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Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are online-based teaching programs designed to accommodate thousands of students without charging any fees. They began appearing in 2009 and 2010, became popular for a while, but are in decline now. This paper contains bibliometric and systematic reviews of research on MOOCs to see what can be learned from the innovation. The primary goals of these reviews are (1) to bibliometrically chart the research conducted on MOOCs and highlight significant milestones, (2) to reveal themes in MOOC research and discover key lessons, and (3) to surface any management education-specific lessons. The results show an increasing interest in scholarly work on MOOCs that demonstrates an enduring interest in reducing drop-out rates, although remedies have not yet been found. Studies demonstrate the importance of increasing opportunities for engagement and interaction. Few studies have explored MOOCs related to business and management. As universities have sought to monetize MOOCs, they have become less massive and less open as key components like credit and certification have been placed behind pay walls. The paper concludes with a critical discussion of MOOC research that suggests that they were a fad whose time has come and gone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based tourism (CBT) is part of East Asia's tourism landscape as local communities seek to diversify their livelihoods towards tourism. However, little is known about the evolution of research surrounding CBT in the region. Through undertaking a bibliometric analysis of 401 Scopus-indexed articles, this research found that CBT practices have increasingly questioned the legitimacy and authenticity of its value to local communities. Findings also illustrated most studies centred on China, and co-authorship networks mostly occurring between research supervisors and their students. Theoretical and practical insights to advance CBT research in East Asia are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Demand for online education has increased in recent decades. Uptake of postgraduate nursing education in this mode is on the rise, yet many students do not achieve completion. Student engagement is vital to success in online postgraduate nursing programs. Technology enables a more efficient means of monitoring engagement, yet limited literature is available on how the design of online postgraduate nursing programs impacts student engagement. This integrative review aims to identify barriers and facilitators to engaging in online postgraduate nursing programs. Four databases, including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Education Resources Information Center, Scopus, and Medline, were systematically searched to identify relevant literature published over the period 1990 to 2022. Fifteen papers met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis generated three themes: design and delivery, support and connectivity, and student factors and success. The findings of this review uncover the range of indiscriminate variables and experiences that students have with online learning, making engaging instructional design a complex process. Nursing faculty require time and resources to develop skills specific to delivering "distance" education without being distant to the students. This review concludes that online postgraduate nursing programs are not a panacea, with ethical issues identified for higher education providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homework as an essential component of the academic process supports teaching and learning by consolidating what the students learn in class and promoting their study skills and self-paced work capacities. While homework characteristics and its efficacy are reported to be interrelated, there is a lacuna in the research on the effectiveness of homework policy in learning outcomes in online classes, particularly under adverse conditions. As a result, the current study investigated the effects of homework policy (leniency vs. strictness) on EFL learners literacy (reading and writing) development, focusing on their academic self-regulation (ASR) level in a distance learning course amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were gathered from 36 K-10 students organized into homework packet and homework leniency groups. Their literacy skills and ASR were assessed before and after the study. Due to schools closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, both groups participated in distance learning courses delivered via the national mobile-based LMS. The results of the two-way Analysis of Variance primarily revealed a significant development in the reading and writing skills of the homework-packet group. Despite the marginal difference between the reading performance of high and low self-regulated participants of both homework conditions at the end of the study, a significant difference in the development of the writing skills of high self-regulated participants of the homework-packet condition was observed. The critical role of homework strictness in online courses and promoting learners' self-regulation skills to benefit from the assigned homework, particularly in teaching writing, is underscored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional classes are typically bound both in the classroom space and scheduled time. In this article, I show how applying an online learning framework called the Community of Inquiry and an organizational architecture of matrixed teams has worked in a face-to-face capstone class and extended those boundaries. These were introduced as an alternative to a case-based writing course as a means of getting more engagement, better thinking, and better papers from students. Matrixed teams involve assigning students to both a semester long team organized around a complex and detailed group paper and, at the same time, to a topic analysis team that fed the content for the paper. In order to support this inquiry, I also used a social media platform called Yammer to cultivate conversations outside the normal class hours that capitalized on in-class work. The approach has been effective: Participation is both deeper in topics and includes more people than in traditional classes. Furthermore, the quality of the written work is significantly better in structure and content, particularly with students at the lower end of the classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on higher education worldwide. In particular, the situation can be more crucial for electrical power engineering education due to the importance of the direct relationship between the students and their instructor embodied in the campus' classroom interaction and the requisite face-to-face learning. Apparently, e-learning instructional design has provided a fairly accepted solution through online lectures and exams for power engineering courses. Nevertheless, the difficulty persists in moving the experiment equipment of the laboratories to the homes of the students since most experiments were likely to be carried out on the University campus' dedicated power system panels. An urgent and reduced cost solution is therefore