Rethinking e-learning support strategies

This paper discusses an e-learning support team model developed as part of a new e-learning strategy within a tertiary education polytechnic. Based upon a community of practice model, the e-Team supports the establishment of e-learning and m-learning (mobile learning) throughout the institution as a catalyst for the adoption of social constructivist pedagogy. The paper reviews and reflects upon the impact of strategies for creating and supporting communities of practice across the institution along with the ways this model is achieving the breaking down of the barriers to ‘e’ and ‘m’ learning adoption among lecturers. This model helped to move lecturers from non-engagement to legitimate peripheral participation and onto full participation within the institution’s e-learning community, and ultimately enabling social constructivist learning environments for students. This model based on a community of practice framework for e-learning support is potentially transferable to other educational contexts.     

E-learning and technologies for open distance learning in Management Accounting

This research develops a knowledge acquisition and construction framework for e-learning for Management Accounting students at the University of South Africa, an Open Distance Learning institution which utilises e-learning. E-learning refers to the use of electronic applications and processes for learning, including the transfer of skills and knowledge over a distance. It is important to the knowledge construction process to understand how students learn in order to determine a set of suitable learning strategies. Studies have shown that e-learning applications are seldom used, sometimes because of inappropriate content and technologies. Other prohibitive factors are cost, poor or inadequate technology infrastructure (or a lack of access to such infrastructure), and a shortage of human resources. We propose a framework for addressing these concerns and consider how constructivist theories may enrich such a framework.     

Attitude, Perception and Use of E-Learning at Open University Malaysia

To ensure the success of the e-learning initiatives, OUM has developed its own e-learning management system, known as myLMS. Since its introduction, many modifications and improvements have been introduced to increase its effectiveness. It is now timely that OUM take stock of its students＇ attitudes towards e-learning. Thus, a survey was conducted on about 1,000 students at one of OUM＇s own learning centres, that is, the Kelantan Regional Centrel. The study indicated that generally the teacher cohort had a somewhat neutral attitude towards e-learning. The use of e-learning was more specifically aimed at achieving short term goals of obtaining good coursework and examination grades by capitalizing on the use of the Discassion Board and Courseware. A closer examination reveals that the females prefer the Discussion Board while the males prefer the Courseware. Learners in the Engineering and English programmes had more positive attitudes towards e-learning compared to learners in the Mathematics and Science programmes. Learners with CGPA 〉 3.0 who are categorized as high achievers are more positive towards e-learning as compared to the low achievers （ CGPA 〈 3.0）. Age difference, learners＇ income per month, learners＇ Internet and e-learning habits were also found to be predictors of attitude towards e-learning.     

清华大学网络学堂学生使用情况统计与分析

研究旨在探讨清华大学学生对网络学堂的使用状况。样本数据来源于网络学堂教学数据库。通过对于用户页面访问量、作业数和课件数等变量的统计分析,验证了教师教学投入与学生学习投入的关联关系。此外,研究揭示,网络学堂中的交互性、协作性功能是促使学生积极使用网络学堂的重要动力。并发现,对于网络学堂中各种功能的使用,理工科学生和文科学生有着不同的偏好。     

Learning materials recommendation using good learners’ ratings and content-based filtering

The enormity of the amount of learning materials in e-learning has led to the difficulty of locating suitable learning materials for a particular learning topic, creating the need for recommendation tools within a learning context. In this paper, we aim to address this need by proposing a novel e-learning recommender system framework that is based on two conceptual foundations—peer learning and social learning theories that encourage students to cooperate and learn among themselves. Our proposed framework works on the idea of recommending learning materials with a similar content and indicating the quality of learning materials based on good learners’ ratings. A comprehensive set of experiments were conducted to measure the system accuracy and its impact on learner’s performance. The obtained results show that the proposed e-learning recommender system has a significant improvement in the post-test of about 12.16% with the effect size of 0.6 and 13.11% with the effect size of 0.53 when compared to the e-learning with a content-based recommender system and the e-learning without a recommender system, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed recommender system performed better in terms of having a small rating deviation and a higher precision as compared to e-learning with a content-based recommender system.     

