Current educational technology research trends in Japan

To examine trends in educational practice research, this article conducted a survey and analysis of factors affecting the review of research papers in the field of the educational technology in Japan. Two factors, namely, practical orientation and theoretical orientation, were extracted from 63 survey responses, and scores from members of a Japanese academic society were compared with the scores of its editorial board. Results show that the two factor scores were not correlated to each other, and they are independent measures for any evaluation or review of research articles. Also, there was no significant difference between society members and editorial board members, i.e., their preferences when reviewing research papers were identical. For the second part of this study, a group composed of anonymous members of an editorial board conducted a paper review of 12 published “practical papers” and 11 published “general papers.” Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the two categories. The final rating scores of these 23 papers were analyzed using a decision-tree rating model. Results also indicated that for publication, papers need to contribute to theoretical research, in addition to contributing to basic educational practice research in educational technology.     

A review of research on Facebook as an educational environment

The purpose of this study is to present a review of Facebook as an educational environment, as research on its use within education is relatively new. The study is categorized into six sections: Facebook users; reasons people use Facebook; harmful effects of Facebook; Facebook as an educational environment; Facebook??s effects on culture, language, and education; and the relationship between Facebook and subject variables. Additionally, the study compares Facebook usage in Turkey to its use on a global scale. To conclude, there has been a serious lack of research on Facebook??s use as an educational resource, as current literature reflects how Facebook might more readily be utilized as an educational environment. Finally, the study ends with practical recommendations for researchers and educators.     

Mathematical modeling for theory-oriented research in educational technology

Educational technology research and development - Mathematical modeling describes how events, concepts, and systems of interest behave in the world using mathematical concepts. This research...     

Constructivist research in educational technology: A retrospective view and future prospects

Along with a socially urgent impetus for revolutionary reform of an educational environment appropriate to the 21st century society, constructivism is highlighted in various fields related to education as an alternative educational ideology and approach. Despite its radical shift from traditional learning environments, and the diverse interpretation and understanding among scholars on the nature of constructivism, constructivism surely has brought out meaningful changes and developments in understanding how people learn. In light of this context, the present study aims to retrospectively review the last decade of constructivism, which will be followed by a brief prospective on its future in the next decade, simultaneously taking into account expectations as to how constructivism can stand firm as a theoretical basis for the digital age.     

Perspectives on educational technology research and development

This is the introductory article for the first issue ofEducational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D). The authors review the issues and process that led to the decision by the AECT Executive Board to co-publishEducational Communication and Technology Journal (ECTJ) and theJournal of Instructional Development (JID) in a new journal. The results of analyses of ECTJ and JID by Schwen and Middendorf (1987) and Dick and Dick (1989) are briefly summarized. The authors then report their own survey of AECT members to determine the topics and types of articles the members would prefer to read in ETR&D. Member preferences are compared with the actual content of the last ten issues of ECTJ and JID. Finally, the authors briefly discuss their own perspectives on ETR&D.     

职业教育制度研究综述

目前,关于职业教育制度的各种研究层出不穷,学者们不仅对职业教育制度概念的看法有很大差异,而且对职业教育制度所包含的内容等也各持己见,当然对于新时期职业教育制度的构建更是仁者见仁智者见智了。但归纳起来,关于职业教育制度的研究大致涉及到内涵研究、比较研究、高等职业教育制度研究、农村职业教育制度研究、职业教育公平问题研究、新时期职业教育制度的构建研究等几大方面的内容。     

教育技术学研究方法的微课程制作

教育技术学研究方法是教育技术学专业的核心主干课程.教育技术学研究方法微课开发是利用PPT、Focusky、录屏软件等工具,遵循微课的特点,将课程中的知识点碎片化后进行系统的设计,形成短小精悍的教学视频,具有情景性、趣味性的特点.它能激发学生的学习兴趣,促进自主学习的完成.     

A narrative review of Greek myths as interpretative metaphors in educational research and evaluation

This paper reviews a series of Greek myths put forward as cultural narratives that could be used as metaphors or interpretative similes for explanatory and evaluative purposes in educational research and evaluation. These myths have been used in educational research literature, and most of them were found by carrying out an exhaustive search of that literature. In particular, the paper discusses Procrustes, referring to the use of arbitrary evaluative standards; the myth of Mentor, the embodiment of the researcher as facilitator/improver for new, inexperienced researchers; Prometheus, or the archetype of the self-sacrificing researcher; Periphetes, representing the evaluator who is cruel through incompetence; Sisyphus, symbolising the researcher’s anxiousness to achieve his goals; and Ulysses, an archetype for qualitative research.These myths are still absolutely relevant today, after more than 20 centuries, and can be used as powerful explicative frameworks of phenomena in the field of educational research and evaluation. By using myths to interpret educational phenomena, one reconnects contemporary qualitative educational enquiry with its ancient predecessor forms of meaning making.     

Using cluster analysis for data mining in educational technology research

Cluster analysis is a group of statistical methods that has great potential for analyzing the vast amounts of web server-log data to understand student learning from hyperlinked information resources. In this methodological paper we provide an introduction to cluster analysis for educational technology researchers and illustrate its use through two examples of mining click-stream server-log data that reflects student use of online learning environments. Cluster analysis can be used to help researchers develop profiles that are grounded in learner activity??like sequence for accessing tasks and information, or time spent engaged in a given activity or examining resources??during a learning session. The examples in this paper illustrate the use of a hierarchical clustering method (Ward??s clustering) and a non-hierarchical clustering method (k-Means clustering) to analyze characteristics of learning behavior while learners engage in a problem-solving activity in an online learning environment. A discussion of advantages and limitations of using cluster analysis as a data mining technique in educational technology research concludes the article.     

研究教育技术办好"现代教育技术中心"

教育技术是现代远程教育的基本要素。“现代教育技术中心”是近年来众多广播电视大学推行现代教育技术的新建制,探索和构建它的实践模型,研究现代远程开放教育赋予它的使命和任务,是目前阶段电大完成“试点”项目的重要内容之一。     

A knowledge management technology architecture for educational research organisations: Scaffolding research projects and workflow processing

There is growing recognition that the economic climate of the world is shifting towards a knowledge‐based economy where knowledge will be cherished as the most prized asset. In this regard, technology can be leveraged as a useful tool in effectually managing the knowledge capital of an organisation. Although several research studies have advanced knowledge management frameworks catering to the requirements of organisations specialising in diverse fields of expertise, no comprehensive knowledge‐management architecture has been found that is technology mediated and orientated towards the emergent needs of an educational research organisation. In this paper, we review a knowledge management technology approach modeled as a web portal that was developed to create a repository and to facilitate shared resources in a research organisation. This technology‐based framework encapsulates the knowledge management processes that capture and augment the explicit knowledge resources of the research organisation. The framework also supports social networks that enable the sharing and encoding of tacit knowledge by facilitating online exchanges and feedback.