A Preliminary Investigation into the Adaptive Learning Styles of Business Students

An exploration of the preferred learning styles for over 1,100 business students has yielded an intriguing result. While many previous studies have examined the learning styles in different majors at different universities, these studies have been focused on describing the typical student for that major. This study demonstrates that the preferred learning styles of students may depend more on the course than the major, indicating that students may have adaptive learning styles. Rather than having an innate, consistent preferred learning style, business students adapt their preferred learning style to the subject of the course. Further research is necessary to confirm these exploratory findings.     

The Role of Effective Modeling in the Development of Self‐Efficacy: The Case of the Transparent Engine*

Computing technology augments learning in education in a number of ways. One particular method uses interactive programs to demonstrate complex concepts. The purpose of this article is to examine one type of interactive learning technology, the transparent engine. The transparent engine allows instructors and students to view and directly interact with educational concepts such as Web‐enabled software development. The article first presents a framework describing transparent engines. The framework details four types of transparent engines: (1) enactive mastery/manipulatable, (2) enactive mastery/nonmanipulatable, (3) vicarious experience/manipulatable, and (4) vicarious experience/nonmanipulatable. Following this, we present the results of an experiment designed to examine this framework by testing its predictions for one quadrant, vicarious experience/nonmanipulatable. The results support the framework in that students taught concepts with the aid of the vicarious experience/nonmanipulatable transparent engine had significantly higher domain‐specific self‐efficacy compared to those taught the same concepts without this tool.     

Perceptions of Business Students' Feature Requirements in Educational Web Sites

There is paucity of original research that explains phenomena related to content organization and site design of educational Web sites. Educational Web sites are often used to provide Web‐based instruction, which itself is a relatively recent phenomenon for business schools, and additional research is needed in this area. Educational Web sites are designed with a different set of criteria as compared with other sites, such as those having an e‐commerce or marketing focus. More research is needed to build a theoretical foundation for feature requirements in educational Web sites. As in any new approach to teaching and learning, critical issues need to be examined before Web‐based instruction is fully integrated into teaching processes. When developing educational Web sites, features that support pedagogy should be given primary consideration. It is therefore important to identify key elements that will have maximum impact on learning. Using Q‐sort analysis (a type of Factor Analysis), this study investigated feature requirements of educational Web sites as perceived by business students. Based on the analysis of user requirements in relation to several variables that were identified from a review of literature, group characteristics emerged from students' responses. Similarities and differences between groups were investigated, and implications of these results for development of educational Web sites are presented in this study.     

The Use of Problem-Based Learning to Enhance MIS Education

Many colleges of business require a course in computer applications concepts, often consisting of spreadsheet and database applications. Quite often, students resist taking the class because they do not see any worth to it, it duplicates what they already have taken, and they already know much of what is purported to be taught in the class. Instructors too are often frustrated with this class. This article suggests that part of the problem is the method of instruction often used: lecture and demonstration of tools followed by end‐of‐chapter assignments. We propose that problem‐based learning is an alternative instructional method that may produce more positive results for students. To examine this approach, a semester‐long study involving 186 business school students enrolled in a computer applications concept course of seven different sections was conducted. Student motivation, computer self‐efficacy, knowledge, and satisfaction were studied. Results strongly support a problem‐based learning approach as an instructional approach to teaching this class.

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Evaluation of a Computer-Supported Learning System

Educational content on the Internet is rapidly increasing. Academics and businesses are placing more course material online to supplement classroom and business training situations. In addition, significant increases in undergraduate enrollments in information system courses, and the rapid pace of new knowledge in the field, have led researchers to call for new innovative approaches to learning. Prior researchers have reported that this new Web‐based training technology (which has its foundation in computer‐based training) has not integrated sound pedagogical practices into the authoring process when developing new tutorials. This paper summarizes an experiment to evaluate the effect on posttest scores of a Web‐based authoring tool that prompts the developer to build multiple presentation styles into the learning module. Early results indicate that the tool is more effective than traditional HTML‐authoring tools and that the number of exercises affects posttest scores in a positive manner. No effect on posttest scores was observed for the number of examples in the learning module.     