Effects of reflection prompts on learning outcomes and learning behaviour in statistics education

Starting from difficulties that students display when they deal with correlation analysis, an e-learning environment (‘Koralle’) was developed. The design was inspired by principles of situated and example-based learning. In order to facilitate reflective processes and thus enhance learning outcomes, reflection prompts were integrated into the learning environment. A total of 57 university students were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: 28 students were prompted to give reasons for their decisions while working within the learning environment (EG 1); and 29 students dealt with Koralle without being prompted (EG 2). The control group consisted of 67 students who had already attended regular statistics lectures but had no access to the e-learning environment. EG 1 scored significantly higher in the posttest than EG 2, and the effect was practically relevant and sustainable. Reflection prompts did not influence time on task, task choices and motivational outcomes. Both experimental groups clearly outperformed the control group.     

The misuses and effective uses of constructivist teaching

Constructivism has emerged as a very powerful model for explaining how knowledge is produced in the world as well as how students learn. Moreover, constructivist teaching practices are becoming more prevalent in teacher education programs and public schools across the nation, while demonstrating significant success in promoting student learning. In this essay, the author takes a serious look at constructivist teaching practices highlighting both the promises and potential problems of these practices. The author argues that constructivist teaching has often been misinterpreted and misused, resulting in learning practices that neither challenge students nor address their needs. He outlines some of the ways in which constructivism has been misconstrued and analyzes several ways in which constructivist teaching has been misused. The author also presents two examples that illustrate the effective use of constructivist teaching and explains what makes them successful.     

Use of concept mapping to integrate the different perspectives of designers and other stakeholders in the development of e-learning materials

Multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders are involved in the production of e-learning materials and all have differing and valuable perspectives. A range of factors such as availability of new learning technologies, pedagogy or the learning market, may direct the design process. This article argues that a constructivist methodology for course design enables a project manager to build on all contributors' perspectives in a "bottom up" rather than a "top down" approach and be aware of any weaknesses and undesirable dominating influences. Concept mapping provided the basis for an e-learning development project at the University of Surrey to develop such a constructivist methodology. The design team and wider stakeholders each produced individual concept maps and were analysed to identify both commonalties and unique contributions that might influence design. The project manager then integrated the individual maps to produce an overall map of the project and found the process valuable for a more critical and holistic approach to directing the project.     

Chinese students’ perceptions of a collaborative e-learning environment and factors affecting their performance: implementing a Flemish e-learning course in a Chinese educational context

This study was set up in a Chinese university in Beijing by implementing a Flemish e-learning course in a Chinese setting. A main feature of the e-learning environment is the asynchronous ‘task-based’ online group discussion. The purpose of the study is to understand Chinese students’ perceptions of a collaborative e-learning environment and the factors that affect their online performance and academic achievement. The results of the study indicate that the students had less positive perceptions of the e-learning environment as compared to their perceptions of a more conventional environment. However, the students reported to a higher level of preferences of peer learning, critical thinking, and problem-based learning (PBL) after one semester e-learning experience. In addition, we examined variables that might have affected students’ performance in e-learning environments. The results show that students with higher motivational orientations perform better in the online group discussions.     

Promoting effective e-learning practices through the constructivist pedagogy

Although rapid advances in technology has allowed for the growth of collaborative e-learning experiences unconstrained by time and space, technology has not been heavily infused in the activities of teaching and learning. This article examines the theory of constructivism as well as the design of e-learning activities using constructivist principles. The manner in which constructivist theory supports e-Learning is explored, and extrapolating from this pedagogical theory, some implications are provided to model effective practices of the characteristics and capacities of this powerful learning environment.     

Student support in e-learning courses in higher education – insights from a metasynthesis “A pedagogy of panic attacks”

Abstract

E-learning includes the use of the internet for accessing learning materials, interacting with learning content and with instructors and students to obtain support during the learning process in order to gain knowledge and personal meaning and to grow. It occurs when students have electronic access to resources and where they are in regular online contact with their peers and tutors. The primary objective of the metasynthesis was to analyse primary qualitative research studies on learner support in online courses to establish a guideline for e-learning support.