needed. This paper introduces a shortcut design method as a compensatory solution at no extra cost, which during this challenging period is suitable for teaching power system labs and also suitable for full online education programs. The work presented in the paper goes beyond that to discuss the relevance to ABET student outcomes. Two experiments are presented in the PowerWorld Simulator environment with systematic steps to facilitate the expansion of the rest of the laboratory experiments. The method is based on the simulation of a textbook example and the verification of results from another textbook followed by a discussion of the relevant students' outcomes of ABET. The paper may be used as an educational guide for instructors in the following academic year in institutions that embrace distance learning programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper expands on the potential of using Augmented Reality (AR) for the design and customization of bridges. Following a literature review on the use of AR in architectural design, and in particular in design education, the authors discuss educational experiences gained in two digital design studios. These two courses were taught remotely at the University of Thessaly and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and cross-informed each other. The teaching experiences of the authors were evaluated and subsequently used to develop the curriculum of "Augmented Bridges", an experimental AR design studio. The aim of the paper is to present current research in AR and the interactive design process of site-specific bridges, using digital and augmented media. The studio results offered valuable insight into the educational and creative value of AR technologies in architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to describe how organizational members develop a mindset that enables mindful operations in extreme contexts. Scholars have been divided over how collective mindfulness can be achieved. The literature on High Reliability Organizations (HROs) argues for heterogeneity through promoting skepticism, diversity, and dissent. Yet, studies on organizing in extreme contexts emphasize cohesion as a precondition for collective action under extreme circumstances. Thus, organizational members face competing needs for cohesion (integration) and heterogeneity (diversity). This longitudinal study of military officers joining Dutch crisis management organizations shows how they resolve this tension. Mindful members combine functional distance with social integration, mediated by a considerate approach based on sensitivity, tact, and trust. This mindset is gradually developed after a process that is initially characterized by fragmentation and inner struggles. When successful, organizational members cultivate a mindful mindset and contribute to reliable performance in extreme contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brand extensions strategies are aimed at extracting further value from an existing brand. The brand family metaphor, which has resonated with marketing scholars and practitioners for decades, has promulgated the use of analogies such as parents, siblings and off-spring to describe resulting brand-to-brand relationships. In this paper however, we question whether this metaphor and its analogical mappings, still hold relevance given we are in an 'era of liquid modernity' (Bauman, 2000) where notions of family may be less prescriptive. Through our analysis of interview data with practitioners who work on literary film adaptations, we found that the relationships among original and extended brands may be better conceptualised using an alternative metaphor: 'brand for rent'. Our analysis revealed that in many contemporary brand-to-brand relationships, the relationship between the two brands is not solid, but rather fluid with a 'distance' between them; and the relationship contractual rather than familial. Our findings indicate that this alternative metaphor may have particular merit as marketplaces adapt to increasingly fluid contexts, where novel brand extension strategies and brand-to-brand relationships are emerging. We suggest further exploration of the metaphor and consideration of others, to further assist to theorise the diversity in contemporary brand extension practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry and higher education are increasingly utilizing online environments due to digitalization. As a result, the learning experiences in these new digital learning ecosystems as communities must be re-examined critically. This study incorporates the second cycle of the design-based research (DBR) study developing the design principles and theoretical framework for a digital learning ecosystem in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) engineering education in Lapland University of Applied Sciences (UAS), Finland. This cycle examines students' learning experiences in a project and Industry 4.0-based approach in a digital learning ecosystem with authentic industry assignments and involvement. The study examines the learning experiences of ICT engineering students in a project and Industry 4.0-based approach in a digital environment with authentic industry assignments and involvement. The study was carried out using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) approach. Rasch Rating Scale Model was used to analyse first-, second-, and third-year students' responses to a translated and adapted CoI questionnaire. Open-ended questions were added to the questionnaire, which was then analysed using content analysis. The results indicate that students perceived project-based learning in an online setting positively. However, the findings point to issues with social interactions and the actual application of learnt knowledge and skills. Challenges in task management and scheduling, as well as receiving feedback, had a somewhat negative impact on the learning experience, particularly during the first year of study. Finally, this paper concludes by presenting a visual model summarizing the design framework developed through a broader DBR study informed by the previous DBR cycles. The findings may benefit practitioners in developing similar communities and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Even before COVID-19, enrolments in online postgraduate nursing and midwifery courses were growing globally. Teaching into planned online courses requires pedagogical considerations unique to the context. Objective: The objective of this descriptive mixed methods study was to understand the experiences and needs of Australian online educators who taught into planned online postgraduate nursing or midwifery courses. Methods: A 55-item online survey captured the experiences and needs of participants. This paper reports on the analysis of participants' qualitative responses in this survey, analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Forty-nine postgraduate educators participated in this study. Results: Five core themes were identified: time is precious; redefining the educator role; understanding the pedagogical shift; online and alone; and learning to teach online. Many educators report lacking the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality education to postgraduate students through their fingertips. Conclusion: This research highlighted that online educators need support through resources, education, and professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper employed instructors' views to address the facilitating and complicating factors in distance teaching of Turkish. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview form consisting of five questions. The questions were designed by the author and reviewed by two Turkish language teaching specialists. The data were collected through one-on-one online interviews with the participants over Microsoft Teams. To increase the reliability, the participants' responses, deciphered by the author one Turkish language teaching specialist were explored for interrater consistency. According to the formula proposed by Miles and Huberman, the consistency was found to be 0.94. Accordingly, the difficulties in distance teaching of Turkish were addressed within two themes: technical and teaching-oriented problems. Yet, the participants brought positive remarks on personal, technological, and financial aspects of distance Turkish teaching. Besides, the emerging views regarding educational materials were grouped under distance education platforms and digital tools. The measurement and evaluation problems were also discussed under the reliability of exams and types of language skills assessment. Finally, the recommendations brought by the instructors for distance Turkish teaching were themed under three headings: recommendations for technology, materials, and practice. Overall, future comparative research may employ a larger sample of instructors working in other Turkish language centers and compare the findings. Moreover, further research may seek the attitudes of larger groups of instructors within a quantitative design to suggest more generalizable results. Or, the subject may be addressed by mixed-design research to bring a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote schooling has increased in prevalence. Although remote schooling may feel novel, remote and online educational requirements have been consistent parts of the educational landscape for years. Remote schooling increases learning opportunities within the home, magnifying the need for home–school collaborations to support the academic and socio-emotional development of marginalized learners in urban settings, particularly multiply marginalized learners such as students classified as English learners who also have a high incidence disability (e.g., learning disability, speech and language impairment, autism spectrum disorder). Much policy and practice around remote schooling centers on ensuring students have access to devices and technology; little consideration is given to what happens after devices are distributed, especially within culturally and linguistically diverse households. This paper explores considerations to be made before, during, and after engaging in remote schooling, whether it is for short- or long-term use, to ensure that students who are dually classified are not digitally excluded during remote schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Indonesian MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) aimed to give pre- and in-service English teachers a new online learning experience and equip them to master technological applications for teaching English in class. It has not always been easy for facilitators to assist students to complete MOOC programs. This paper sketches how Indonesian facilitators faced challenges in motivating MOOC students. The experience of facilitators with low and high dropout rates is shown to sharpen and deepen the differences in managing the MOOC program. This study found a relationship between facilitator performance and student retention rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the world faced a sudden change and general disruption that included all aspects of life because of the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. It has made the whole world adopt general and comprehensive emergency measures that have affected every sector, including health, business, and especially education. In order to continue the education process, educators have responded by adopting distance education. This paper explored the attitudes, practices, and emotions of faculty members in a college of education toward the forced adoption and educational transformation to distance education during the corona pandemic. A coding approach was used to analyze 20 reflective articles, which revealed main themes related to difficulties and challenges. The findings highlight skills and experiences that were gained. Hence, the findings promote that faculty members understand professional practices and behaviors in using distance education as an emergency solution for supporting the education process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how parents in Hong Kong perceive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of academic and non-academic private tutoring (PT) for their children, using a thematic analysis of interviews with 80 parents from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. We seek to understand the role of PT in parents' thinking about their children's learning and developmental needs in uncertain times, which foregrounds parents' temporalities in the face of disruption. We find that maintaining pre-pandemic PT levels was the most common attitude for almost half of the sample, followed by roughly similar groups of parents who increased or decreased their use of PT. Parental perceptions of the functions of PT converged on three main uses: mitigating the effects of schooling disruptions, making productive use of newfound free time and providing a sense of normality. Using a timescapes lens, we identify temporal elements in how PT factored into parents' experiences and perceptions of managing 'gained' and 'lost' time, adapting to remote learning, avoiding health risks and reflecting on inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a form of education, distance learning currently shows great promise and the role of online libraries in delivering off-campus information services increases. This paper presents a comparative analysis of measures undertaken by traditional academic libraries in China and Italy in response to pandemic restrictions on educational operations during the lockdown period. The study utilized a specially developed questionnaire, carried out through an online survey, as a means of collecting data from library users (students and teachers). The study population includes 102 random library patrons, including 64 students and 38 teachers who were using services of academic libraries in China at the time. Through comparison with other studies, the quarantine responses of Chinese libraries were identified. The results of the study show that COVID-19 responses of libraries in China went in a direction similar to those in Italy, but the final decisions varied because of different levels of technological development. This knowledge may be used by libraries to identify areas for improvement. The results show that Chinese libraries were more effective in overcoming quarantine restrictions than those in Italy. The overwhelming majority of respondents reported that they had positive experience learning remotely and would not mind if distance learning programs continue to function after the pandemic is over. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this short conference presentation was to highlight the importance of seeking alternative technological approaches to the optimization of university libraries’ resources and services. It discusses briefly the changes that are taking place in universities, and the importance for libraries of being seen to contribute to facilitating those changes. It explains the growing importance of research activity, and the expectations of researchers, an increasingly influential group in universities. It then goes on to outline the potential for increasing collections of electronic information by redirecting some of the effort of the libraries’ staff towards discovering and securing resources that are already available and offer data and information that may be valued by researchers. Finally, it provides a reminder that it is not enough to be good at what you do unless this is recognised, and stresses the importance of networking and advocacy as a means of providing a constant reminder to the influential and decision makers. An earlier version of this paper was presented at ‘Los Sistemas Bibliotecarios – Desarrollo y Perspectivas’ [Library Systems – Development and Perspectives]: 14th International Conference on University Libraries organised by Dirección General de Bibliotecas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 16th to 18th November, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops informed assumptions on the potential loss of trust as an unintended side-effect of the measures in education to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-founded concerns according to which the pandemic-induced closure of educational facilities and the shift to digitalized distance education are contributing to increased social inequality in education serve as a starting point for the argumentation. The paper contends that together with the temporary changes in the style of educational governance, in the medium term an exacerbated social inequality in education can cause a potential trust problem for the central actors imposing the measures. To support this line of reasoning, the exploratory study describes the context conditions which are relevant for the implementation and participation in digitalized distance education (measures, access and competent use of digital devices in education, level of trust) and combines them with the findings of a qualitative analysis of relevant documents from three European countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany). A neo-institutional view is applied to exploring the implications of the changes in education governance and their potential side-effects on trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to higher education is often limited to adults because of their location. This is particularly challenging for adults who live in rural communities and small towns and can lead to unmet expectations. While policy makers have long recognised the potential impact of lifelong education for adults, the educational needs of adults have received relatively less attention. For adults residing in rural areas who rely, more often than not, on distance education, mostly in the form of blended learning there is usually limited access to public universities. For policy makers to respond effectively to the educational needs of the adult population in the rural areas, the first step is to understand the educational barriers of adults living in such areas, particularly as they are constrained with lack of minimal transportation and information communications technology. This paper reports on qualitative research exploring the educational challenges and needs faced by adults in rural areas of Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the distance education course1 opted by several students in higher education. He states that there is an increase in the number of students taking this course. He overviews Quality Matters standards which can guide the selection of learning analytics for evaluating an online course. The author suggests framework and guidelines for developing an online course.

Background: Like many international universities and institutions of higher education that have shifted the entire educational system from the traditional face-to-face education model to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, universities in Saudi Arabia have expended great effort to change the behavior of educators and students to accommodate the transition. This rapid shift has had a significant impact on students, especially in programs such as interior design, in which different practical courses are taught along with the theoretical ones. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the benefits and challenges senior interior design students experienced while taking their classes online. Design and Methods: The current paper has adopted a qualitative approach for assessing the data obtained. Semi-structured interview was used to collect all the needed information regarding participants' opinions about distance learning. Results: Increased time to spend on assignments, reduction of costs to the student, and improvement in achievement of learning outcomes were the three main benefits students reported in their experience of distance learning. On the other hand, technical issues, changes in grade distribution, and changes in project types were identified as student concerns. Although students found many advantages in communicating with others remotely, some issues arose. Conclusions: Students expressed a preference for the hybrid learning method, or at least for having their exams, juries, and presentations on campus in person, not remotely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper celebrates the human factor by describing how our collective vocation towards innovation in design education has inspired the development of an active network across the Americas. Ten years after its creation, the Las Americas Digital Research Network has generated a stream of innovative implementations. This is the first time that the main stream of these research activities is articulated into a peer-reviewed journal publication. The narrative of the paper follows a time-line that starts with the creation of the Las Americas Digital Research Network in 1996. Supported by such a framework the paper continues to describe the implementation of virtual design studios as collaborations nested at the core of the network. Finally, the paper explains how the virtual design studios provide fundamental feasibility for the development of network-mediated distance education curricula in architecture and the opening of a new dimension in the development and deployment of collaborative networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared online study guides to pen-and-paper study guides in terms of academic performance, the amount of time instructors spent grading study guides, and student preferences. Students in 3 sections of a child psychology