numerous studies have been conducted on the learning environment of technical support, there has yet to be a systematic and comprehensive review of the related research. What this paper adds: This study provides a comprehensive review of research on the technology‐supported learning environments over the past two decades.This study primarily presents an overview of research on the technology‐supported learning environments over the past two decades, focusing on main literature, research strength, hot topics and frontier evolution. Implications for practice and/or policy: Researchers need to further advance research on technology‐supported learning environments by enriching research designs and methods, constructing up‐to‐date guiding theories and achieving a balance across different educational domains while extending the reach to all disciplines.Educational practitioners need to pay attention to the design and implementation of technology‐supported learning environments from the three viewpoints of "change‐demand," "student‐learning" and "online‐offline." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Study: As interest in programming education continues to grow, more educators are incorporating programming into K‐12 classrooms. There is evidence that programming can help develop essential skills for future societal advancement, known as 21st century skills. However, there has been limited research into which sub‐skills of 21st century skills are fostered through programming and the effect sizes thereof. Objective: This study presented a meta‐analysis to comprehensively understand the influence of programming instruction in K‐12 classrooms on the development of students' 21st century skills in different dimensions of sub‐skills. And further analysed the impact of key elements of programming instruction design on its effectiveness. Methods: A comprehensive meta‐analysis was conducted, covering 74 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2023, involving 136 effect sizes, and moderation analyzes on variables of instructional design. Results: This study indicated that implementing programming instruction in K‐12 schools can help develop students' multiple dimensions of 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, problem‐solving and decision, learning to learn, ICT literacy, and personal and social responsibility. Overall, programming demonstrates a moderate but significant effect on improving 21st century skills (Hedges's g = 0.621, p = 0.000 < 0.01). Furthermore, several best practices were identified to enhance students' 21st century skills, including initiating programming education from kindergarten, limiting the duration of programming interventions to 6 months, adopting interdisciplinary approaches to programming education, utilizing visual programming tools, and selecting appropriate assessment methods. Conclusion: Based on these findings, this study recommended the thoughtful design of programming education to maximize its advantages in various dimensions of 21st century skills. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Currently, 21st century skills have become critical skills that students should have.A popular practice in K‐12 schools is to use programming to develop students' 21st century skills, but results are inconsistent and quantitative synthesis of empirical research is lacking.Some factors of programming instruction may influence the effectiveness of programming on students' 21st century competencies. What this paper adds: A meta‐analysis of 74 studies was conducted to provide systematic evidence that programming has a moderate effect on improving K‐12 students' 21st century skills.Programming significantly improves students' eight sub‐skills in the 21st century.Educational level moderated the impact of programming on students' 21st century skills.Instructional duration moderated the impact of programming on students' 21st century skills. The implications of study findings for practitioners: Programming instruction is designed to be well‐planned and to take full advantage of technology to develop students' 21st century skills.Starting programming instruction at a younger age is more beneficial for students' 21st century skill development.Regarding intervention duration, it is noteworthy that interventions lasting within six months are more effective.Integrate programming across disciplines to promote students' multi‐dimensional 21st century skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As adequate support, virtual reality (VR) has been increasingly introduced into the classroom to help students learn a new language. However, empirical studies exploring the educational potential of using 360° spherical video‐based virtual reality (SVVR) in high‐school Chinese language classrooms are still lacking. Objectives: A mind mapping‐based SVVR learning system is proposed for international high‐school students' Chinese courses and examines its effects on improving Chinese learning achievements and perceptions among Grade 10 students who learn Chinese as a foreign language. Methods: This study adopted a quasi‐experiment design. Participants (N = 66) were assigned to one of three conditions: mind mapping‐based SVVR (MMBSVVR), conventional SVVR (CSVVR), or traditional lecturing (TL). Our mixed‐method approach employed pre‐and post‐tests to measure Chinese learning achievements, questionnaires to measure Chinese learning motivation, problem‐solving ability, and self‐efficacy, and semi‐structured interviews to further explore students' feelings and attitudes about Chinese courses in corresponding learning environments. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that the MMBSVVR classroom significantly improved high students' Chinese learning achievements in Chinese vocabulary and making sentence, problem‐solving ability, and self‐efficacy. Moreover, SVVR stimulates students' learning interest and class participation, and mind mapping provides students with a clear guide to arrange the knowledge. These findings help interpret the relationships between MMBSVVR and learning achievements, Chinese learning motivation, problem‐solving ability, and self‐efficacy in an international high school Chinese courses, thus providing insight on integrating MMBSVVR into existing classrooms. Lay Description: What is Already Known about this Topic: By creating fully immersive 3D environments, 360° spherical video‐based virtual reality (SVVR) in promoting language learning has been confirmed by many scholars with a focus on English language learning.Mind mapping effectively enables second language learners to review and retain new words in the target language meaningfully. Also, it can create a more vivid learning atmosphere through images and graphics and promote learners' memory and learning motivation. What This Paper Adds: A mind mapping‐based SVVR learning system has been developed with the support of the constructivism theory.A mind mapping‐based SVVR learning system is proposed to facilitate international students' Chinese learning performance in Chinese vocabulary acquisition and sentence construction.In addition to promoting international students' learning outcomes, the proposed approach indicated promising results in learning motivation, problem‐solving ability, and self‐efficacy. Implications for Practice and/or Policy: This study provides an evidence base for further research through the utilization of VR learning environments in Chinese language classrooms.This study advocates introducing SVVR technology in the Chinese learning classrooms to increase the learning context for international students. It is also worth encouraging scholars to design VR learning systems with different learning strategies.Due to the cognitive requirements of the Chinese language learning process, it is necessary to introduce mind maps in the SVVR learning system to assist students in constructing knowledge and combining prior and new knowledge to generate long‐term memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks have intruded in human life by providing new technological innovations in a range of fields, including the education. The use of social networks in education has the potential to extend e‐learning and to introduce new forms of tutoring, communication, and collaboration between students and instructors. Thus, e‐learning is the threshold of Social Networking‐based Learning (SN‐Learning). SN‐Learning consists of a new term, introduced in this paper, and involves e‐learning systems with social networking characteristics or learning through social networking platforms. To this direction, the main objective of this paper is to present this new technological advancement emerged nowadays and to evaluate relevant applications of the last decade using our adjusted evaluation framework, EV‐SNL, in order to highlight their strengths and weaknesses regarding digital learning. The major finding is that SN‐Learning systems focus mainly on the incorporation of social features and do not provide yet personalized and adaptive tutoring. This research provides guidelines to computer science researchers on the design and implementation of SN‐Learning platforms using artificial intelligence and modelling techniques. Moreover, it can support teachers of different fields so that they can enhance their instruction with new technologies. There is scope for a lot of improvement. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: The vast majority of Internet users uses social networks.Social networks offer a fertile ground for research.Social networks are adopted in education. What the paper adds: Introduction of SN‐Learning as a new trend of digital learning.Review of literature using a methodological framework tailored to SN‐Learning.Guideline for CAL incorporating pedagogical and social features. The implications of study findings: SN‐Learning provides mainly communication and collaboration features.SN‐Learning does not yet emphasize on adaptive and personalized learning.The incorporation of pedagogical theories can enhance SN‐Learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the perceptions and experiences of a teacher and students in a Shanghai public primary school when digital games were used in a second‐grade math class. The participants included one teacher and 45 students. Data collection methods included classroom observation, focus‐group and individual interviews, and document analysis. Digital gameplay, when used once daily over a 6‐day period, was found to enhance student engagement and interest in learning; many students, however, were concerned about its effect on academic achievement and eyesight. The teacher employed a "making thinking visible" approach using pencil and paper and problem‐solving strategies to help students understand the game's mathematical principles and master mathematical knowledge. Obstacles included large class size, difficulty evaluating learning outcomes, balancing fun and learning, and effective game–classroom integration. This study found that exam‐oriented education and traditional teacher‐centred teaching in China influenced participants' perceptions and experiences of digital game‐based learning. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Digital game‐based learning is effective and leads to a more relaxed learning environment that promotes students' engagement, interest, motivation, and confidence.Learning with digital games helps students acquire mathematics knowledge more effectively than traditional classroom lectures.Digital game‐based learning is helpful in math class as it makes students feel challenged and more capable, thereby improving self‐efficacy and task persistence. What this paper adds: Mathematics teachers and students have a contradictory attitude that shows both approval and concern towards game‐based learning.In the Chinese context, exam‐oriented culture is an important factor that influences the teacher's and students' perceptions and experiences of digital game‐based learning.While digital game‐based learning helps students' engagement and interest in math, it also faces numerous challenges such as large class size, balancing fun and learning, and effective game–classroom integration. Implications for practice and/or policy: Digital game‐based learning may be more effective when combined with pencil and paper to write down the process and make thinking visible.Fun and learning should be balanced in digital game‐based learning.Teachers need training and support for digital game‐centred programmes to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Guidance has showed positive effects on promoting inquiry‐based learning in science education. While an increasing number of studies focus on the design of guidance in simulation‐based inquiry learning due to recent technology developments, how different designs of a same type of guidance affect learning remains a question. Objectives: This study reviews the (quasi‐)experimental research on the learning effects of differently designed guidance in simulation‐based inquiry learning in the past decade (2011–2020). The investigation is guided by two questions: how differently designed guidance affects inquiry‐based learning in simulated environments in terms of learning process and learning outcomes, and what role technology plays in the design of guidance. In particular, we report on studies that compares the effects of a same type (process constraints/prompts/heuristics/scaffolds/metacognitive supports/direct presentation of information) of guidance with different instructional designs, and select a total of 28 peer‐reviewed journal articles. The results indicate no equivocal tendency of effectiveness towards a specific design. Instead, each type of guidance has related factors that may influence its effectiveness. Three major factors that related to optimization of inquiry learning guidance in simulation‐based environments are identified: the learner factor, the pedagogical factor, and the technological factor. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic?: Inquiry learning is an active learning approach that involves learners in self‐directed scientific discovery process to acquire knowledge.Technology provides alternative environments and unique features to support inquiry learning.Proper guidance could improve learning outcomes of inquiry‐based learning. What this paper adds?: Regarding to effectiveness, there is no equivocal tendency towards a specific design in each guidance type in simulation‐based inquiry learning.Technology plays multiple roles in the design of guidance in simulation‐based inquiry learning. Implications for practice: In the design of guidance in simulation‐based inquiry learning, learner factors, pedagogical factors, and technological factors should all be considered together.The teacher's role in providing guidance needs further exploration in simulation‐based inquiry learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health sciences education prepares students for social‐ and healthcare by developing evidence‐based nursing, leadership and working life skills, including collaboration. Due to the changes caused by the global pandemic, health sciences education has shifted more to online and hybrid contexts, which can challenge students' competence development. Students' competence development and interaction in collaborative hybrid learning is a little researched area. Objectives: To observe and evaluate health sciences students' competence development in a collaborative hybrid learning context. Methods: This quasi‐experimental mixed‐method study was implemented by providing educational intervention. First‐year Bachelor's degree health sciences students (n = 18) of a Finnish university completed an educational intervention with synchronous online and face‐to‐face learning. Students' collaborative hybrid learning and interaction were video observed, while self‐evaluation of competence development was made with a questionnaire. Results: In the collaborative interactions, the students showed analytical thinking, problem‐ solving and communication and technology skills. Extensive knowledge of health sciences and ethics skills was not strongly visible in interaction. The students effectively used collaborative work time to perform tasks. Cognitive interaction (monitoring and evaluating learning) was observed in 85% and socio‐emotional interaction (expressions of emotions and motivation) in 53% of the data. Related to the students' learning results, the students' ability to communicate and interact with culturally different people improved after the educational intervention. Conclusion: Collaborative learning methods in hybrid learning can create opportunities for students to construct their competence in interaction. Attention should be paid to different areas of competence and the role of socio‐emotional interaction. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Health sciences education prepares students for social and healthcare by developing working life skills, including collaboration.Hybrid learning brings benefits but challenges the equity of students with different attention modes.Collaborative learning is widely used but has not been studied much in hybrid context.Students' competence development and interaction in collaborative hybrid learning is a little researched area. What this paper adds: The purpose was to observe and evaluate health sciences students' competence development in a collaborative hybrid learning context.Hybrid collaborative interaction encourages students to construct knowledge in health sciences.The students utilised the collaborative time appropriately.Socioemotional interactions were very visible in collaborative learning. Implications for practice: This study helps educational organisations to design hybrid model education.The design requires pedagogical and technical competence and should include collaborative methods.Attention should be paid to different areas of competence in collaborative learning.The role of socio‐emotional interaction needs more focus in hybrid learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Taiwan's higher education institutions prioritize interdisciplinary knowledge and cultural competence in cultural design, emphasizing the value of immersion in the local environment to develop cultural competence. However, challenges arise from the disappearance of traditional local lifestyles and limitations of traditional outdoor lectures such as group size and learning environment. Mobile augmented reality technology serves as a personal learning tool to overcome these challenges, enabling learners to uncover hidden knowledge in scenic locations and improving learning efficiency. Objective: The study utilized learning analytics to investigate the impact of using mobile augmented reality on enhancing learners' cultural competence. Methods: The study used both qualitative and quasi‐experimental quantitative research to evaluate the effects of mobile augmented reality on cultural competence. A total of 78 third‐year university students participated in the study, with 37 of them using mobile augmented reality to learn about culture. The researchers utilized both the Mann–Whitney U test and interviews to compare the effectiveness of mobile augmented reality with that of a 'real' tour guide in field courses. Results: The experimental results indicate that learners were able to continuously seek and find information about local culture through field exploration with mobile augmented reality, resulting in similar effects to those of attending a live lecture. Conclusions: It showed that incorporating mobile AR into field visits can create gamified and active learning scenarios that enhance immersion and drive active learning in local culture. The results in greater cultural knowledge and understanding, leading to the development of cultural competence in students. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: There is a heightened emphasis on cultivating and demonstrating cultural competence across various fields due to the significantly grow of cultural and creative industries.Relying solely on traditional classroom teaching for learning about local culture may result in a diminished impact, as a comprehensive understanding of culture necessitates a keen sense of life.To address the limitations of traditional classroom lectures, educators continuously strive to enhance teaching methodologies by developing innovative approaches, such as experiential learning and community‐based learning, which involve hands‐on activities and real‐world engagement to foster increased learning motivation and improved effectiveness.Augmented reality (AR), a technology that overlays virtual images onto real scenes in real time, has gained extensive usage in diverse fields such as medicine, national defence, education, and entertainment, offering interactive gaming experiences and providing an opportunity to experience the culture and past lives of locals in the field, enhancing learners' understanding of cultural history and creating immersive encounters during visits.Particularly in digital learning, the integration of AR enables learners to engage with additional content through mobile devices, fostering an immersive and gamified learning experience. What this paper adds: The use of the AR app for learning about the local culture yielded comparable outcomes to traditional guided tours.Participants actively engaged in self‐directed learning and demonstrated a sense of initiative while utilizing AR.The flexibility and autonomy provided by field learning, which extended beyond the course period, allowed participants to revisit the field and explore at their own pace using AR.Demonstrates that participants took control and responsibility for their own learning, leading to an enhancement in learner autonomy.Participants who utilized the Roaming Jingliao AR system to explore cultural scenarios exhibited enhanced knowledge and attitudes regarding cultural competence, specifically in areas such as cultural understanding, rice food cultural knowledge, Songjiang folk arts, and skills and practices, which can be attributed to the immersive and autonomous nature of AR‐based knowledge learning in outdoor guided courses, minimizing the influence of external environmental factors and facilitating a deeper understanding of the content compared to traditional guided tours. Implications for practice and/or policy: The findings of this study highlight the importance of considering the limitations associated with a relatively small sample size when conducting research within a university curriculum. To enhance the validity and reliability of future studies, practitioners and policymakers should prioritize the inclusion of larger and more diverse samples, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of AR technology on cultural learning and informing evidence‐based practices and policies.The study's focus on a specific group of participants and their contextual background highlights the need for future research to include participants from diverse educational settings and cultural backgrounds, ensuring that the findings are more applicable and relevant to a broader population. Practitioners and policymakers should consider the importance of inclusivity and diversity when designing and implementing cultural learning interventions using AR technology.The recognition of technological limitations highlights the importance of considering the specific AR system used in cultural learning interventions. Practitioners and policymakers should be cautious when adopting AR technologies and recognize that different AR systems or platforms may yield different outcomes. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of various AR systems and platforms to inform decision‐making regarding the selection and implementation of AR technologies for cultural learning initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collaboration has commonly been integrated in computational thinking education to foster novice learning. While the majority of existing studies on developing students' CT skills have been based on competency or personality factors, social factors have been largely ignored. Objectives: This systematic review, framed by social cognitive learning theories, aims to unravel the influencing factors of collaboration in developing computational thinking skills in K‐12 education. Methods: We searched four databases and located 79 publications for synthesis analysis to identify 10 social cognitive factors from personal and learning environmental perspectives. Personal factors are gender, prior knowledge, and motivational attitudes, while the learning environmental factors are roles, partnership, interaction, culture, tools, tasks, and scaffolding. Results and Conclusions: We examined the following five major issues: (a) collaboration elements designed in learning activities; (b) social cognitive factors that might influence the development of computational thinking; (c) the influences caused by social cognitive factors; (d) students' perceived benefits of collaboration; (e) major challenges of integrating collaboration in computational thinking education. The most reported challenges in collaborative classrooms are students' misunderstanding of computational thinking knowledge, negative sentiments, and communication problems. Accordingly, a design framework to facilitate collaborative learning activities was proposed. The design framework can provide a more focused research avenue for examining the effects of collaboration in the development of computational thinking in K‐12 education. Lay Description: What is already known about the topic?: Collaboration has commonly been integrated in computational thinking (CT) education to foster novice learning in K‐12 education.There have been disputes regarding the effectiveness of collaboration in achieving learning outcomes.There is a need for further examination of the influencing factors of collaboration, which might influence students' CT performances. What does this paper add?: Our review identified personal factors (i.e., gender, prior knowledge, and motivational attitudes) and learning environmental factors (i.e., roles, partnership, interaction, culture, tools, tasks, and scaffolding), and revealed their influences in students' CT performances in K‐12 education.The synthesis of students' authentic opinions can yield insights to the possible mechanism of how collaboration can bring benefits to students' CT performances.The design framework generated from the review can shed lights on design an effective learning environment which integrates collaboration in K‐12 CT education. Implications for practice and/or policy?: The collaborative learning process of CT is complex, whereby the effects of social cognitive factors do not stand‐alone but are influenced by personal and learning environmental factors simultaneously.Taking the identified challenges of students, instructors, and operation can help smooth organization of collaborative learning activities of K‐12 CT education.Future students could look more in‐depth into the impacts of the social and situation factors in developing CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considerable evidence suggests that students' achievement emotions are important contributors to their learning and success online. It is, therefore, essential to understand and support students' emotional experiences to enhance online education, especially under the COVID‐19 context. However, to date, very few studies have investigated how students' achievement emotions might be affected by teaching and learning factors in online learning environments. Objectives: Based on Pekrun's (2006) control‐value theory of achievement emotions, this study examined the influence of students' perceived online teaching quality and appraisals of control and value on their achievement emotions in an online second language (L2) learning context instigated by the COVID‐19. Methods: Data were collected using an online survey of 1503 undergraduates from ten universities across different regions of China. