Assessing an Online Student Orientation: Impacts on Retention,Satisfaction, and Student Learning

To help prepare students for the rigors of an online master’s degree in technical and professional communication, I created a course-embedded online student orientation (OSO) structured by the community of inquiry theory of online learning. The study researched the effect of the OSO on student satisfaction, student perceptions of online learning, and students’ program retention. The OSO was effective in helping students to reflect on their learning and demonstrated students’ interest in peer collaboration.     

国外远程学习者在线学习障碍研究

远程教育中在线学习障碍成为人们新的关注点,文章在文献调研的基础上,整理和讨论了国外远程学习者在线学习障碍的分类、影响因素和原因以及解决对策和建议,并与国内的研究情况做了分析和比较。     

Audio and Written Comments in an Online Undergraduate Composition Class: Student and Instructor Approaches and Preferences

This study investigated students’ and instructors’ approaches and preferences to audio and written comments in an online undergraduate composition class. A mixed-method design was employed utilizing both a survey instrument and interviews for data collection. Forty-nine students and five instructors participated. Students gave more positive ratings to audio comments than to written comments on global- and middle-level items. However, their impressions on the comprehensibility of audio and written comments at the micro level were mixed. Instructors showed a preference for audio comments over written comments in terms of time investment. In addition, instructor commenting styles and the medium used influenced the time invested in providing comments     

规模化在线学习准备好了吗?--后疫情时期的在线学习与智能技术应用思考

在疫情防控的关键时期,规模化在线学习是落实“停课不停学”的重要方式。与以往的在线学习相比,规模化在线学习在学习场所、学习任务、学习同伴、思维方式、评价方式等多个方面发生了转变。它是教育信息化实践的一次特殊尝试,同时,其也在重塑在线学习的价值,形成了一种全新的学习生态。为了了解我国规模化在线学习的现状、准备度等情况,运用问卷调查法,对全国3148名学生进行调查研究,调查结果显示:一是在线学习满意度较低,感知教师支持较高,在线学习准备度一般。其中,在线交互效能感最高,计算机自我效能感准备不足;二是人口学因素对规模化在线学习准备度有不同程度的影响,年级、所在区域、每天在线学习时长所带来的差异影响显著;三是在线学习态度、教师支持、计算机自我效能感、自我导向学习、学习动机、学习控制力、在线交互效能感等,正向影响学生的在线学习满意度。因此,要提高规模化在线学习效果,可以从提升师生信息素养、加强培养自主学习能力、改善家校互动模式、增强教师支持、关注农村和留守儿童的在线学习等方面着手。在后疫情时期,还应进一步思考“教师如何迎接在线学习”“学生如何学习”“如何设计在线课程和实现优质教育资源共享”“在线学习如何与线下学习有机融合”等问题。     

The Introduction of Online Learning: A case study of YCMOU

There are many reasons why Indian open universities are adding online learning opportunities to their course offerings. Two universities, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), have been developing online aspects of their programs for some years. This article documents the experiences at IGNOU and then examines the situation for online development at YCMOU. Lessons can be learned from both experiences. These include being strategic in choosing which courses to offer, and in deciding which services to develop for which clientele. Choosing those that will bring the greatest enhancement in flexibility and efficiency for the least amount of new skill requirement from learners is likely to be of biggest benefit. Keeping cognizant of the computing context of learner sub‐groups and enhancing learning through additional optional online services is most likely to result in effective courses and quality student services while maintaining efficiencies in financial logistics.     

The Impact of Student Perceptions and Characteristics on Teaching Evaluations: A case study in finance education

This study uses an ordered probit model to examine the impact of student characteristics and perceptions of the teaching evaluation process on student ratings. The results indicate that expected grade, ethnic background, gender and age are a significant influence on student ratings. A primary student-based influence on teaching evaluation performance would appear to be the perceived potential outcome of the evaluation in terms of tenure, promotion and salary decisions, and improvements in teaching and staff allocation. The impact of student perceptions and characteristics is also found to vary across the various dimensions of teaching performance with the potential bias being highest for evaluation questions relating to overall performance, and lowest for questions relating to formative assessment and deep learning outcomes.     

