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Empirical evidence on the e-learning adoption in the field of special education is quite limited. Path modelling in particular draws attention as an important methodological gap. Therefore, a model that can provide a theoretical basis for practice in special education has the potential to make significant contributions. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing the intention to use e-learning systems by proposing an extended technology acceptance model for special education. The participant group consisted of 1713 university students with special needs receiving education through the e-learning systems of a state university. For analysing the data, partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used. The results showed that the model explained 76.9% of intention to use e-learning systems. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness had the strongest relationship in the model while that between perceived enjoyment and behavioural intention represented the strongest relationship in terms of influence on intention. In addition, hypothesis tests revealed that both social and individual-emotional factors affected intention to use e-learning, and constructs that provide intrinsic motivation and constructs of extrinsic motivation associated with performance improvement play a critical role in e-learning adoption. Accordingly, implications for research and practice are discussed. Implications for practice or policy: • It is critical for instructional designers, special education experts and policymakers to consider the effects of core acceptance constructs, both in terms of competence in and tendency to use e-learning systems. • E-learning system designs that can meet the expectations arising from social norms and can contribute to strengthening the sense of belonging may have a crucial role. • It is vital to consider the enjoyment elements in terms of ensuring quality learning through online education. © Articles published in the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology (AJET) are available under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives Licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Authors retain copyright in their work and grant AJET right of first publication under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0., Anadolu Üniversitesi, Anadolu, The authors thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their outstanding feedback on the previous versions of the manuscript. This study represents a part of research conducted by the Social Media and Digital Safety Education, Practice & Research Center, Anadolu University.

The number of studies providing empirical evidence on e-learning in the field of special education is limited. From this point of view, the aim of this study is to examine whether the factors influencing the e-learning adoption of university students with disability differ according to the type of disability and gender. The participants of the study consist of 809 university students with a single disability (orthopaedic, visual or hearing). Confirmatory factor analysis and two-way ANOVA were used in the analysis of the study. The factor analysis showed that validity and reliability of the measurement tool was established and the model fit was good. The results revealed that for all dependent variables (social influence, self-efficacy, compatibility and facilitating conditions), students with orthopaedic disability and visual impairment had higher scores than students with hearing impairment. On the other hand, contrary to expectations, there was no difference between students with orthopaedic disability and students with visual impairment in any of the factors according to the type of disability. In addition, none of the factors differed by gender. The findings provide empirical evidence that can contribute to the planning of online education processes of students with disability by revealing the similarities and differences in the use of e-learning systems according to the type of disability. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic The field of special education deals with the special needs of individuals and frequently uses technology to provide the support they need. It is observed that educational processes have been moved to online environments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the field of education nowadays and e-learning systems in online environments have become indispensable for students with special needs. With their flexible structure, e-learning systems create universal and inclusive learning environments for all students. Accessibility and special education adaptations are needed for individuals with special needs to use e-learning systems effectively. For this, first of all, the effects of the disabilities of these individuals in using e-learning systems should be determined. What this paper adds The results showed that social influence, self-efficacy, compatibility, and facilitating conditions all differed significantly by type of disability. The research findings revealed that all factors differed significantly in terms of orthopaedic and visual impairment versus hearing impairment. The main contribution of the study can be summarized as investigating the relationships between technology adoption and types of disability with empirical evidence and the fact that the implications and inferences made for theory and practice have the potential to make critical contributions to technology acceptance and use of individuals with special needs. It can be stated that the tool adapted in this study offers a valid and reliable tool for future studies with university students with special needs. Implications for practice and/or policy There is a need for considering the individual differences of participants and adaptations for hearing in the adoption of e-learning systems. Individual differences should be taken into account in the designs of e-learning systems, and user-oriented designs should be given priority. It can be mentioned that providing subtitle support for live lessons and recorded videos for the hearing impairment and adding sign and text support to the audio stimuli, providing screen readers for the visual impairment in the e-learning system can make valuable contributions to improving the quality of education., SODIGEM, We thank the students with special needs registered in the Anadolu University Open Education System who participated in this research and SODIGEM for their support in the conduct of the study.

There is a growing interest in open and distance learning with the advances in information and communication technologies and demand for lifelong learning. In open and distance learning, the learner is thought to be responsible for his or her own learning life. Throughout their learning life, individuals have to drop out their education or leave their education due to different reasons. For determining the reasons about dropping out education will provide important information for the solution of these problems. There isn’t any comprehensive study about dropping out education in the open and distance education system in Turkey. In this study, the literature about dropping out education were examined and the reasons for dropping out were tried to be determined according to these researches. The reasons for dropping out in the literature were discussed within the developed theories on this subject and the factors causing drop out in open and distance learning were examined. It is very important to identify the reasons for dropping out the education and to develop solutions. The aim of this study is to provide a theoretical background to the studies to be done about dropping out in open and distance learning. In addition, suggestions have been made to solve the reasons about dropping out education are given in the literature.