course used online study guides (n = 46), and students in 3 other sections used pen-and-paper study guides (n = 64). Instructors spent 14.3 hr during the semester grading the pen-and-paper study guides and no time grading the online study guides. Students who used the online study guides reported higher satisfaction than the students who used pen-and-paper study guides. Our results suggest that integrating online study guides saved labor costs and increased student satisfaction while maintaining student performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, e-learning has become pivotal in higher education sectors. Researchers are correlating novel approaches with e-learning to facilitate education. However, despite the increase in e-learning research, there is still a lack of comprehensive literature analysis of e-learning in the higher education sector. Thus, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review of the literature on e-learning in higher education. This study classifies the selected studies according to the focus of the study, utilizes a theoretical model and framework, and research methods. Also, it presents limitations and future research directions of e-learning in the higher education sector. A systematic approach is conducted, and a total of 47 relevant articles published between the year 2011 and 2019 were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings on selected studies focus on the adoption, acceptance, readiness, and user insight, as well as e-learning expansion and challenges in the higher education sector. This study also classified theoretical models and frameworks based on their usage in the pre-adoption, adoption, and post-adoption stages. The findings revealed that most of the theoretical models and frameworks were used at the post-adoption stage. Nevertheless, this study revealed that most of the current studies in this domain were conducted using a quantitative research approach. Finally, this study highlighted limitations and presented possible future research directions as a guide for further enhancement in e-learning and higher education studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the factors contributing towards eLearning knowledge quality based on students' perspective and presents a 5-dimensional scale to evaluate knowledge quality (KQ). It is an extension of our previously published research which had proposed a novel conceptual KQ model. In this paper, we attempt to quantify knowledge quality (KQ), as opposed to adapting data quality (DQ) and information quality (IQ) measurement tools. A qualitative-quantitative sequential mixed-method design was used for the instrument validation. Data was collected at two levels, undergraduate and postgraduate respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 5 dimensional second-order perceived eLearning KQ model – comprising of 33 sub-dimensions. The scale is inclusive of five key dimensions (Intrinsic KQ, Contextual KQ, Representational KQ, Accessible KQ, and Actionable KQ) as measures of quality of knowledge gained from eLearning content. The proposed dimensions are the benchmarks that provide insight to educators and administrators in developing and enhancing e-learning content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of online education compels debate over what accessible higher education should be, how it should be delivered, and whom it should serve. While geographers remain relatively marginal to this debate, they have engaged the question of the neoliberal university, where online education is sometimes characterized as another instantiation of the neoliberal turn. This paper draws geographies of education scholarship into productive conversation with online teaching and learning, critical pedagogy, and public geographies literatures to argue that geographers can reframe the debate over online education and reposition it as a productive space of critical dialogue, inquiry, and encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, computer games and other interactive technologies have shown great potential when used in innovative ways to enhance learning. It is now known that learning is associated not only with cognitive ability but also with affect. The incorporation of affective embodied pedagogical agents (EPAs) in computer programs for learning can significantly influence learner beliefs and efficacy. However, there have been a number of criticisms and contradictory empirical findings calling into question earlier results and theoretical claims on the effectiveness of using EPAs. Therefore, this paper reviewed studies that evaluated the effectiveness of affect in EPAs in a computer-based learning environment (CLE). The statistical meta-analytic review (k = 30, n = 2,150) found that the use of affect in EPAs has a significant and moderate impact (r = .35) on students’ learning motivation and a relatively smaller impact on knowledge retention (r = .29) and knowledge transfer (r = .26). The effect sizes of the three outcome variables in this review are stronger compared with previous meta-analysis on the impact of the embodiment level of EPAs, indicating that the use of affect is more desirable and effective in CLEs. Finally, implications for both designers and researchers of using affective EPAs in CLEs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An issue arising in emergency distance education procedures, such as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a lack of appropriate high-quality content and course activities for high ability students suitable for distance education. In this study, online CAD-based learning experiences structured with the Tinkercad Circuits Platform designed for gifted students were investigated based on the opinions of students regarding the distance education activity and the evaluations of the students' scientific writing skills. This study used a single case holistic design with 10 gifted 6th-grade students at Usak Science and Art Center in Türkiye. All of the students stated that they had not previously encountered an activity such as the "smart air conditioning system". The students also stated that although the activity was carried out in the form of distance education, it was positive and fun to be application-based, and that it was fun to research, discuss, design, and code with Tinkercad to look for a solution to the given problem. The evaluation of students' products showed participants' high level of proficiency in activities requiring advanced problem-solving skills, including planning the solution to the problem, creating an alternative plan for the solution, realizing, and evaluating the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young children's development is a crucial period determining their adult outcomes. Through adversities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, preschool teachers play an essential role in nurturing children's development. This study has the objective to explore preschool teachers' perceptions of their students' development throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 12 Teachers living in West Timor, Indonesia, were involved in the photovoice process. The qualitative data analysis resulted in three overarching