Preliminary evidence of a relationship between the use of online learning and academic performance in a South African first-year university accounting course

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the use of online learning resources and academic performance in an Accounting 1 course conducted at a South African Higher Education Institution. The study employed a quantitative analysis over three academic years comparing the collection of end of year marks and the time spent online. The results provide preliminary empirical evidence to show that students who spent more time online significantly improved their course mark. Although much accounting-based educational research exists on the use of computers, there is a dearth of research testing any relationship between the use of online learning material and performance. While the results are preliminary and have some limitations, they are useful to students, teaching instructors and administrators, and provide a platform for future research into the value of using online learning in accounting.     

在线学习环境中课程完成原因探析(英文)

很多提供在线课程的教育机构所面临的一大挑战就是开发能够提高学生动机的教学策略,从而提高课程和项目的完成率.本研究利用Eastmond(1994)开发的基于计算机会议的成人远程学习框架(Adult Distance Study through Computer Conferencing,简称ADSCC),探讨了学习者的准备情况、在线特征、与计算机媒介传播(Computer Mediated Communication,tuj tq CMC)相关的学习方法等因素是否会影响虚拟学习环境中学生自备课程完成情况.研究结果表明,以上因素与课程完成情况有着显著的正相关.同时研究还发现,自我动机、对技术的信任,以及技术的易用等是在线学习环境中课程完成的主要原因.     

社会临场感研究综述

社会临场感是指在利用媒体进行沟通过程中,一个人被视为"真实的人"的程度及与他人联系的感知程度。它能够促进虚拟环境中人与人的交互以及学习者的知识建构,是影响在线学习的重要因素,也是影响在线学习满意度的重要指标。文章首先介绍了社会临场感起源与发展过程,然后论述了社会临场感的内涵,包括定义的界定与辨析、内在属性及影响因素,之后对常用的测量社会临场感的方法进行分析,最后研究者介绍了关于社会临场感的研究热点并对未来的发展趋势进行了展望。     

线上教学质量双面性：对照组检验与学生偏好评价的不同结果

对于大规模的高等教育在线教学质量评价众说纷纭。已有的研究调查发现本科学生大体上更偏好线下教学。然而,学生的偏好只反映了其主观意愿的一面。利用“中国高水平大学课程教与学追踪调查”（CUCE）数据库,得到中国三所顶尖大学的同一批课程疫情前的6264份线下教学样本及2020年春季学期的4451份线上教学样本,构成授课内容与教师均相同的对照组。统计分析显示,在课堂体验、学业投入和课程满意度三方面,学生的主观偏好均倾向于线下教学。线上线下对照组比较分析却发现,线上教学在这三方面的教学效果显著高于线下教学,效应值均低于0.04。学生主观偏好与对照组比较两种评价路径得出不同的质量评价结果。由于应急情况下师生为线上教学付出大量投入,在有限程度上提升了教学质量,但教学效率可能偏低。低效应值也表明课程质量不取决于线上或线下教学形式。常态下在线教学的质量还有待进一步检验。     

A practical approach for applying online remote experiments: OnPReX

The development of Internet technologies stimulates the increase of online technology-supported education in universities. Online learning based on remote experiments is capable of diminishing the scantiness in practical courses. In this paper, we present online practical courses based on remote experiments (OnPReX). These courses consist of online experiments, interactive graphics and an online tutoring-system organised at the Berlin Institute of Technology (TUB). We developed two online practical courses, one focusing on classical and the other on modern physics, for bachelor and intermediate diploma engineering students. Our online practical courses based on remote experiments took place in two test phases during two semesters. These courses were evaluated and the results were used to improve the courses. Our online practical courses on remote experiments have successfully been integrated as electives at the TUB.     

探究网络远程教育中学习支持服务的构建

现代远程教育已经进入第三代网络远程教育阶段,学习支持服务是网络远程教育成功与否的关键。结合江苏开放大学的实际情况,构建第三代网络远程教育学习支持服务体系,包括三个阶段：学前、学中与学后,涵盖七个方面：课程选择、学〉--j时间管理、学习动机激励、网上交流合作、网上学习方式、作业和考试、跟踪回访和职业生涯。     