世界名校网络公开课对大学英语影响的研究

作为新颖的教学资源手段的世界网络公开课,对大学英语学习产生了积极的影响。词汇习得是大学英语学习的中心任务。通过加大需求,搜索和评估的投入量,提高接触新词汇的频率,巩固伴随性词汇习得的短暂记忆等手段,提高通过网络公开课习得伴随性词汇的效果。     

Voice in Digital Education: The Impact of Instructor's Perceived Age and Gender on Student Learning and Evaluation

Instructor evaluations are influenced by implicit age and gender bias, with lower ratings and negative feedback given to instructors believed to stray from stereotypical age and gender norms. Female instructors exhibiting typically male-associated qualities such as leadership and authority, are often negatively impacted. Implicit bias also influences evaluation of digital resources and instructors, regardless of students' positive learning outcomes. As digital learning resources become the norm in education, it is crucial to explore the impact of implicit bias at various educational levels. In this study, undergraduate and graduate students were randomly exposed to one of five digital tutorials; four experimental tutorials presenting identical anatomy content with narrators of different gender and age, and a control tutorial featuring origami (paper folding) instructions without audio. Learning outcomes were measured by pre-quiz vs. post-quiz comparisons using repeated measures MANOVA. Implicit bias was analyzed by evaluation response comparisons using repeated measures MANOVA and three-way MANOVA. Post-quiz scores increased significantly in the four experimental groups (P < 0.05) but not in the control (P = 0.99). The increased performance was not statistically different across the four experimental groups (P > 0.26), suggesting that learning occurred irrespective of the instructor gender and age. Students' evaluations were consistently higher for the experimental resources than the control. There was no significant difference in evaluations across the four experimental groups but compared to the control, younger male and younger female narrators received significantly higher ratings for approachability, acceptance, inclusivity, and care for student learning. The study highlights important considerations for digital resources development and interpretation of student evaluations.     

Integrating a Facebook Group and a Course Website: The Effect on Participation and Perceptions on Learning

This study examined the effects of an instructor's use of video casting as a nonverbal emotional cue in synchronous discussion sessions on students' social presence, satisfaction, and learning achievement. A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effect of video casting in a synchronous virtual classroom. The research setting was a 100% online master's degree program within a university located in the midwestern United States. Thirty-three students participated in the experiment. The results showed a significant positive effect of the video casting on students' feeling of instructor copresence. No significant effect of video casting was found on either students' satisfaction or learning achievement.     

网络学习资源师生共建模式的实践——以上海电视大学人力资源管理课程为例

正网络学习资源建设必须强调以学生为中心,使学生从外部信息的被动接受者转变为信息加工的主体,从学习资源的接受者转变为学习资源建设的主体,通过学习情境的创设和体验,激发学生学习的主动性和积极性。上海电视大学在人力资源管理课程的网络学习资源的建设过程中遵循这一思想,运用多媒体和网     

大学生英语学习感知的调查分析

以温州大学为例,以问卷调查的形式,就学生的对英语学习的感知作了调查。尤值得一提的是,利用教学系统模式对学生的特点、教学过程和输出以及这些变量相互间的关系进行研究。通过对问卷调查的定量和行星分析得出结论,为更好提高大学英语教学质量提供一些参考。     

The study of e-learning technology implementation: A preliminary investigation of universities in Thailand

E-learning (EL) has become an increasingly popular mode of instruction in higher education due to the continual advances in Internet and multimedia technologies. Since many universities are adopting EL, an understanding of the critical factors involved in the implementation of EL technology can help to ensure the successful integration of EL in university administration planning and operations procedures. The objectives of this paper are twofold: to examine approaches to EL usage in universities in Thailand, and to report on a preliminary investigation into factors that influence EL implementation at the Thai tertiary level. Patterns of EL implementation from four cases are presented. Results from in-depth qualitative interviews with administrators, instructors, and students showed that three main factors and one key barrier influence the degree to which EL implementation was successful. The three factors are characteristics of the organization, the instructor and the Internet environment. Of these factors, the organizational component, including both the university policy towards EL and the organization of the EL unit itself, was the most important. The instructors’ perceptions of the benefits of EL and the ease of use also contributed to implementation success, as does Internet accessibility. The key barrier was found to be student preference for instructor-led learning. Implications for both university and EL unit administrators as well as for instructors are suggested for the continued development of EL in Thai universities and similar educational contexts.     

Student and teacher perceptions of learning and teaching: a case study

Exploring student and teacher perspectives on approaches to learning and teaching reveals interesting insights and new understandings for practice by involving the two key groups of participants in the learning and teaching story. Do students understand and experience learning and teaching similarly or differently from the way teachers intend them to? This paper describes the findings of a study that explored perceptions of learning and teaching in one discipline of an Australian dual-sector university from both a student and staff perspective. Teachers’ conceptions of teaching are also explored and provide extra insight and understanding of the approach to learning and teaching taking place. Key findings of this multifaceted study employing a case study with a mixed method approach include a difference between students’ and teachers’ perceptions of approaches to learning and teaching. Implications for broader practice are highlighted and explored.     