Learning Experience and Learning Effectiveness in Undergraduate Statistics: Modeling Performance in Traditional and Flexible Learning Environments*

This project investigates the relationship between student performance, past mathematics experience, and perceptions of statistics education for two groups of university students studying statistics in different learning environments. One group received the traditional form of teaching with lectures, whereas the other group studied in a more flexible learning mode where lectures were replaced with a computer‐managed learning tool and optional small‐group workshops facilitated by written lecture notes. The results on student learning experience show that, for both groups, student enjoyment of the course is positively related to their learning attitudes and to their perceived value of statistics education, and is negatively related to anxiety with regard to their performance in the course. There is some evidence that the group studying in the technology‐supported flexible learning environment experienced more assessment anxiety and consequently less enjoyment of the subject. There is also evidence that assessment anxiety has a negative effect on student performance that is exacerbated by a lack of prior mathematics experience. Hence, the flexible learning approach in statistics education, with minimal face‐to‐face teaching, may be especially inappropriate for these students.     

智能教学系统中支持协作学习的群体感知模型

自主学习和协作学习是相互促进、相互依赖的网络学习方式。然而,目前典型的网络学习系统(智能教学系统和计算机支持的协作学习系统)大多将自主学习和协作学习强制分离,忽视了自主学习过程中协作交流的激励作用以及协作学习过程中学习者的自主学习需求。因此,扩展现有的智能教学系统,构建一个自主学习和协作学习有机融合的数字化学习环境,有助于更好地满足网络环境下师生的学习需求。支持协作学习的群体感知模型由群体感知信息、群体感知本体和群体感知规则三部分组成,采用本体技术建模协作感知信息,运用语义Web规则语言刻画协作感知机制,为实现协作学习的信息交互提供通用模型。基于该模型构建的智能教学系统,在原有ITS自主学习环境的基础上,扩展了参与者可以相互感知、相互交流的协作学习模块,实现与现有智能教学系统的无缝整合,为开发具有协作学习功能的智能教学系统提供了技术参考。     

Supporting Student Learning through Instructional Videos in Business Statistics

While statistics is an essential topic for business students, many students experience barriers to successful learning due to anxiety, motivation, or difficulty with quantitative understanding. This research examines the use of online videos with an effort to explore the relationship between student characteristics, video usage, and course performance measures. In addition, the study examines student perceptions of the supplemental resources in an effort to examine the efficacy related to student learning and performance. This study seeks to confirm previous research regarding the benefit of supplemental video resources and extend the knowledge base by understanding the impact for various types of students (e.g., level of course, level of previous academic performance, etc.). The study found that the use of the video resources varies based on students’ previous math performance and the difficulty of the material. Student ratings indicate that the videos were helpful in learning the content and that they provided an important resource when students needed additional tools to master the material. Analysis of the results provides implications for understanding how different students use online videos and offers recommendations for educators and researchers about how to enhance student success in difficult statistics coursework.     

学习云空间中基于情境感知的移动学习自适应模型及其应用研究

随着移动互联网等新技术的快速发展,移动学习成为网络学习空间的主要学习方式之一,然而移动学习效果的提升面临着复杂移动情境下空间化学习的自适应挑战。文章以云计算支持下的网络学习空间(即学习云空间)为背景,分析了移动学习的自适应因素,提出了一个基于情境感知的移动学习自适应模型,并探讨了移动学习的自适应实现机制及其应用策略。研究依托iStudy的移动学习自适应系统进行应用实践和实证分析,结果表明:该系统更有利于提高场独立型与场依存型两种风格学生的自我效能感,以及场依存型学生的学习成绩;不同知识类型学习中均使用该系统,其学习成绩没有差异;两种风格学生均认为该系统更加便捷适用,场依存型学生认为该系统更有利于促进学习。研究为促进移动学习的自适应和个性化理论与实践探索提供了有力支撑。     

基于社会网络分析(SNA)的共享调节学习评价:概念框架与解释案例

共享调节学习评价涉及协作学习的不同维度和过程,同时兼具群体感知的功能。现有的评价存在分析维度单一、数据利用不足、缺乏对互动过程的挖掘和跟踪等问题。将社会网络分析(Social Network Analysis,SNA)引入共享调节学习的评价,可以充分反映共享调节学习特有的理论观照,呈现调节过程不同阶段的特点、不同评价维度的关联性以及调节的内在机制。基于SNA的共享调节学习评价框架,在数据收集以及分析工具方面,拓展了现有的共享调节评价维度,其引入群体交流模式、群体互动紧密性、个人或群体角色、不同关系维度、多模社会关系等评价分析工具,对共享调节学习过程进行评价与跟踪,促进了群体的自我感知。以华东师范大学教育信息技术学系的一门专业选修课程为解释案例说明概念框架的应用过程,也表明了基于SNA的共享调节评价能够评估共享调节学习的协作过程,促进共享调节水平的提高,相应的评价工具能够促进协作学习活动开展,强化成员的群体感知。未来仍需要进一步深化实证研究,完善评价工具,拓展应用案例,进一步挖掘概念框架的潜在价值。     