欲穷千里目更上一层楼——试点项目子课题阶段性研究报告

教育部主持的“试点项目中期评估”,赞许了天津电大的网络学习环境的功能,并认为它把网络学习提升到了一个新的高度。双向视频远程教学系统、“电大在线”教学平台、卫星数据广播地面接收网以及教育系统光纤宽带网的陆续建成和全面推进,不仅大大强化了教学支持服务的手段和功能,也引发了电大办学系统的深层次变化。2003年,天津电大又迎来了大发展的新机遇。     

开放教育法学本科《中国法律思想史》课程网上学习行为考核实施效果分析

以开放教育法学本科《中国法律思想史》课程网上学习行为考核改革实践为例,分析了该课程网上学习行为考核的实施效果,探讨其中存在的问题,并提出了增强网上学习考核有效性的若干建议。     

Transforming online teaching practice: critical analysis of the literature on the roles and competencies of online teachers

Understanding what is lacking in the online teaching literature is critical to helping researchers and practitioners develop programs and support mechanisms for online teachers in higher education. This review formulates a critique of the standards- and competency-driven vision of online teaching from the perspective of transformative learning theory, in order to offer an alternative exploration of the professional development of online teachers as adult learners. The results indicate that while research about online teacher roles and competencies guides the development of teacher preparation and training programs, it lacks in terms of addressing the issues of empowerment of online teachers, promoting critical reflection, and integrating technology into pedagogical inquiry. An alternative perspective is suggested that considers teachers as adult learners who continuously transform their meaning of structures related to online teaching through a continuous process of critical reflection and action.     

网上课程设计的理论基础的模式建构

有效的网上课程设计是网上教学成功的关键因素之一.本文旨在分析和探讨网上课程设计的理论基础.文章分为三部分,第一部分介绍目前网上课程设计使用的理论基础的片面性,说明建立整合式网上课程设计的需要.第二部分阐述了整合式网上课程设计的埋论基础,包括一般的教学理论和学习理论、成人教学理论和成人学习理论、远程教学理论以及技术使用原理,并分析了这些理论存网上课程设计中的应用.第三部分提出了整合式网上课设计理论基础的假设模式,并强调存各种理论和原理的使用中,不只是考虑引进的西方的理论和原理,同时要发扬光人中国传统和中国现代教学理论和原理,使我国的网上课程设计能适合我国的成人学习者.     

Case-based learning in virtual groups – collaborative problem solving activities and learning outcomes in a virtual professional training course

This article analyzes the collaborative problem solving activities and learning outcomes of five groups that worked on two different complex cases in a virtual professional training course. In this asynchronous virtual learning environment, all knowledge management content was delivered virtually and collaboration took place through forums. To measure the effects of the problem solving activities, learners' contributions were analyzed with respect to four different problem solving activities: Two content-specific problem solving activities, namely gathering information and developing a solution, and two coordination-specific problem solving activities, namely planning the common approach and steering the interaction process. Results indicated that the learning process was dominated by two central activities: developing a solution and steering the interaction process. Furthermore, the results indicated that the groups with the more complex case used more overall problem solving activities than the groups with the less complex case. There was also a greater range of learning outcomes for learners with the more complex case than for learners with the less complex case. Finally, the number of overall problem solving activities for most of the successful groups was higher than for the less successful groups. Additionally, the more successful groups used more coordination-specific activities than content-specific activities during the problem solving process.     

Using learning styles theory in engineering education

Studies have shown that, while learning different concepts, people sometimes take different approaches (learning styles). Accordingly, their performance reflected differently in their academic studies. With the effect of globalisation to the educational environments, the influence of individual learning styles on educational performance is getting more significant. In this study, a learning style assessment tool was used to examine the relationship between students’ learning styles and their performance in engineering education programmes. At the beginning of the programme, 285 students’ learning styles were measured using a learning style assessment tool. Four years after the engineering education, their performance in the programme was compared with their individual learning styles. This study shows that most of the students are assimilators. Divergers and convergers follow the assimilators. The number of accommodators is very limited. The relationship between engineering students’ learning styles and their performance is found: assimilators and convergers performed better than the divergers and accommodators. The performance difference between assimilators and divergers is statistically significant. The results of this study show that the learning style theory is a potential tool for guiding the design and improvement of courses and helping students to improve their individual performance.     

对我国会计环境变迁与高校会计教育改革的思考

中国加入WTO后,我国会计教育面临全新的挑战.会计教育环境的变迁将对会计教育产生深远影响,而目前高校会计教育与我国会计人才需求又有明显的不适应.本文分析了会计教育弊病产生的根源及解决途径,并对我国高校会计教育改革提出可行性建议.