themes: cooperation between teachers and parents, alternative stimulations of child development, and uncomprehensive child development. More support on options and alternatives for facilitating young children's remote learning is needed to maintain a stable and comprehensive development process in this pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to proctor exams after the forced transition to remote teaching and learning. Objective: We evaluated students' experiences creating and answering their own exam items in an upper-level psychology course during the transition to remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Students in an advanced social psychology course wrote and answered exam items to demonstrate their learning when proctored exams became impossible during the COVID-19 pandemic. The exams were graded for breadth, depth, and accuracy, and compared to other demonstrations of learning, including traditional in-class exams taken prior to the transition to remote teaching and learning. Results: Students performed well on these exams. Students reported positive perceptions of these exams during the COVID-19 pandemic, but reported that, while these exams reduced test anxiety, they were time-intensive. Conclusion: Students can demonstrate their learning by writing and completing their own exams. Their higher grades may be related to reduced test anxiety and greater time investments. Teaching Implications: Instructors should consider having students write and complete their own exams to demonstrate their learning, especially when proctoring exams is difficult or impossible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Improving students' experiences in courses has always been important; one important method for facilitating discussions is an effective icebreaker activity. Statement of the Problem: The move to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges for fostering connections among students. Given the constraints in remote learning, teachers need effective and feasible ways to improve student experiences. Literature Review: We reviewed traditional icebreaker activities and highlighted the potential for implementing the Fast Friends procedure in a remotely delivered synchronous class. This procedure involves a discussion guided by a series of increasingly intimate questions meant to enhance connection between unacquainted people. Teaching Implications: Undergraduate and graduate students reported having a positive experience and building connections from the procedure, including enhanced classroom motivation. We share materials so interested readers and teachers can easily implement this. Conclusion: The Fast Friends procedure is a promising icebreaker activity to include at the start of the semester that can help students have a positive experience and build connection with classmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New teaching and learning practices related to gamified tools in online learning environments have become even more important during the pandemic and will continue to reshape educational processes, including higher education institutions, in the post-pandemic period. In line with this, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of gamification with Web 2.0 tools including Kahoot!, Socrative, Quizizz, and Mentimeter on EFL learners' motivation and academic achievement levels in online learning environments through a quasi-experimental research method and was based on a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design. The participants of the study are 60 freshman learners studying at a state university in Türkiye. The data were obtained through a scale, an Achievement Test, and a semi-structured interview. The quantitative data were analyzed via statistical measures, and the qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicated that the treatment via gamifiedWeb 2.0 tools had a statistically significant difference in favor of the experimental group in terms of the participants' motivation/course interest levels and the experimental group scored higher on the Achievement Test compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined students' attitudes toward online learning classes introduced during the pandemic lockdown among students at the University of Lusaka. The study adopted a quantitative methodology with descriptive and comparative design methods. The study developed an attitude scale toward online learning and administered it to 1,542 students registered at the University of Lusaka. The data obtained from the scale were analyzed by using SPSS 26.0 package software. The study results show that students hold a negative attitude toward online learning, implying that they are more unlikely to accept online classes. The Pearson Chi-Square test statistics show that gender, age, work status, study mode and internet access significantly influenced students' attitudes toward online learning classes. The results are not encouraging regarding introducing online learning classes, especially for full-time and younger students. Therefore, we recommend that the introduction of online learning classes at the University of Lusaka be approached with caution to students in the full-time learning mode without neglecting the importance of face-to-face learning. Implications of this research are relevant to educational interventions, academic achievement, and technological advancement concerning university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has led to quarantines, isolations, and social separations worldwide. Universities use distance education and blended learning especially for practical courses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of blended learning via Edmodo on students' performance and attitude when learning some fundamental boxing skills. Thirty-two students from 124 enrolled in a boxing sport course were randomly selected. A quasi-experimental design was used by creating a control group and an experimental group. A flipped classroom strategy was used to teach basic boxing skills to the experimental group via Edmodo. The control group was taught via teacher command style. Results of the post-measurements of overall skill performance score indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group with a large effect size of (η² = 0.73). The Edmodo students also demonstrated positive attitudes. A blended learning program via Edmodo influences positively on learning boxing skills and motivates them to learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the central role that excellent presentation skills plays in management, methods for better developing these skills represent an important area of focus in business education. Rapidly evolving distributed (distance) technologies have compelled businesses to reimagine practices in most areas, and presentations are no exception. In the present study, we examine the potential advantages of video presentations—not from the perspective of the audience, but rather from the perspective of the student as immersed in the process of developing individual presentation skills. We crafted a course project where students collaborate to create a video presentation, replacing a more traditional in-class presentation. To test the effectiveness of this new approach, we conducted a study in which measures from multiple course sections using either the new video creation approach or the traditional presentation approach were compared. For the former, we found a significant improvement in students' presentation skills on five dimensions (central message, supporting material, language, organization, and delivery) as evaluated with the authoritative Oral Communication VALUE Rubric developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. We describe the project and the study, and end the article with lessons learned and recommendations for expanding the project's applications to other courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of articles on distance learning and computer-assisted instruction. 