The Investigation and Analysis of Learning Motivation in English-Education Majors

Learning motivation is regarded as the critical fact of affecting the learners’learning.This article focuses on the local normal colleges,which offer the abundant resource of teachers;guarantee the education rights of students’.This article is based on the related literature and the statistics offered by questionnaires and surveys.The participants were 80 Englisheducation majors from a local normal university in Beijing and the surveys choose randomly 6 of them to get the answer.Through these two ways,we’ve found that the main motivation type for English-education majors is instrumental motivation.Family background,society and teaching model may lead to this phenomenon.The findings suggest that teachers should guide students to utilize their learnt knowledge into use and opening a book saloon to increase their interest and understanding of teaching might be a good way to improve students’integrative motivation.     

非英语专业大学英语词汇学习现状调查及对策

本文通过问卷调查的方式对非英语专业本科生大学英语词汇学习现状进行了了解,并对调查结果进行了分析,发现学生在英语词汇学习过程中存在一些问题,本人针对问题提出了几点建议。     

Students Acquiring Expertise through Student-Centered Learning in Mathematics Lessons

This article reports the results of a study that investigated junior high school students’ experiences with learning in mathematics lessons that were based on self-guidance, use of technology, and minimalist instruction. The study was part of a ClassPad project and data were obtained from reports written by the 23 students after the ClassPad project ended. A model describing the student’s process of mastering doing and learning mathematics through acquiring expertise processes was constructed by using grounded theory method. The mastery of doing and/or learning was reached either with satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Two different learning profiles, one concluding with students feeling satisfied with their learning and the other concluding with students feeling unsatisfied, illustrated the students’ typical processes. The findings further revealed that when the teacher’s role was minimized and the students had the opportunity to self-guide their learning in an environment with various materials and easy-to-use technology, student-centered learning occurred.     

Students’ Perspective into the Apathy and Social Disconnectedness They Feel in Undergraduate Business Classrooms

Apathy and social disconnectedness among undergraduate business students remain poorly understood and under‐researched—despite evidence that they produce an adverse impact on learning‐related outcomes. Qualitative research was initially conducted among a sample of undergraduate business students to identify the antecedents and learning‐related consequences of apathy and social disconnectedness, develop grounded definitions, hypotheses, and scales. This was followed by a survey that aimed to test a conceptual model that emerged from qualitative data. The study finds evidence to suggest that high levels of anxiety among students antecedes social disconnectedness and powerlessness, which trigger apathy or the lack of caring about being a student or attending college. These psychosocial problems are severe enough, the study finds, to adversely impact the quality of students’ learning experiences. Implications for new thinking and research are discussed, and implications for improving instruction are derived from the findings.     

The Impact of Emotions on Student Achievement in Synchronous Hybrid Business and Public Administration Programs: A Longitudinal Test of Control‐Value Theory*

Synchronous hybrid delivery (simultaneously teaching on‐campus and online students using Web conferencing) is becoming more common in higher education. However, little is known about students’ emotions in these environments. Although often overlooked, emotions are fundamental antecedents of success. This study longitudinally examined the role of students’ emotions (enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom), perceptions of control, value, and success in synchronous hybrid learning environments. In particular, the investigation assessed students’ self‐reported enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom as predictors of their program achievement and successful technology use. Students were recruited from synchronous hybrid MBA and MPA programs. Control‐value theory of emotions was used as the theoretical framework. Paired samples t‐tests revealed that the achievement domain, compared to the technology domain, yielded higher mean scores for control, value, enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom. In addition, mixed ANOVAs indicated an interaction effect in which group means for program boredom were significantly higher for on‐campus students than for online students. Intercorrelations in each domain showed that perceived success was positively related to enjoyment and negatively related to anxiety and boredom. Technology‐related anxiety was also found to fully mediate the positive effect of control on perceived success in using technology.     