This study aims to reveal the numerical change of the number of open education system students according to the central placement examination. Between 2015-2018, the numerical change of the Open Education Faculty students enrolled in the higher education system was examined in the context of central placement examination. In the study examining how the changes in the central examinations applied to the transition to higher education affect the quotas and settlement rates of the faculties of open education, number of students in higher education, number of students in open education, number of students in associate degree and bachelor's degree programs, number of students, quota and number of vacancies were investigated. Anadolu University, Atatürk University and İstanbul University, which have open education faculty, constitute the scope of the research. The distribution of the number of distance education students in 2015-2018 years in three universities in research and higher education system that rates in Turkey were also discussed. Quotas and settlement rates were examined statistically by years. It is thought that the results of the research will guide the decision makers about opening new programs in open education faculties, program quotas and legal regulations., Açıköğretim sistemi öğrenci sayılarının, merkezi yerleştirme sınavına göre sayısal değişimini ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlayan bu çalışmada, 2015-2018 yılları arasında yükseköğretim sistemine kayıtlı Açıköğretim Fakültesi öğrencilerinin sayısal değişimi merkezi yerleştirme sınavı bağlamında incelenmiştir. Yükseköğretime geçişte uygulanan merkezi sınav uygulamalarındaki değişimlerin, açıköğretim fakültelerinin kontenjan ve yerleşim oranlarını nasıl etkilediğinin de incelendiği çalışmada, ilgili yıllarda yükseköğretimdeki öğrenci sayıları, açıköğretim öğrenci sayıları, ön lisans ve lisans düzeyinde eğitim veren programlarına yerleşen öğrenci sayıları, kontenjanlar ve boş kalan kontenjanlardaki değişim araştırılmıştır. Açıköğretim yoluyla eğitim-öğretim yapan fakültesi bulunan Anadolu Üniversitesi, Atatürk Üniversitesi ve İstanbul Üniversitesi araştırmanın kapsamını oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada üç üniversitedeki 2015-2018 yılları arasında açıköğretim öğrenci sayılarının dağılımı ve Türkiye yükseköğretim sistemi içerisindeki oranları ele alınmıştır. Yıllara göre kontenjanlar ve yerleşme oranları istatistiksel olarak incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarının açıköğretim fakültelerinde yeni programlar açılması, program kontenjanları ve yasal düzenlemeler konusunda karar vericilere yol göstereceği düşünülmektedir.

E-öğrenme sistemleri esnek yapısıyla özel gereksinimli öğrenciler için zamandan ve mekândan bağımsız öğrenme ortamları sunmaktadır. Bu ortamların özel gereksinimli öğrenciler için etkili olabilmesinde onların bireysel gereksinimlerini dikkate alan tasarımlar kritik role sahiptir. Bu araştırmanın amacı Türkiye’de özel gereksinimli üniversite öğrencilerinin büyük kısmına hizmet sunan Anadolu Üniversitesi Açıköğretim Sistemi “Engelsiz Açıköğretim Fakültesi (AÖF)” web sayfası ve çevrimiçi öğrenme ortamı olarak “e-Kampüs” sistemine yönelik kullanıcı deneyimlerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu bağlamda destek gereksinimlerinin, güçlüklerin ve çözüm önerilerinin ortaya konması çalışma amaçları arasındadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda çalışmada nitel ve nicel veri toplama tekniklerinin işe koşulduğu durum çalışması deseni kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın nicel aşamasına 9513 özel gereksinimli öğrenci, nitel aşamasına 20 görme yetersizliği olan öğrenci olmak üzere toplam 9533 öğrenci katılmıştır. Araştırma bulgularına göre özel gereksinimli öğrenciler kullandıkları web sayfası ve e-Kampüs sisteminin kullanımının kolay olduğunu, aradıkları içerikleri kolaylıkla bulabildiklerini, web sayfasından diğer hizmetlere (AKADEMA, Otomasyon vb.) erişebildiklerini ve faydalı içerikler (önlisans ve lisans programları) sunulduğunu bildirmiştir. Öte yandan güçlük yaşanan konular arasında mobil uygulama giriş ekranını kullanımı, çağrı merkezine erişimde ve e-Kampüs’te bazı içeriklere erişim gibi durumlara yer verilmiştir. Görme yetersizliği olan katılımcılar canlı derslere erişimin kolaylaştırılması, çevrimiçi sınavlarda metinlerin büyütülmesi ve ek süre verilmesi, giriş sayfasına sesli yönlendirmelerin eklenmesi ve sesli anlatımların artırılması konularına ilişkin gereksinimler noktasında destek talep etmişlerdir. Çalışmada katılımcıların gereksinim duyduğu bu destek alanları ve sözü edilen güçlüklerin giderilmesine yönelik çözüm önerileri bulgular ve ilgili alanyazın temelinde tartışılmıştır., E-learning systems with its flexible structure offer learning environments independent of time and place for students with special needs. The effectiveness of these environments for students with special needs depends on the creation of designs that consider their individual needs. The aim of this research is to reveal the needs, difficulties, and solution suggestions by determining the user experiences for the "e-Campus" system as the web page of the Anadolu University Open Education System "Barrier-Free Open Education Faculty (OEF)", which provides services to most university students with special needs in Turkey, and the online learning environment. For this purpose, a case study design, in which qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques are used together, was used. A total of 9533 students, including 9513 students with special needs and 20 visually impaired students, participated in the quantitative stage of the study. According to the findings of the research, students with special needs reported that the web page and e-Campus system they use are easy to use, they can easily find the content they are looking for, they can access other services from the web page and offer useful content. On the other hand, difficulties in using the mobile application login screen, accessing the call center, and accessing some content on the e-Campus were mentioned among the issues encountered. The visually impaired participants requested support for facilitating access to live lectures, enlarging the texts in online exams, and giving additional time, adding voice prompts to the entry page, and increasing audio narrations. In line with these supports required by the participants and the literature, solution suggestions to overcome the difficulties were discussed