The metamethod entailed thoughtful examination of the manner in which the methodological approach was used to gather and interpret the data. The metadata analysis involved reinterpretations of the actual findings from the primary qualitative studies. Lastly, the metatheory consisted of an examination of theories leading the primary researchers’ topics, frameworks and research questions.

Conducting a metastudy from a constructivist perspective as in this research meant that I functioned as the interpreter of primary research studies, translating what has been written by other researchers for the purpose of revealing similarities and differences, and developing practice guidelines or theoretical concepts on a specific phenomenon. I identified three main themes regarding student support in e-learning in higher education, technical problems (infrastructure and access), a panic attack (pedagogy) and a human contact (human factors).     

Isolation and distinctiveness in the design of e-learning systems influence user preferences

When faced with excessive detail in an online environment, typical users have difficulty processing all the elements of representation. This in turn creates cognitive overload, which narrows the user's focus to a few select items. In the context of e-learning, we translated this aspect as the learner's demand for a system that facilitates the retrieval of learning content – one in which the representation is easy to read and understand. We hypothesized that the representation of content in an e-learning system's design is an important antecedent for learner preferences. The aspects of isolation and distinctiveness were incorporated into the design of e-learning representation as an attempt to promote student cognition. Following its development, the model was empirically validated by conducting a survey of 300 university students. We found that isolation and distinctiveness in the design elements appeared to facilitate the ability of students to read and remember online learning content. This in turn was found to drive user preferences for using e-learning systems. The findings provide designers with managerial insights for enticing learners to continue using e-learning systems.     

基于学生感知服务价值的网络教育学院竞争力研究

网络教育学院竞争力的提升不仅取决于对手的竞争,更决胜于能否为学生提供超越竞争对手的服务价值。在顾客价值理论和顾客满意度理论的基础上,结合网络教育的特点,构建了基于学生感知价值的网络教育学院竞争力模型。并采用结构方程模型验证了学生感知价值对满意度和基于学生行为的网络教育学院竞争力之间的正向关系。     

Evaluating Training Outcomes in Corporate E-Learning and Classroom Training

The study contributes to training evaluation research by systematically comparing training outcomes between corporate e-learning and classroom training. We investigated a sample of vocational trainees (N?=?86) in a field experiment with a time-lag design and examined their subjective as well as objective training success. While training success was subjectively perceived to vary in effectiveness depending on the setting right after the training, with higher scores for trainees in classroom training, it was perceived similarly effective in both training settings after six to eight weeks. With regard to objective training success, we found that whereas declarative and procedural knowledge scores increased for e-learning trainees, they decreased for trainees in classroom training. However, strengths of e-learning become more prevalent six to eight weeks after the training. Thus in the end, e-learning is as effective as classroom training for procedural knowledge and more effective than classroom training for declarative knowledge as e-learning trainees catch up on previous differences across time. We conclude that it is not the training setting or delivery media per se that leads to higher levels of trainings success in the long run but in order to be effective, trainings should be designed taking especially the type of learning content (declarative or procedural knowledge) into account.     

The social construction of learning disabilities

Underpinning the technical gaze that dominates learning disabilities theory and practice is the assumption that learning disabilities are a pathology that resides in the heads of individual students, with the corollary that remedial efforts also focus on what goes on in the heads of students classified as learning disabled. This article begins with a critique of the ideology of individualism that situates individual success and failure in the heads of individuals as a means of introducing an alternative perspective--social constructivism--that locates learning and learning problems in the context of human relations and activity. Extended examples are used to illustrate how the performative aspects of learning disabilities emerge in the context of human relationships. The primary argument developed here is that one cannot be learning disabled on one's own. It takes a complex system of interactions performed in just the right way, at the right time, on the stage we call school to make a learning disability. The article concludes with a brief consideration of the instructional implications of a social constructivist stance.     