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to test the validity of the instruments and structural equation modelling were conducted to examine the relations between L2 teaching and learning variables. Results and Conclusions: Results revealed that perceived teacher internet and communication technology competence had positive effects on enjoyment, but negative effects on anxiety and boredom, and these effects were fully mediated by perceived control and/or value. Perceived chaotic teaching structure (CTS) had reverse effects for the three emotions. Perceived CTS effects on enjoyment and anxiety were fully and partially mediated by perceived control, respectively. Takeaways: Online teaching quality is critical for students' appraisals and emotions towards L2 learning. Teachers should strive to improve online teaching quality and design interventions targeting students' perceived control and value to temper their affective experiences associated with the crisis‐prompted online teaching practices. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Teachers' internet and communication technology (ICT) competence and pedagogical design can enhance students' e‐learning efficacy, motivation and interests.Students' perceived control and value can influence their achievement emotions in online learning.Teacher's ICT competence and pedagogical design can impact students' emotions in online learning. What this paper adds: Perceived teacher ICT competence and chaotic teaching structures can have differential impact on students' perceived control and value for e‐learning.Perceived control and intrinsic value differently mediated the effects of the two teaching factors on students' emotions for e‐learning.Perceived teacher ICT competence and chaotic teaching structures can have both direct and indirect effects on students' e‐learning emotions via perceived control and value. Implications for practice and/or policy: Teacher training and development programs should prepare teachers for varying teaching formats including unplanned online teaching due to a forced switch to remote teaching.Teachers should acquaint themselves with using various online platforms and software to communicate the goals, expectations, structures and requirements of their language lessons to students' in a clear manner.Online language teaching interventions aiming to increase or decrease a specific emotion could directly target specific combinations of teaching characteristics and appraisals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of chatbots as learning assistants is receiving increasing attention in language learning due to their ability to converse with students using natural language. Previous reviews mainly focused on only one or two narrow aspects of chatbot use in language learning. This review goes beyond merely reporting the specific types of chatbot employed in past empirical studies and examines the usefulness of chatbots in language learning, including first language learning, second language learning, and foreign language learning. Aims: The primary purpose of this review is to discover the possible technological, pedagogical, and social affordances enabled by chatbots in language learning. Materials & Methods: We conducted a systematic search and identifies 25 empirical studies that examined the use of chatbots in language learning. We used the inductive grounded approach to identify the technological and pedagogical affordances, and the challenges of using chatbots for students' language learning. We used Garrison's social presence framework to analyze the social affordances of using chatbots in language learning Results: Our findings revealed three technological affordances: timeliness, ease of use, and personalization; and five pedagogical uses: as interlocutors, as simulations, for transmission, as helplines, and for recommendations. Chatbots appeared to encourage students' social presence by affective, open, and coherent communication. Several challenges in using chatbots were identified: technological limitations, the novelty effect, and cognitive load. Discussion and Conclusion: A set of rudimentary design principles for chatbots are proposed for meaningfully implementing educational chatbots in language learning, and detailed suggestions for future research are presented. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Chatbots can communicate with users in the target languages.Chatbot‐supported activities enable an authentic language environment.The use of chatbots is limited by their capabilities. What this paper adds: This review is the first to examine the usefulness of chatbot in language learning.Using chatbots had positive results on students' behavioural outcomes.Social presence can be established through the use of chatbots.Three main challenges of using chatbots are found. Implications for practice and/or policy: Chatbots can perform the function of learning partners outside the classroom.Educators can use chatbots to personalize assessment and feedback practices.Researchers are advised to include objective measurements in future studies.Teachers' perceptions of using chatbots could be explored in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Problem‐solving is a multidimensional and dynamic process that requires and interlinks cognitive, metacognitive, and affective dimensions of learning. However, current approaches practiced in computing education research (CER) are not sufficient to capture information beyond the basic programming process data (i.e., IDE‐log data). Therefore, how cognition and affect intertwine and unfold over time in programming problem‐solving activities are rarely investigated. Objectives: In this study, we examined how the theory‐informed measures from multimodal data that we have selected as proxies for cognitive and affective dimensions of learning, are associated with student performance, and in comparison, to prior‐knowledge. Methods: A high‐frequency temporal data was collected with a camera, an electroencephalogram, and an eye‐tracker from 40 computer science students (bachelor and master studies) in the context of a code‐debugging activity. To study the cognitive processes associated with learning we focused on cognitive load theory (CLT) and the human information processing model. In addition, we complemented CLT with the model of affective dynamics in learning to avoid the machine reductionism perspective. Results: Our findings demonstrated that attention, convergent thinking, and frustration were positively correlated with students' successful code‐debugging (i.e., performance), and frequently manifested by high performing participants. Cognitive load, memory load, and boredom were negatively correlated with students' performance, and typically manifested by low performing participants. Implications: Extending the context of analysis in reference to student cognitive processes and affective states, affords educators not just to identify lower performers, but also to understand the potential reasons behind their performance, making our method an important contribution in the confluence of CER and the learning technology communities. In addition, the insights extracted from our analyses allow us to discuss potential avenues for improving learning design and the design of interactive learning systems to support the development of students' problem‐solving skills. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: ● Problem‐solving interlinks cognitive, affective and metacognitive dimensions of learning. ● In digital settings instructors struggle to distinguish cognitive‐affective states of students. ● Learning technologies require interventions based on cognitive‐affective states of students. What the paper adds: ● When and what cognitive‐affective states are triggered during solving a programming problem. ● What and how measures as proxies for cognitive‐affective states are associated with performance. ● Emphasizes the benefits of augmenting IDE‐log data with sensor data in the context of learning design. Implications of study findings for practitioners: ● Methodology guidelines to identify and model variability in humans' natural behaviours. ● Importance of content and instructions personalization for student engagement and learning. ● Identification of multimodal data proxies for flexible and adaptive multimodal interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asynchronous online discussions are broadly used to support social learning. This paper reports on an undergraduate class's online discussion activities over one semester. Applying social network analysis, this study revealed a participation gap among students reflected by their varied levels of network prestige. The low‐prestige group initiated equivalent volumes of interactions but were less reciprocated. In‐depth analysis found the high‐prestige group also advantageous in other network measures such as closeness centrality and eigenvector centrality, as well as the strength, persistence, and reciprocity of their ties. To probe potential explanations of the revealed gap, we further contrasted post content and posting behaviours between two groups. Results did not identify any significant differences in post content but found low‐prestige students' participation less timely and more temporally compressed. This paper calls for attention to the participation gap in online discussions, microlevel temporal patterns of student activities, and practical means to scaffold student participation in asynchronous online discussions. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Social interaction is important for learning, and asynchronous online discussions are broadly used to support social learning.Teaching practices and strategies have been developed to support student participation in online discussions.In some contexts, participation intensity predicts learning performance.However, researchers have documented a participation gap in online discussions.What this paper adds: We applied prestige, a sociological term, to a study of the participation gap in an online undergraduate class and revealed varied levels of prestige among students.Lower prestige students were not inactive; rather, they initiated an equivalent volume of connections with peers but were often ignored.The timing of discussion participation can be a probable contributor to the gap, as lower prestige students' participation was less timely and more compressed together.Implications for practice and/or policy: Pedagogical supports are needed to help students develop advanced self‐regulation skills conducive to productive discussion participation.The design of online discussion environments and analytics tools needs to consider students' discussion dispositions and behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating computer‐mediated intercultural communication (CMIC) activities into language curricula has been discussed as an innovative approach. Despite the increasing number of successful examples reporting positive outcomes of adopting CMIC activities in language‐learning environments, it has also been noted that there are significant pedagogical challenges observed when CMIC activities are introduced into classrooms. However, previous studies tend only to briefly mention some of those challenges and to list general solutions to them, rather than deeply engaging with the issues and their educational and social consequences upon students' learning practices. Thus, this qualitative case study documents diverse pedagogical challenges faced by Korean students and teacher in their English‐as‐a‐foreign language classroom, in which a series of CMIC activities were set up and conducted. The challenges analysed in this paper include the unrealistically high implementation cost, the educational inequality issues created by irreducible gaps in students' socio‐economic backgrounds, and the unresolved struggles to develop positive student subjectivities and linguistic identities. In conclusion, the article proposes three instructional principles, drawn in turn from the two closely interrelated theories: multiliteracies pedagogy and critical pedagogy. Fundamentally, the author argues that effective adoption of CMIC activities needs a more pedagogically, socially, and culturally sensitive approach. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter: Computer‐mediated intercultural communication (CMIC) has been integrated in language curricular.The CMIC facilitates the development of students' intercultural communicative competence.Its implementation has been perceived successful in enhancing English‐as‐a‐foreign language students learning attitudes and outcomes. What their paper adds to this: However, its implementation process can be very costly and time‐/resource‐consuming.There seem to be also subtle but negative educational and social consequences observed.There are some serious inequality issues created by irreducible gaps in students' cultural capitals. The implications of study findings for practitioners: Three teaching principles to address those challenges and issues are proposed.The effective adoption of the CMIC needs a more pedagogically, socially, and culturally sensitive approach.It contributes to developing the sensitive approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study introduced Ren'py software as a digital storytelling (DST) tool to explore the effective use of digital game design learning in promoting critical thinking among high school students. A sample of 46 high school students enrolled in "Thinking Utopia," an elective course in critical thinking for civics education, was put into groups of 3 to 4 for learning activities towards their collaborative designs of DST games. The course stretched across 9 weeks. Students' performance in critical thinking tests was also closely examined using paired‐sample t‐test analysis, which found no significant improvements; however, their interview responses were carefully studied using qualitative analysis and revealed that many of them agreed that the proposed collaborative activities for game script writing and for their collaborative designs of original hurdle questions have stimulated their critical thinking ability and contributed to the development of their other skills such as communication, problem‐solving and media literacy. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: • Critical thinking is a key 21st century skill for students to arrive at an impartial judgement on controversial issues. • Digital storytelling and its practical value as an emerging technology may contribute to students' ability in critical thinking. • Collaboration and teamwork for design‐based learning may help students achieve deep learning. What this paper adds: • A model course plan on civics education featuring collaborative learning through digital game‐based design. • Further discussions on students' ability in critical thinking and their learning experience in a course involving collaborative design of digital storytelling games. Implications for practice and/or policy: • Collaborative learning through digital storytelling game‐based design may not promote critical thinking among high school students if they failed to initiate active discussions among themselves. • Collaborative learning through digital storytelling game‐based design among high school students may benefit other aspects of their learning, such as their skills in communication, problem‐solving, media literacy and test taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of online collaborative learning experiences on students' digital collaboration skills and on the sustainability of e‐collaboration in schools' culture—comparing individualistic versus collectivistic cultures. In addition, we explored how the leadership experience of schools' ICT coordinators was predicted by their sense of professionalism and cognitive, emotional and social aspects of perceived learning (PL), while leading the collaborative projects. The participants were ICT coordinators from 513 Israeli schools; 214 of whom were Hebrew‐speakers, and 299 Arabic‐speakers. The participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire, which included multiple‐choice and open‐ended questions. The results showed significant differences between a variety of the coordinator‐related variables as a function of learning culture (more individualistic vs.more collectivistic). Coordinators' leadership experience was a powerful predictor of students' digital collaboration skills, but did not predict the sustainability of e‐collaboration. Coordinators' emotional PL predicted the sustainability of collaboration in both schools with more individualistic and with more collectivistic learning cultures. The implications of the findings for educational theory and practise are discussed. Lay Description: Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topicOnline collaboration has the potential to develop digital literacy skills of students, and affects a variety of academic, psychological and social outcomes.Community interactions are related to cultural collectivism and reflect the important impact of environment on the individual.What this paper addsWe examine students' e‐collaboration skills and sustainability of e‐collaboration in schools.The ICT coordinators' characteristics differ between individualistic vs. collectivistic schools.Students' digital collaboration skills were not affected by these differences between the schools.ICT coordinators' leadership predicted student e‐collaboration skills, but not e‐collaboration sustainability.Implications for practice and/or policyProfessional development and longitudinal support are essential for teachers in e‐collaboration initiatives, but should be gradually diminished for sustainability.Support needs to be provided with reference to the cultural differences and to the particular difficulties documented in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analysed the instructors' teaching presence of three courses conducted by an instructor to explore the effects of the instructors' online teaching presence on students' interactions and collaborative knowledge constructions. Content analysis, social network analysis, and lag sequential analysis were used to explore the mechanism of teaching presence on students' interactions and collaborative knowledge construction. Results demonstrate that the design and organization, as well as facilitating discourse, can facilitate students' interaction, reduce the number of peripheral students, and facilitate students' collaborative knowledge construction, especially in the knowledge sharing, discovery, discussion, and application, whereas direct instruction has positive effects on teachers' centrality and negative effects on knowledge negotiation and testing. The result can give the instructors some guidance on online teaching practices. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic Online learning is pervading higher education.Teaching presence is essential to students' online learning.Interaction and knowledge construction are indicators of online learning. What this paper adds Direct instruction had positive effects on instructor's centrality.Design and facilitating have positive effects on sharing, discovery, and agreement.Direct instruction has negative effects on negotiation and testing.Activity design is essential to students' learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of social media to share information, enhance learning, and connect with an online community has grown rapidly over the past 10 years. As social media becomes a more common tool in both formal and informal education, it is imperative to understand how it is used by individuals with disabilities. Through a systematic study of the literature, 215 articles on social media used by individuals with disabilities were selected and 29 selected for in‐depth thematic analysis. Six major themes were identified: community, cyberbullying, self‐esteem, self‐determination, access to technology, and accessibility. To confirm these six categories, we expanded our search, yielding an additional 30 articles, for a total 59 articles reviewed in‐depth. Interactions between individuals with disabilities within online communities often had the goal of acquiring knowledge or learning new information. A communities of practice theoretical framework is used to discuss interactions among the elements of social media design, learning, and the building of community by individuals with disabilities. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: As social media becomes a more common tool in both formal and informal education, it is imperative to understand how it is used by individuals with disabilities.Few studies have examined social media use by individuals with disabilities. What this paper adds: Articles on social media use by individuals with disabilities were reviewed and six major themes were identified: community, cyberbullying, self‐esteem, self‐determination, access to technology, and accessibility.Interactions between individuals with disabilities within online communities often have the goal of acquiring knowledge and learning new information.Past studies have focused on how individuals with disabilities use social media tools to create community and to obtain information.Most studies reported positive aspects of social media use such as building knowledge, forming friendships, and creating social support groups. Implications for practice and/or policy: When individuals are not able to access or use social media tools this can lead to further experiences of marginalization. Ensuring that social media tools are designed to meet accessibility standards increases the likelihood that individuals with various disabilities will be able to fully participate in online communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined students' engagement characteristics in online courses and their impact on academic achievements, trying to distinguish between course completers and noncompleters. Moreover, this research is intended to differentiate between those who pass the final exam and those who do not. Four online courses were examined with a similar pedagogical model (Nstudents = 646) using learning analytics methods. The results revealed significant differences between students who completed the courses and students who did not, in all 13 variables. Completers' learning activities were more than twice as high, except for writing in the forums. Course subject and ongoing task and assignment submissions predicted course completion, whereas, in addition to these variables, engagement with course materials and reading the forums predicted final exam success, as well. Thus, the prediction of success in final exam emphasized the significant importance of engagement in various activities in the online course. Lay Description: What is currently known about the subject matter Increasing concern regarding the persistence and engagement of students in online courses,Students who had been actively engaged in their academic work showed a high‐level learning outcomes,Students' engagement in online courses is usually measured by engagement with course learning materials, interpersonal interaction, and performance in tasks and assignments.What the paper adds to this Engagement of 646 online students and its impact on academic achievements was examined by learning analytics;Students who completed their courses were highly engaged with all various course activities;Course subject, ongoing assignments, course materials, and reading forums (but not writing in them) predicted final exam grades;However, only course subject and ongoing assignments were significant predictors of course completion.Implication of the study findings The research findings assist in improving teaching and learning in online courses and reduce dropout;Implementing suitable materials, assignments, and appropriate communication channels and feedback will empower students' engagementEvaluating the students' online learning activities supports instructors in designing success online courses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the available literature on the effects of serious games on people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. The studies were categorized based on the limitations in skills that these people address. Fifty‐four studies were selected, from different data sources. These studies address limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour. The results showed that the majority of studies on the effects of serious games for people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder had a positive impact. Also, most studies for people with autism aim to improve social and communicational skills, whereas conceptual and cognitive skills were mainly observed in studies for people with intellectual disabilities. Although this study covers serious games in all platforms or delivery systems, the overwhelming majority of the presented studies include computer serious games. Computer‐assisted learning through serious games is considered quite promising for people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: People with intellectual disabilities have major limitations in adaptive behaviour and intellectual functioning skills.People with autism have significant challenges in social skills, speech communication, and repetitive behaviours.Technology enhances the learning process of people with intellectual disabilities or autism.Serious games is an effective means that helps people with intellectual disabilities and autism acquire skills. What this paper adds: Existing serious games for people with intellectual disabilities or autism have been systematically classified.Serious games for people with intellectual disabilities and autism are usually designed using participatory design or similar user‐ or learner‐centred methods.Computer serious games are preferred, compared with mobile serious games or games hosted in consoles.The most popular evaluation method to test effectiveness on serious games is pretesting–posttesting.Most serious games for people with intellectual disabilities and autism have been used in a non‐formal education context. Implications for practice and/or policy: Efforts should be made to design and evaluate serious games that address adaptive behaviour skills for people with autism.Efforts should be made to design and evaluate serious games that address adaptive behaviour, intellectual functioning, and social skills for people with ID.Effective existing serious games can provide guidelines for designing new games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A semantic diagram tool is proposed in this study in order to structure collaborative problem solving (CPS) based on cognitive load theory (CLT). To investigate its effects on transaction cost and the deepening of user understandings, a comparative quasi‐experiment was designed and conducted with 49 participants from a university in East China. Analysis of group dialogic acts and self‐reported cognitive load showed that a semantic diagram tool can decrease transaction costs during CPS. It can thereby help collaborators invest less effort into those procedural conversations that are necessary for managing social interaction but which do not directly contribute to deepening collaborative learning in the task domain. Data analysis of pretested and posttested domain understanding suggested that learners achieved a greater depth of understanding after CPS supported by the semantic diagram tool. These findings are interpreted in terms of CLT. A semantic diagram tool can release the learner's limited working memory from procedural conversation, creating more working memory capacity for deepening problem understanding. Therefore, this study demonstrates one means whereby a semantic diagram tool functions as a promising technological support to structure CPS. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Group coordination and communication are conducted with a cost, which may impede learning.From the point of cognitive load theory, deep learning would occur when extraneous cognitive load is reduced to its minimal in the learning context.External representations have a positive effect on the cognitive and social dimensions of learning.What this paper adds: Semantic diagram tools can decrease transaction costs during collaborative problem solving (CPS) learning process.Semantic diagram tools can deepen student understanding during CPS.Implications for practice and/or policy: Semantic diagram tools with conceptual and sociocognitive support of CPS are a promising way to stimulate deep learning.The combination of CLT and sociocultural theory is a promising way to deepen our general theoretical understanding of social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of students' flipped learning readiness (FLR) on engagement, programming self‐efficacy, attitude towards programming, and interaction intensity in the information and technology classrooms where programming is taught with the flipped classroom (FC) model. The study group of this research, which is designed by the relational screening method, consists of 371 students studying in middle school. Structural equation model was used for the data analysis. The results of the study revealed that FLR and its indicators in the programming teaching conducted with the FC model are significant predictors of engagement, attitude, programming self‐efficacy, and interaction intensity. FLR is most strongly related to programming self‐efficacy, whereas it is most weakly related to interaction. The most striking result of this study is that the FC model is an effective option in terms of providing engagement, interaction, self‐efficacy, and learner attitude, which are the key components for the success of the instruction. It is thought that this study assists to create an awareness on the impact of FLR on students, on subjects that frame in‐class attitudes, and behaviours of students. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Programming skills are important for the acquisition of basic skills of the 21st century.Flipped learning is an opportunity for effective programming teaching.Flipped learning readiness (FLR) has an important role in FC.However, in order for effective face‐to‐face learning to take place, it is crucial that students are able to take on the responsibility of learning outside the classroom, that is, the e‐learning readiness of their students. What this paper adds: We use FC applications in teaching programming to children.We have examined the key variables to be successful in a course involving the teaching of complex skills such as programming with FC.We brought proposals for practical education and researchers to be carried out programming instruction in FC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of web‐based teaching on paediatric nursing internship students' self‐confidence and anxiety levels in the clinical decision‐making process. The study sample consisted of 61 students who received internship training in the Pediatric Nursing department. There were 30 students in the control group and 31 students in the experimental group. Data were collected using a sociodemographic form, and nursing anxiety and self‐confidence levels were measured using a clinical decision‐making scale. The data were analysed using a t test, a Mann‐Whitney U test, a correlation analysis, and a regression analysis, along with power and effect size. The self‐confidence scores of the experimental group were higher than the scores of the control group (p < 0.05), and the anxiety scores of the experimental group were lower than the scores of the control group (p < 0.05). The web‐based training program accounted for 17.8% of the change in self‐confidence and 12.8% of the change in anxiety level. Therefore, the web‐based training program was effective in increasing nursing students' self‐confidence levels and decreasing their anxiety levels in the clinical decision‐making process. Lay Description: Problem There is a general lack of an identified theoretical framework of "Effect of Web‐Based Education on Self‐Confidence and Anxiety Levels of Pediatric Nursing Interns in Clinical Decision‐Making Process."What is already known Web‐based education are effective educational methods to improve the learning outcome through nursing intern student knowledge and practice. But there is not enough information about the effect of web‐based education on self‐confidence and anxiety levels of paediatric nursing interns in clinical decision‐making process.What this paper adds This study provides evidence for web‐based education effect the self‐confidence and anxiety levels of paediatric nursing interns in clinical decision‐making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Virtual reality can be a useful substitute to improve nursing education outside of the hospital setting. In the wake of COVID‐19, an opportunity to compare a virtual reality activity for nursing students in the traditional classroom and in an online environment took place. Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the effects of incorporating a virtual reality activity into the traditional classroom and in an online environment to enhance nursing education. Methods: Fifty nursing students participated in an exploratory descriptive study. Twenty‐five students participated face‐to‐face while in the traditional classroom setting and 25‐students participated in an online environment using a communication platform. Through a virtual reality activity, nursing students successfully created a tour which demonstrated identifying infectious sites in a hospital room setting. Results and Conclusions: Results of the pre‐and post‐test showed students' positive perceptions and performances in both traditional classroom and online settings. However, the study revealed a statistical difference between the two group perceptions towards the use of the virtual reality tour creator. Nursing students who were in the traditional classroom group found that the use the virtual reality tour creator was easier. Implications: Designing a meaningful virtual reality activity has a positive impact of the student learning experience. Students may benefit from a more through orientation to the technology prior to engaging in the activity. A carefully constructed activity can enhance student learning outside of the hospital room. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic?: Virtual reality can be applied to nursing education with a positive impact on the student learning experience.Nursing students perceived the virtual reality learning activity useful to substitute for in‐hospital training. What this paper adds?: Virtual reality learning activities can help promote nursing performance in both the traditional classroom and online settings.Students can have similar academic performance between the classroom and online modes despite having different experiences. Implications for practice and/or policy: Virtual reality integration might be implemented by pre‐training to make sure students are comfortable with the technology before jumping into course activities.The instructional design and delivery of a virtual reality learning activity greatly influenced the students' learning experiences, rather than the use of virtual reality technology itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emergency remote teaching refers to the unanticipated, involuntary shift to a virtual learning environment due to, for example, a natural disaster or political instability. The sudden nature of this transition creates additional challenges to effective learning. In this article, we investigate one such challenge, namely the potential for teacher–student miscommunication. We report on a study involving 674 language learners and 61 language teachers. The participants were asked to rate a number of education‐related ١problems that could potentially arise in the context of emergency remote teaching. Learners rated these concerns in terms of the extent to which they had actually experienced them, while teachers were asked to rate the extent to which they perceived these to be concerns for their students. The results showed that teachers believed that students required additional training on using learning management systems, that students did not take online teaching seriously, and that emergency remote teaching would encourage students to cheat. Students disagreed with these statements (ds = 0.53–0.65). We discuss the implications of these teacher–learner discrepancies in light of the need for explicit guidelines and clearer expectations of students during online learning and assessment. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topic: Understanding students' perceptions about the learning process is important.Improving the fit between learner perceptions and the learning environment facilitates better learning. What their paper adds: Teachers underestimate their learners' skillfulness in technology.Teachers do not think that students take online learning seriously.Teachers think that online learning will encourage students to cheat.Students disagree with all of these three points. Implications of study findings for practitioners: Teachers should set explicit guidelines and clearer expectations of students during online learning and assessment, to avoid subjectively labelling students as unserious or lazy.Teachers should try to ensure that learners' expectations match the actual expectations of the online course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-aged children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have delayed gestural development, in comparison with age-matched typically developing children. In this study, an intervention program taught children with low-functioning ASD gestural comprehension and production using video modelling (VM) by a computer-generated robot animation. Six to 12-year-old children with ASD ( N = 20; IQ < 70) were taught to recognize 20 gestures produced by the robot animation (phase I), to imitate these gestures (phase II) and to produce them in appropriate social contexts (phase III). Across the three phases, significant differences were found between the results of the pretest and the immediate and follow-up posttests; the results of both posttests were comparable, after controlling for the children's motor and visual memory skills. The children generalized their acquired gestural skills to a novel setting with a human researcher. These results suggest that VM by a robot animation is effective in teaching children with low-functioning ASD to recognize and produce gestures. Lay Description What is already known about this topic: Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have difficulties with nonverbal communication., Children with ASD have difficulties in recognizing and producing gestures., What this paper adds: A multiphase therapeutic intervention program using video modelling (VM) of robot animation is effective to promoting the gestural communication skills, both recognition and production, in children with low-functioning ASD., Children with ASD have improved their skills to recognize the taught gestures (phase I), imitate them (phase II) and produce them in appropriate social contexts (phase III)., Children with ASD are able to generalize the acquired skills to human-to-human interactions after the intervention program., Implications for practice and/or policy: VM of a robot animation is effective in teaching children with low-functioning ASD both gesture recognition and gesture production., The multiphase therapeutic intervention protocol can be recommended for clinicians or teachers in special schools to teach children with low-functioning ASD gestural communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context‐aware ubiquitous learning (CAUL) technology provides language learners with interactive learning environments and has been found to increase learning effectiveness and self‐efficacy due to student interaction, discussion and evaluation of the entire learning process. This study used a mobile‐based ubiquitous learning system combined with a collaborative learning approach to develop Fitness‐specific English listening and reading, and fitness knowledge. The researchers recruited two groups of participants, an individual learning group (N = 31) and a collaborative learning group (N = 30), and evaluated their learning performance via pre‐and post‐tests. In addition, a questionnaire explored the perceived usefulness, usability, follow‐up intention of using the system and self‐efficacy regarding fitness‐specific English. The results show that both groups improved fitness‐specific English in terms of listening and reading comprehension. Moreover, collaborative learning was found to facilitate fitness‐specific knowledge, and those in the collaborative learning group improved their self‐efficacy more than those in the individual learning group. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Computer assisted ubiquitous language learning (CAULL) can assist English learners in developing receptive language skills.CAULL has been successfully applied in various authentic learning environments including university campuses, a fitness centre and a green technology building.CAULL has been accepted by university undergraduates as an effective, interesting and motivating learning system. What this paper adds: A Fitness‐based English ubiquitous learning (FBEUL) system was successfully adapted for collaborative learning.Collaborative learning is as effective or more effective than individual learning for developing receptive English skills and subject (fitness‐based) knowledge.The collaborative learning group improved their fitness‐based self‐efficacy significantly more than the individual learning group. Implications for practice and/or policy: A collaborative learning approach can be successfully integrated into CAULL to cultivate ESP listening and reading comprehension, and subject‐specific knowledge.Collaborative learning in a CAULL environment promotes student self‐efficacy which may result in better learning outcomes and increased autonomy.System designers and ESP instructor can apply the CAULL system to other environments to motivate students and develop authentic language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-dimensional scale to measure students' awareness of key competencies for M-learning and to test its reliability and validity. The Key Competencies of Mobile Learning Scale (KCMLS) was determined via confirmatory factor analysis to have four dimensions: team collaboration, creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving, and communication. The research subjects are 815 students from the elementary school that participate in M-learning programme in Taiwan. The research results show that students have better self-awareness in team collaboration and creative thinking, but have worse self-awareness in critical thinking and problem solving. This study also found that there was no significant difference between genders in the KCMLS, but students who study in the schools that committed in M-learning longer have higher awareness in all dimensions than students who study in the schools that committed to M-learning in fewer years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschool children's vocabulary mainly develops verbal through interaction. Therefore, the technology-enhanced storytelling (TES) activity Jeffy's Journey is developed to support parent-child interaction and vocabulary in preschool children. TES entails shared verbal storytelling supported by a story structure and real-time visual, auditory and textual prompts on a tablet computer. In this exploratory study, we investigated how TES influenced parent-child interaction and vocabulary. An experimental pretest-intervention-posttest design was followed with 44 3-year-old children and their parents in the experimental group and 27 peers in the control group. Results revealed that TES stimulated active child involvement and generated parent-child interaction, yet a great variety in TES characteristics both in time spent and usage of prompts was found among participants. Dyads that spent more time on story phases showed more and higher quality parent-child interaction. The usage of prompts was associated with improved parent-child interaction quality. Finally, an effect of TES was evidenced on children's productive vocabulary knowledge. To conclude, this study demonstrates that TES can be considered as a promising context for fostering parent-child interaction and children's vocabulary development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research develops a Web-based argumentation system named the Web-based Interactive Argumentation System ( WIAS). WIAS can provide teachers with the scaffolding for argumentation instruction. Students can propose their statements, collect supporting evidence and share and discuss with peers online. This research adopts a quasi-experimental design, applying WIAS to the teaching of environmental issues, including mudslides, global warming and nuclear power. Fifty-seven elementary school fifth graders from two classes participated in this research. With each class as a unit, they were divided into the WIAS group ( n = 30) and the traditional argumentation instruction ( TAI) group ( n = 27). Before research, all students took the pre-test of the 'achievement test for environmental issues ( ATEI)' and the 'environmental literacy scale ( ELS).' Then all students received argumentation training and six classes of argumentation instruction. Students in the WIAS group performed argumentation in the WIAS, while those in the TAI group performed argumentation in a traditional classroom. After the six-class argumentation instruction, all students took the post-test of the ATEI and ELS. The results show that students in the WIAS group have significantly better learning effectiveness than those in the TAI group. Students in the WIAS group also exhibited significantly better improvement in their environmental literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]