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Archive for the ‘Research’ Category

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Challenges of ‘Students as Producers’ in Web 2.0: a reflective account

In reaction to recent calls for Higher Education institutions to invite students to shape and manage their own educational experiences (McLoughlin & Lee, 2007, 2008), increasing numbers of initiatives are engaging students as partners and co-producers of curriculum content. Positioning students as co-producers has great potential to enable them to innovate, share and form communities […]

An Exploratory Study of Emotional Affordance of a Massive Open Online Course

This exploratory study examines emotional affordance of a massive open online course (MOOC). Postings in a discussion forum of a MOOC in computer science are analysed following a research design informed by virtual ethnography. Emotional affordance is investigated, focusing on non-achievement emotions which are not directly linked to achievement activities or outcomes. The study identifies […]

Learning Analytics: Readiness and Rewards

This paper introduces the relatively new field of learning analytics, first by considering the relevant meanings of both “learning” and “analytics,” and then by looking at two main levels at which learning analytics can be or has been implemented in educational organizations. Although turnkey systems or modules are not yet available for review, specific technologies […]

Making a Match: Aligning Audience, Goals, and Content in Online Adjunct Training

As increasing numbers of higher education students take online courses, there is a corresponding need for additional instructors to teach these students. The research literature indicates that there are different instructor roles, competencies, and attitudes that are required for teaching effectively online than for teaching in campus-based classrooms. These changes in teaching roles result in […]

Ensuring Quality in Online Courses: Applying the AACSB International’s Distance Learning Quality Issues

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the Distance Learning Quality Issues published by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB-International) to document the various characteristics that high-quality online courses must possess. A content analysis methodology was employed to examine the seven quality issues to develop a high-quality framework to assist […]

An Evaluation of Student Outcomes by Course Duration in Online Higher Education

To facilitate student learning and ensure financial stability, leaders in higher education institutions offering online degrees and programs are adopting flexible course schedules with shorter terms. The literature does not include many evaluations demonstrating how shorter duration terms and courses might affect student achievement. In this quantitative study, data were gathered from six online courses. […]

Student and faculty outcomes of undergraduate science research projects by geographically dispersed students

Senior undergraduate research projects are important components of most undergraduate science degrees. The delivery of such projects in a distance education format is challenging. Athabasca University (AU) science project courses allow distance education students to complete research project courses by working with research supervisors in their local area, coordinated at a distance by AU faculty. […]

Rent-a-crowd? Crowdfunding academic research

This paper examines the use of crowdfunding platforms to fund academic research. Looking specifically at the use of a Pozible campaign to raise funds for a small pilot research study into home education in Australia, the paper reports on the success and problems of using the platform. It also examines the crowdsourcing of literature searching […]

Academic Library Staff and eReaders: Understanding Adoption, Rejection, and Service Development

In August 2011, a cohort of 30 Oregon State University Libraries and Press librarians and staff received free e-readers (Kindle Keyboards, Nook Simple Touches, Kobo Touches, and Sony PRS-350 Reader Pocket Editions) to use and adopt as they wished. In return, they were asked to participate in a year-long study exploring factors influencing their decisions […]

Shifting Views: Exploring the Potential for Technology Integration in Early Childhood Education Programs

Using technology with children in play-based early learning programs creates questions for some within the Early Childhood Education (ECE) community. This paper presents how two faculty who teach in ECE-related degree programs integrated educational technology into their teaching pedagogy as a way to model to their students how it can be used to support children’s […]