Continuous usage of e-participation: The role of the sense of virtual community

Local governments around the world are increasingly implementing e-participation platforms to involve citizens in consultation and decision-making processes. E-participation platforms usually succeed and produce positive effects in the community when adopted in the long-term scenario. The adoption of those platforms is still a challenge for local governments. The understanding of the factors that influence the continuous intention to use e-participation over time is critical for the design of diffusion and promotion strategies that motivate the citizens to keep using e-participation. This article explores the drivers that predict the post-adoption of e-participation platforms from the perspective of the sense of virtual community theory, that is the degree of affective attachment to a given community mediated by information technology. Specifically, our research model evaluates the association between the sense of virtual community with use behaviour and the continuous intention to use e-participation. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the data collected from 370 citizens who experienced an e-participation platform hosted by a European capital city. We found out that the direct association between the sense of virtual community and use was significant. Even though the direct association between the sense of virtual community and the continuous intention was non-significant, the indirect association sense of virtual community to use to continuous intention was statistically significant. This finding may indicate that the use behaviour is triggered by the influence of other members of the community for a short period of time, but it does not persist to influence the continuous intention over time.     

Reach Out! Highlighting Collections and Expanding Outreach to Non-Traditional Communities across Academia

As the number of reference questions continues to decline across academic libraries, innovative models have been developed to highlight collections and reach underserved communities. This article describes four outreach models at the University of New Mexico University Libraries, including satellite outreach services, pop-up book trucks and events, and relationship building at various locations on and off campus. The authors describe innovative approaches including curated browsing experiences and relationship marketing to underserved communities. Lessons learned, future approaches, and the benefits of each model will also be explored.     

Identifying teaching groups as a basis for academic development

Academic development recognizes the strengths of communities, such as communities of practice or learning communities, in providing academics with supportive environments for the development of teaching. The problem academic development faces is that not enough academics are involved in these communities. Instead of trying to interest academics in joining communities, this research looks at the existing contexts around academics, which it refers to as ‘teaching groups’. It is proposed that every academic involved in teaching belongs to at least one teaching group, formed by colleagues teaching in the same course, degree or subject and that teaching groups form relevant contexts for engagement with teaching. The research investigates how teaching groups compare to communities and finds that less than half of teaching groups named by participants have strong community characteristics, indicating large space for improvement in the remaining majority of groups. The suggestion is made that identifying teaching groups across an institution might provide a promising starting point for engaging a majority of academics and working with these academics towards increased interaction on teaching in open and trusting collegial atmospheres.     

Required Collaborative Work in Online Courses: A Predictive Modeling Approach

This article describes a predictive model that assesses whether a student will have greater perceived learning in group assignments or in individual work. The model produces correct classifications 87.5% of the time. The research is notable in that it is the first in the education literature to adopt a predictive modeling methodology using data collected via a designed experiment. All subjects experienced both a collaborative and an individual assignment, thus mitigating uncontrolled external factors in the measurement of differences in perceived learning. The exploratory nature of the work prompted the use of Partial Least Squares Regression for estimation. The work serves as an illustration of how predictive modeling might enlighten those in educational and academic settings.     

网络学习社区中学习者的社会行为及其影响的教学论阐释

网络学习社区是与学校教育与课堂教学相区别的另一种教育社会和教学时空,从教学社会学的视角来诠释网络社区中学习者行为的社会性及其对网络教育的影响是非常重要的研究范式。学习者通过最常见的6组基本行为建构着网络学习社区中的知识与情境,这些基本行为既是社区学习者从个体行为演绎成从众活动和学习懈怠等群体行为的基本途径,也是实现学习者之间竞争与合作交互行为、师生之间控制与服从交互行为的基本途径。上述学习者社会行为是网络中教育主体的社会关系与教学活动的主要呈现方式,设计与把握学习者的这些社会行为是网络教育绩效提升的关键,很值得网络教育管理者重视。     

MPOC:大规模私有在线课程的设计与运营

从MOOC发展的动态来看,Coursera、中国大学MOOC、清华学堂在线等都在向SPOC转型,试图通过(在线课程)内容授权和在线课堂(Online Classroom)租赁的方式,寻找盈利模式。以SPOC为基础的MPOC(Massive Private Online Course),通过培养合格的网络辅导教师以及同时开设多个"班"的方式,实现大规模私有在线网络教学,很可能代表了MOOC未来的发展方向。MPOC与MOOC/SPOC,从在线课程的内容和教学活动设计来看,可以共享同一个网络课程设计方案,差异主要体现在运营阶段的班额、收费、师资配备等方面。MPOC课程设计要以学习者分析、教学目标分析等为出发点,注重教学内容的表达,设计有效的教学活动,使课程设计方案落实到教学实施的行为层面。北京大学MPOC课程从2006-2014年,不仅在"班"和"课"的层面上,建立了师生、生生之间的持续教学对话,还在教育机构(学院、大学等办学机构)的层面上,形成了虚拟教育组织和虚拟教学团队。这个成功探索,使"虚拟教育组织"和虚拟教学团队的领导和管理,成为网络教育下一步研究的重要课题。     

Examining research on the impact of distance and online learning: A second-order meta-analysis study

Distance learning has evolved over many generations into its newest form of what we commonly label as online learning. In this second-order meta-analysis, we analyze 19 first-order meta-analyses to examine the impact of distance learning and the special case of online learning on students’ cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes. We examine to what extent distance learning generation level, and instructional setting moderate the influences of distance learning on cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes. This second-order meta-analyses also analyzes the first-order meta-analyses for methodological quality and robustness. The findings revealed a statistically significant overall average effect size (g = 0.156, p < .001 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.087–0.224) of distance learning impacting cognitive, affective and behavioral outcomes in comparison to face-to-face learning. Meta-analyses on higher education had a statistically significant larger effect size than K-12 education. Limitations, implications, and directions for future research are discussed.     

Tutoring in (online) higher education: Experimental evidence

Demand for personalized online tutoring in higher education is growing but there is little research on its effectiveness. We conducted an RCT offering remote peer tutoring in micro- and macroeconomics at a German university teaching online due to the Covid-pandemic. Treated students met in small groups, in alternating weeks with and without a more senior student tutor. The treatment improved study behavior and increased contact to other students. Tutored students achieved around 30% more credits and a one grade level better GPA across treated subjects. Our findings suggest that the program reduced outcome inequality. We find no impacts on mental health.     

中文维基百科编辑参与率低的原因分析及对策研究

维基百科是一部具有开放性、自由性、中立性和公众集体参与编撰的在线百科全书.网络百科全书的成功依赖于广大用户的积极参与和贡献.但是,在国内维基用户的编辑参与率不高.论文探讨了维基编辑参与率低的原因,有技术设施因素、网民心理因素和管理制度因素.针对其原因,提出了相应对策：降低门槛,让人们入门不难;提供服务满意度,激发兴趣回报社区;完善激励机制,精神和物质双重奖励.