'Web Courses for High School Students: Potential and Issues,' by William R. Thomas; 'Are We Ready To Abandon the Classroom? The Dark Side of Web Instruction,' by LeoNora M. Cohen; 'Preparing ESOL Teachers Using Web-Based Learning: Strategies and Tactics,' by Elia Vazques-Montilla and Erping Zhu.

Objective: This study evaluated the performance and experiences of distance learning students enrolled in a graduate-level foundation social work research methods course. Method: Students who received face-to-face instruction in a media-readied classroom on the main campus of the university were compared with their remote classmates who simultaneously received course instruction at a regional campus via interactive television (ITV). Students' performance in the course was evaluated. In addition, students' attitudes toward distance education as well as their experiences in this course were assessed and compared. Results: The findings illustrate there were no statistically significant differences in students 'performance or attitudes and only minor differences in the assessment of their experiences in the course. Conclusions: With no statistically significant differences found in students' performance or experiences, ITV appears to be a viable technological option for schools of social work to deliver research methods courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper categorizes the hypotheses that have related home television use to schooling-hypotheses of time and energy displacement, of interest stimulation, of learning of school-equivalent content, of acquisition of novel intellectual skills, of development of intolerance for the slow pace of class activities, and of learning expectations with regard to what schooling is about and what it is for. Available evidence about overall effects suggests a small effect on reading growth, hints at a tendency for socially advantaged children to be most vulnerable to effects, generally, and is largely uninformative as to the validity of particular explanatory hypotheses. The utility of alternative research approaches, cross-sectional and panel surveys, laboratory and field experiments, and quasi-experiments are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 shed light on persistent disparities among K-12 school districts, particularly regarding technology access, its use, and educational outcomes. Although resources exist to inform the design and delivery of distance education at the course level, there is a lack of resources to inform program-level decisions about equitable distance education that impact educators and learners across a school system. Drawing on existing literature on educational equity, this article discusses four ways schools may frame equitable distance education. This article also discusses critical lessons schools learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about sustaining equitable technology-supported learning environments during times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In out-of-school-learning (OSL) environments, individuals are exposed to tasks that are not excessively difficult, and as a result, they gain experience rather than knowledge. Through the experiences that will be provided to teacher candidates, this situation can affect their pedagogical beliefs and attitudes toward classroom practices. This study investigated the impact of experiencing learner-centered processes in OSL environments on teacher candidates' pedagogical beliefs and classroom practices attitudes. According to the findings, while teaching in OSL environments led to a change in the pedagogical beliefs of teacher candidates, it did not result in a significant shift in their attitudes toward classroom practices. In the context of research conducted on teacher candidates, it is beneficial to explore the mediating elements that may influence the relation between belief and practice. This approach may contribute to a more thorough understanding of the subject matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses an education in emergencies (EiE) lens and a scientometric approach to examine the educational research landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing 95,628 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection database from 2020 to February 2023. It employed descriptive and network approaches to map growth trajectory, productivity, social structure, conceptual structure, and research methodologies used in the retrieved sources. The findings reveal a steady increase in publications on education and COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. However, the majority of productive countries and institutions are in the Global North, with limited representation from the Global South, except for China. English is the dominant language in publications, and funding agencies from English-speaking countries are the most active. The most frequently occurring keywords revolve around performativity, institutions, teaching methodologies, attitudes, and experiences, while keywords related to social justice are a peripheral focus. Publications mainly focus on technical and methodological aspects of education, such as online teaching and learning. Most productive journals represent a mix of foci and are not limited to distance learning. The extracted literature showcases diversity in research methodologies used. Future studies should use systematic reviews on narrow topics to evaluate the effects of the pandemic, inform decision-making, enhance education system resilience, and envision a more equitable education system. The study's contributions are notable for its unique EiE perspective, comprehensive scope, extensive data extraction, and meticulous examination of research design, effectively addressing limitations in bibliometric software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distance education Diploma and Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Science programs are faced with low enrollment and graduation rate as well as high attrition of students. The aforementioned challenges are attributed to students' satisfaction and continuance intention. However, students' satisfaction and continuance intention toward distance education programs are as a result of certain antecedents. This modeled the determinants of satisfaction and program continuance intention by the distance education students on the math and science programs. Based on this, a quantitative approach based on a census survey was adopted and data collected from 113 students through a questionnaire and analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach based on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results of the study showed that two key antecedents: student-instructor interaction, and study center physical facilities determine program satisfaction of mathematics and science distance students. However, administrative support of the program determined instructional modules; facilitation quality was predicted by both instructional modules and laboratory facilities. Finally, students program continuance intention was predicted by satisfaction of the program. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for policy and practice toward improving students' satisfaction and promote positive intention in pursuant of mathematics and science education program by distance mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the information system success and situational strength theories, this study explores the moderating effect of learner quality and instructor quality on the relationship between information quality and student satisfaction with e-learning. Survey data were collected from 333 college students, and the proposed relationships were assessed using the SMARTPLS structural equation modeling tool. The direct relationship between information quality and student satisfaction is significant; however, the moderating effect of learner quality and instructor quality is insignificant. The moderating effects of learner and instructor quality have been less researched in the existing literature. This study contributes to uncovering the complex interactions between these variables and the relationship between information quality and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the theoretical underpinnings and measures employed in the assessment of knowledge quality. It aims to identify a conceptual and operational measure of knowledge quality within the context of an e-learning environment. The review is conducted in two phases. First, the conceptual and operational measures of knowledge quality are explained based on the epistemic concept of the essence of knowledge and the knowledge hierarchy structure. Next, a detailed analysis of the dimensions measuring data quality (DQ), information quality (IQ), and knowledge quality (KQ) in 33 studies ranging from research on information systems (IS), to knowledge and information management, e-learning, and data warehouses is presented. Minimal biased methods were used to acquire the literature for this review. The findings reveal that there is an evident lack of research in measuring KQ based on a definite conceptual understanding of the hierarchical structure of knowledge. Furthermore, researchers’ repeated use of the DQ and IQ dimensions to measure KQ has failed to develop a reliable KQ measure. Subsequently, an operational view of KQ is proposed with six distinct dimensions: Adaptable, Applicable, Expandable, True, Innovative, and Justified. This proposed KQ model that is based on the hierarchical structure of knowledge; it identifies the dimensions distinct to the KQ construct. It may be useful for the conceptualization and measure of KQ in various information environments, including e-learning and IS. The proposed model provides a more explicit way to conceptualize and measure the KQ construct by acknowledging that it is an extension of the IQ construct but with distinct and unique dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on various affairs of Association for Business Simulation and Experiential Learning (ABSEL). Endowed with all excitement, ABSEL's initiative to launch Online/Distance Learning Tarck has proved to be successful. Twelve papers are included in the 2004 ABSEL proceedings included in the Bernie Keys Library (BKL). The BKL has become a very helpful and valuable research tool for many, which contains more than 30 years of research. The other tracks continue to attaract papers on the cutting edge of the issues as well.

This paper presents a critical account of the extent and the ways in which learner-centred education approaches are used as a tool for enhancing adult learning in distance learning universities as well as the conditions and restrictions they face. The exploration is illustrated by qualitative data from interviews with eight adult educators and 16 adult learners/students and adopts a case study approach within a phenomenological mode. In this study, learner-centred education approaches are seen as being at one end of the educational practice continuum and comprise of a number of elements, namely: motivation, epistemology, techniques and relationships that are used as a conceptual framework to guide data analysis and interpretation. Findings reveal the partial and unintentional use of learner-centred education approaches in the distance learning programmes explored and make recommendations for the implementation of learner-centred education in the teaching of adults in distance education universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lubin and Reio suggest that due to institutional cultural and power dynamics, the role of the instructional designer seems to be silenced and marginalized concerning their roles in the instructional process. While these processes operate in the context of the respondent's experiences, the analysis conducted by Lubin and Reio does not account for inequities and challenges arising from the move from the traditional classroom to an alternative classroom—the domain of distance education. To fully understand the challenge of partnering in a complex and evolving technologically dependent and remote learning environment one must focus on the idea of separation. The idea of separation is a defining attribute of distance learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of training caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could have significant consequences on the performance and health of athletes. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of two innovative distance education methods on improving motor skills in weightlifting. We randomized 35 children (aged 10 to 12) into groups of peer-to-peer online video feedback with a pedagogical activity (P-VF-PA), peer-to-peer online video feedback only (P-VF), and control group (CONT). Learners underwent a test one week before (T0) and one day after (T1) an eight-session training intervention and a retention test session a week later (T2). Kinovea was used to measure the kinematic parameters of the snatch performance. After the distance learning sessions, the training with the P-VF-PA method improved most of the kinematic parameters compared to the P-VF method, and the advantages derived from its application persisted in the retention test (e.g., the difference between the right side and left side distances of the bar trajectory Diff-Tr (T1 vs. T0: 42.32 ± 41.33%, Hedges' g = 1.16, p < 0.01; T2 vs. T0: 37.82 ± 37.57%, Hedges' g = 1.37, p < 0.05)). In conclusion, distance motor learning based on the P-VF-PA method improved performance and technical knowledge of the snatch in 10–12 years weightlifters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]