Exploring high school students' and teachers' preferences toward the constructivist Internet‐based learning environments in Taiwan

This paper explores high school students' and teachers' preferences towards constructivist Internet‐based learning environments. The study proposes a framework, including two dimensions and five aspects, to illustrate the features of the Internet‐based learning environments. Based upon this framework, the Constructivist Internet‐based learning environment survey improvement (CILESI) was developed, which includes the scales of ease of use, multiple sources, student negotiation, reflective thinking, critical judgement and epistemological awareness. Questionnaire responses gathered from 630 high school students in Taiwan suggested that the CILESI showed adequate reliability in assessing students' preferences. Male students placed more emphasis on the student negotiation, critical judgement and epistemological awareness enhanced by the Internet‐based learning environments than female students did. In addition, the teachers of the sampled students (n?=?78) were also surveyed by CILESI. The teachers tended to express stronger preferences on the ease of use of the Internet‐based learning environments than did their students. However, students, when compared with their teachers, seemed to express more preferences towards the features of student negotiation, reflective thinking, critical judgement and epistemological awareness of Internet‐based learning environments.     

The Relationship Between Academic Major and Environmentalism Among College Students: Is it Mediated by the Effects of Gender,Political Ideology and Financial Security?

Several studies have found a relationship between college students’ academic majors and their environmental attitudes and behaviors. Results from this study of incoming first-year students at a medium-sized public university suggest that students majoring in different programs of study were likely to have different environmental attitudes and behaviors. There were also differences in the proportions of women, political liberals, and financially secure students in each of the different majors. When controlling for the effects of gender, political ideology, and financial security, incoming business majors scored lower on two of the four measures of environmentalism than incoming students in the other majors. The findings in this study suggest that incoming students choose majors that are consistent with their worldviews.     

A Study of Disciplinary, Structural, and Behavioral Effects on Course Outcomes in Online MBA Courses

This article reports the results of a 2‐year study examining the effects of subject matter, course structure, and participant behaviors on students' perceived learning and satisfaction with delivery medium in Web‐based courses of an MBA program in the midwestern United States. Using finance as the referent discipline, we found statistically significant differences in the mean course outcomes (students' perceived learning and satisfaction with delivery medium) associated with 13 business disciplines. Although most of these disciplinary differences ceased to be significant predictors of student perceived learning as structural and behavioral characteristics were incorporated into the model, these differences remained significant predictors of perceived delivery medium satisfaction. We also found that some structural and behavioral characteristics were significant predictors of course outcomes, but in opposite directions. For instance, media variety was a positive predictor of delivery medium satisfaction but a negative predictor of perceived learning, while learner–learner interaction positively predicted perceived learning but negatively predicted delivery medium satisfaction. These findings suggest that instructors of online graduate courses must manage trade‐offs in balancing students' learning with their perceptions of the internet as a course delivery medium.     

远程教育英语专业学习资源的实用性设计

学习资源作为远程学习者学习的主要内容,其设计的优劣会直接影响学习者的学习兴趣、学习动力、学习成效和满意度。优化远程教育学习资源的实用性设计是保持远程学习者在学率的重要途径。通过对远程开放教育英语专业学习者在学习资源使用、学习时间利用、教学互动参与等方面的调查和访谈发现：远程学习者仍以课程教材为主、以配套光盘和学习指导书及在线学习资源为辅展开课程学习,但是学习者无法对学习资源按需查取;学习者倾向于使用简短的视频课件资源,但面临时间占有率和信息处理强度的挑战;学习者由于英语专业的特殊性很难进行实质性的个性化学习和教学互动。因此,开放大学在新一轮的英语专业学习资源设计过程中,应以教材为中心,将各种形式的学习资源进行一体化设计和精细划分,对网络视频课应分类设计、系列制作、微型呈现,对网络学习平台应减少级数,促进全国范围内远程学习者的信息共享和多维互动学习。     

网络环境下自主学习模型的构建——兼论Web3.0的理念与引领趋势

在信息社会中,网络学习的开展是推进终身学习、构建学习型社会的重要举措,网络学习绩效水平取决于个性化学习水平的培养和引导。通过介绍与自主学习和网络学习环境的相关概念和分类,分析了网络自主学习环境内涵、特点以及作用。从Web的发展历程以及自主学习过程中的教学支架类型的角度,提出了三种网络学习模式———基于Web 1.0、Web 2.0环境的自主学习模式和基于Web 3.0环境的个性化学习模式,并对三种模式构建的过程进行了探讨。