Comparing learning outcomes of video-based e-learning with face-to-face lectures of agricultural engineering courses in Korean agricultural high schools

This study investigated the effectiveness of e-learning by comparing the learning outcomes in conventional face-to-face lectures and e-learning methods. Two video-based e-learning contents were developed based on the rapid prototyping model and loaded onto the learning management system (LMS), which was available at http://www.greenehrd.com. Eighty-five Korean agricultural high school students were randomly assigned into the two groups: face-to-face lecture (control group), and video-based e-learning (experimental group). The students of the experimental group logged onto the LMS in the school computer lab and completed each e-learning module. All students were required to take a pretest and posttest before and after learning under the direction of the subject teachers. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine any difference between the two groups in terms of learning outcomes. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was also administered to verify whether there was any difference between the two groups after controlling for the covariate variable: pretest score. According to the results, e-learning resulted in better learning outcomes than face-to-face lecturing. These findings suggest that the use of well designed and appropriately applied e-learning could be worthy even in agricultural education, which stresses hands-on experience and lab activities. Further research should focus on a different e-learning content type in different agricultural subject fields and its relationship with learning outcome.     

内蒙古地区大学生数字化学习状况调查研究

大学生的数字化学习状况直接决定了他们对大学生活和未来社会的适应状况。为了了解内蒙古地区大学生的数字化学习情况,设计并实施了内蒙古地区大学生数字化学习状况问卷调查,选择内蒙古东西部共4所本科院校的31个学院和专业的683名大学生进行调查,利用Excel2003和SPSS11.5对调查数据进行了统计,在此基础上进行了分析并提出加强校园信息化、加强教师培训、开设数字化培训课程等建议。     

Designing a gamified e-learning environment for teaching undergraduate ERP course based on big five personality traits

The COVID-19 pandemic forced universities to push the use of distance learning, impacting an unprecedented number of students. New norms of social distancing and lockdown had been brought in as university measures, immediately modifying student and lecturer habits, changing from the traditional classroom to e-learning platforms. However, the lack of engagement of students throughout an e-learning system is a regular concern among lecturers when creating content on a system. This study presents an applied gamification concept to e-learning focusing on improving engagement of the various types of personalities of undergraduate students in ERP courses. The gamification design was developed by implementing the pros and cons of each game element to compromise the overall performance of students. Three evaluations were conducted:1) to test whether the student has competently gained ERP knowledge; 2) web monitor to record the activity of students; 3) to evaluate the qualitative information of the game experience by interviews. According to the study, the selection of a game element based on personality traits does not necessarily improve knowledge but proves to allow better engagement in the course. In addition, our finding also provides the suggestions for designing game elements based on personality traits.

     

Learning Computer Graphics Using Virtual Reality Technologies Based on Constructivism – Case Study of the WebDeGrator System

This study applies constructivist principles and Virtual Reality (VR) technology to the Web-based Interactive Design Graphics (WebDeGrator) system to improve learning computer graphics. The constructivist treatment provides students with access to their choice of source content, three-dimensional (3D) modeling tools and interactive behaviors in a virtual environment. In this study, we developed a VR-based learning system to simulate and adjust computer graphics through sculpture graphic algorithms in real-time. We will discuss the relationship between constructivism and VR technology and also how the WebDeGrator system encourages student-learning through VR technology.     

The effect of content representation design principles on users’ intuitive beliefs and use of e-learning systems

A model is proposed to assess the effect of different content representation design principles on learners’ intuitive beliefs about using e-learning. We hypothesized that the impact of the representation of course contents is mediated by the design principles of alignment, quantity, clarity, simplicity, and affordance, which influence the learner’s intuitive beliefs about using e-learning systems. The model was empirically validated using data collected from a survey administered to university students. This study demonstrates that these design principles are essential predictors of learners’ intuitive beliefs, which in turn directly influence their decisions about using e-learning systems. The findings provide system designers with quasi-quantitative managerial insights into how to motivate users to continue using e-learning systems.