不同绩效学生群体参与一对一在线辅导的比较研究——基于行为、主题和情感的分析视角

为了促进学生个性化发展、提升教育公平,基于学生的异质性提供个性化辅导成为学者们探讨的热点问题。为了解一对一在线辅导这种政府提供的个性化教育公共服务是如何促进不同背景学生的个性化学习,该文针对北京某区2471名学生辅导产生的16820条对话数据,分析不同成绩学生在线辅导行为差异,并对辅导主题和师生情感分布进行组间比较分析。结果表明:在线行为中,学生参与辅导的次数和难度与其学习成绩相关;不同成绩组学生的辅导次数与难度均存在差异性;通过对辅导高频知识点的分析,发现不同成绩组学生辅导知识点具有相似性,同时也存在一定知识点广度和深度的群体差异;在情感维度发现,不同绩效背景群体没有显著差异,且师生参与辅导的正面情感密度远远高于负面情感,表明师生对参与一对一辅导整体持有积极、肯定的情感。     

Teacher Perceptions of Learning Motivation and Classroom Behavior: The Role of Student Characteristics

The present study investigates whether teacher perceptions of students’ cognitive skills, their learning motivation, and their classroom behavior differ according to students’ socioeconomic status, immigrant background, and gender. Data from N = 4746 German fourth graders and data from their parents and teachers were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Controlling for student achievement as measured in a standardized achievement test and student motivation as measured by student and parent reports, we found that teachers overestimated the cognitive skills of high-SES students and girls in comparison to those of low-SES students and boys. Similarly, teachers perceived high-SES students, students who are not from an immigrant background, and girls as having a higher learning motivation and as having more cognitive skills. Finally, we found that teachers’ perceptions of students’ learning motivation and classroom behavior mediated the relationship between student characteristics and cognitive skills as perceived by the teacher.     

The Use of Online Modules and the Effect on Student Outcomes in a High School Chemistry Class

The purpose of the study was to review the efficacy of online chemistry simulations in a high school chemistry class and provide discussion of the factors that may affect student learning. The sample consisted of 351 high school students exposed to online simulations. Researchers administered a pretest, intermediate test and posttest to measure chemistry content knowledge acquired during the use of online chemistry laboratory simulations. The authors also analyzed student journal entries as an attitudinal measure of chemistry during the simulation experience. The four analyses conducted were Repeated Time Measures Analysis of Variance, a three-way Analysis of Variance, Logistic Regression and Multiple Analysis of Variance. Each of these analyses provides for a slightly different aspect of factors regarding student attitudes and outcomes. Results indicate that there is a statistically significant main effect across grouping type (experimental versus control, p = 0.042, α = 0.05). Analysis of student journal entries suggests that attitudinal factors may affect student outcomes concerning the use of online supplemental instruction. Implications for this study show that the use of online simulations promotes increased understanding of chemistry content through open-ended and interactive questioning.     

The Impacts of System and Human Factors on Online Learning Systems Use and Learner Satisfaction

Success in an online learning environment is tied to both human and system factors. This study illuminates the unique contributions of human factors (comfort with online learning, self‐management of learning, and perceived Web self‐efficacy) to online learning system success, which is measured in terms of usage and satisfaction. The research model was tested employing SEM on a sample of 674 college students enrolled in at least one online course. The factors of comfort with online learning and perceived Web self‐efficacy were significant predictors of satisfaction. Comfort with online learning was significant in predicting usage. The impact of demographic variables was examined.     

在线讨论中动态学习情绪和认知行为序列的关系研究

在线讨论作为在线学习的重要组成部分,其产生的文本数据可以反映学习者的认知水平、互动质量以及情绪状态。学习情绪影响认知行为,从而影响学习成效,研究学习情绪和认知行为之间的关系非常重要。文章基于Harris等人的情绪分类法和蔡今中的认知分类体系,使用内容分析法和滞后序列分析法研究学习者的动态学习情绪、认知行为序列模式以及学习情绪和认知行为之间的关系。研究表明:困惑情绪和消极情绪会转化为积极情绪,但是中性情绪不会转化为积极情绪;学习者倾向于呈现描述行为和推断或解释行为,且认知行为序列模式具有渐进性特征;描述行为会引发消极情绪,比较行为、推断或解释行为会引发积极情绪。教师可根据学习者的行为转换情况进行适当的指导和干预,以提升学习者的学习效果。     

经管类跨专业综合实训课程初探与实践

随着高职院校实践教学改革的不断深入,改变传统、单一专业的实训方式,建立仿真社会经济环境下的经管类跨专业综合实训平台成为当前实践教学必然方式。结合我院经管类跨专业实训课程平台建设、课程设计与实践,分析了课程实施过程中存在的不足,进行教学反思,提出改善方案。     

The Influence of Learning Styles on Student and Field Instructor Perceptions of Field Placement Success

This article reports on a research study of pairs of social work students and their field instructors whor ated their perceptions of each other on various dimensions of placement success, including the quality of the supervisory relationship, the amount learned in the placement, and knowledge and skill levels. The Kolb Learning Styles Inventory was used to measure similarities and differences in student and field instructor learning preferences. The study suggests that assessment of learning styles can assist field instructors and students to appreciate different contributions, to recognize diversity as strength and, ultimately, to enhance the overall quality and success of the learning experience.