Instructional Design | Distance-Educator.com

Archive for the ‘Instructional Design’ Category

Exploring Demographics and Students’ Motivation as Predictors of Completion of a Massive Open Online Course

This paper investigates the degree to which different variables affect the completion of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Data on those variables, such as age, gender, English proficiency, education level, and motivation for course enrollment were first collected through a pre-course survey. Next, course completion records were collected via the Coursera database. Finally, multiple […]

The conceptualisation of cognitive tools in learning and teachnology: A review

The term cognitive tool has been used in many areas of academic specialisation, where it has taken on multiple connotations. In this historical and systematic review, we investigate the conceptualisation of cognitive tools in the learning sciences and educational technology. First, the theory of cognitive tools vis-à-vis learning and development is traced from Vygotsky and […]

Diversity in Video Lectures

Media diversity within video lectures has been shown to have an effect on students who participate in both flipped classes as well as online courses. While some research claims that content delivered through multiple sources leads to more learning, contrasting research makes the claim that too much media hinders cognitive processing. The present study investigated […]

Revisiting cognitive tools from a social and motivational perspective

The concept of computers as cognitive tools has been revisited to provide insight into the motivational and social dimension in light of the emerging technologies. Central to this concept are the two opposing philosophical views: learning from technology (amplification view of technology) versus learning with technology (constructivist view of technology). A literature review is provided […]

Learning with computers: Generating insights into the development of cognitive tools using cultural historical activity theory

Using computers as cognitive tools or mindtools has created impact in education since their introduction in the 1990s. One main characteristic is the notion of learning with computers as intellectual partners: engaging learners in higher level thinking while taking away the lower level cognitive load such as computing and digital storage. In recent years, the […]

Educational Network Projects as Form of E-Learning

In the transition to digital technologies, the pedagogical community needs a fundamentally different methodological basis of education, it is necessary to radically update the goals, content, forms, methods and means of education, taking into account the flow of information and communication processes in which modern youth grows. The article notes a number of positive and […]

Download Report: Making education accessible throughout the learning environment

Worldwide, an estimated one billion people experience some sort of physical, visual, hearing or cognitive disability. Blackboard considers making education accessible to these individuals both a moral and legal imperative. For an in-depth discussion on this topic, please see our recent white paper, Why Accessibility: the accessibility imperative for education. eCampus News & Blackboard

First Wave of Carnegie Mellon Learning Tools Now Available

Carnegie Mellon University has moved forward in its efforts to release education tools into the world. Last week, the institution officially introduced OpenSimon, a community and collection of tools dedicated to “[catalyzing] a revolution in learning and teaching” for higher education and K-12. According to the university, the software that will eventually be made available […]

Gamifying Online Tests to Promote Retrieval-Based Learning

Recent findings have provided strong evidence that retrieval-based learning is an effective strategy for enhancing knowledge retention and long-term meaningful learning, but it is not a preferred learning strategy for the majority of students. The present research analyzes the application of learning gamification principles in online, open-book, multiple-choice tests in order to motivate students to […]

Blending Crowdvoting in Modern e-Learning Environments

Given that the most students spend considerable time on social networks, many educational institutions use this habit as a basis for educational purposes. Increasing students’ active participation in learning activities is one of the main goals of education. The purpose of this research was to investigate to what extent crowdvoting techniques can increase students’ participation […]

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