Within the scope of this study, it was aimed to determine the factors that should be considered regarding the usability and security of online test applications used as an assessment and evaluation tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the case study method was used to obtain the opinions of field experts. Furthermore, in this study, using the focus group interview technique as a data collection technique, the criterion sampling method, one of the purposeful sampling methods, was used to determine participants. At this point, it was taken into consideration that the participants were experts in the field of open and distance learning. In this regard, a total of 15 field experts who have experienced online test during the emergency distance education period at Anadolu University, Turkey contributed to the focus group interviews consisting of three groups. The results obtained at the end of the study offer solutions for the usability of online test applications, the use of which has increased with the pandemic process and ensuring the security of these applications.

Quantum mechanical calculations of ground state energy, vibration wavenumbers, and electronic absorption wavelengths of N '-[(Z)-(4-methylphenyl)methylidene]-4-nitrobenzohydrazide with C15H13N3O3 empirical formula was performed by using Gaussian 09 program. Becke's three-parameter exchange functional in conjunction with the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional and Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof functional levels of density functional theory (DFT) with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set were used in the performing of above mentioned calculations. The highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO and LUMO) energies have been also calculated at the same levels. Stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interactions and charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior of the title molecule has been examined by the determining of electric dipole moment (mu), polarizability (alpha), and static first-order hyperpolarizability (beta). Finally, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface as well as Mulliken and NBO atomic charges were calculated by using Gaussian 09 program.

WOS: 000450369300007, This study aims to predict the final exam scores and pass/fail rates of the students taking the Basic Information Technologies -1 (BIL101U) course in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years in the Open Education System of Anadolu University, through Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). In this research, data about the demographics, educational background, BIL101U course mid-term, final and success scores of 626,478 students was collected and purged. Data of 195,584 students, obtained after this process was analysed through Multilayer Perception (MLP) and Radial Basis Function (RBF) models. Sixteen different networks attained through the combination of ANN parameters were used to predict the final exam scores and pass/fail rates of the students. As a result of the analyses, it was found out that networks established through MLPs make more exact predictions. In the prediction of the final exam scores, it was determined that there is a low level of correlation between the actual scores and predicted scores. In the analyses for the prediction of pass/fail rates of the students, networks established through MLPs ensured more exact prediction results. Moreover, it was determined that the variables as mid-term exam scores, university entrance scores and secondary school graduation year were of highest importance in explaining the final exam scores and pass/fail rates of the students. It was found out that in the higher institutions serving for Open and Distance Learning, pass/fail state of the students can be predicted through ANN under favour of variables of students which have been found as most the important predictors., Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission, This research was produced from master's thesis titled "Predicting Achievement with Artificial Neural Networks: The Case of Anadolu University Open Education System" by Hilal S. Yildiz Aybek in supervising of M. Recep Okur, and supported by Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission.

Though first appeared in 1971, digital book technology has evolved especially since 2000s and it is relatively a new research area. Therefore, to better understand this phenomenon, a quantitative survey research was conducted in 2015 spring term in a state university in Turkey. The objective of the study is to explain current state of digital books within post-graduate students’ perspectives and to identify post-graduate student’s perceptions, attitudes and preferences related to digital books. In this regard, this research presents results of the survey. A total of 135 post-graduate students responded the questionnaire. The data regarding use of digital books in addition to demographics was collected through an online questionnaire and the findings were analyzed through descriptive statistics. In this sense, post-graduate students’ use of digital books, purposes to use, preferred devices, and most used features of digital books were examined. In addition to these questions, reasons not to use digital books and post-graduate students’ future attitude whether to use digital books or not were further investigated. Additionally, research directions for future implications were provided.