Research | Distance-Educator.com - Part 104 Distance-Educator.com

Archive for the ‘Research’ Category

The reality of assessing ‘authentic’ electronic portfolios: Can electronic portfolios serve as a form of standardized assessment to measure literacy and self-regulated learning at the elementary level?

This study explores electronic portfolios and their potential to assess student literacy and self-regulated learning in elementary-aged children. Assessment tools were developed and include a holistic rubric that assigns a mark from 1 to 5 to self-regulated learning (SRL) and a mark to literacy, and an analytical rubric measuring multiple sub-scales of SRL and literacy. […]

Indirect measures of learning transfer between real and virtual environments

This paper reports on research undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a 3D simulation environment used to train mining personnel in emergency evacuation procedures, designated the Fires in Underground Mines Evacuation Simulator (FUMES). Owing to the operational constraints of the mining facility, methods for measuring learning transfer were employed which did not require real world […]

The competencies required for effective performance in a university e-learning environment

The aim of this study was to identify and rate the importance of the competencies required by students for effective performance in a university e-learning environment mediated by a learning management system. Two expert panels identified 58 e-learning competencies considered to be essential for e-learning. Of these competencies, 22 were related to the use of […]

The Credentialing Economy: Transformed by and for Its Beneficiaries

Education is being economically squeezed in a Holy Grail pursuit of educational justice and attainment at scale. IMS standards-based mash-ups and an Internet-like governance model for the credentialing economy together can improve flexibility and affordability for all beneficiaries. EDUCAUSE Full Article

An Exploration of Students’ Experiences of Learning in an Online Primary Teacher Education Program

This study examined students’ experiences of learning in the Bachelor of Education Primary (Language Arts) program offered by the School of Education, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Trinidad, in partnership with UWI Open Campus (UWIOC). It is the first and only online program offered by the School at the University’s St. Augustine Campus. […]

Supporting new students from vocational education and training: Finding a reusable solution to address recurring learning difficulties in e-learning

This paper reports on a project that investigated the first year, online experiences of vocational education and training (VET) pathway students studying at university. It was found that, although some students embraced online learning, more than twenty percent of new VET students suffered from high levels of anxiety and frustration when learning online and more […]

In their own words: Student stories of seeking learning support

Many Open and Distance Learning (ODL) providers report that their students are prone to lower rates of retention and completion than campus-based students. Against this background, there is growing interest around distance-specific learning support. The current research investigated the experiences of students during their first semester as distance learners at Massey University in New Zealand. […]

Open and Distance Education Systems: do they enhance Graduates’ Soft Skills? The results from 2009 Universitas Terbuka Tracer Study

The vision and mission of Universitas Terbuka (UT) is to become a highly qualified open and distance education institution and to provide higher education access to all communities. Graduates of UT are expected to acquire adequate knowledge, hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills play important roles in the world of work. The aim of […]

Engaging e-Portfolios in an Independent Learning Process

This study investigates the use of e-portfolios in an independent learning process of learners in English as a second language (ESL). In this study, the instructor uses e-portfolios to manage the self-learning records of learners, to allow learners to interact with peers, and to evaluate performance outcomes. Learners record their self-learning activities using e-portfolios in […]

Exclusive Interview with Dr. Lin Muilenburg, Associate Professor of Educational Studies at St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Dr. Saba: Dr. Muilenburg, would you please tell us about your educational and professional backgrounds? Dr. Muilenburg: My early career began as a secondary biology, chemistry, and math teacher, but I’ve had the good fortune to experience a great deal of variety in my work life due to nearly a dozen relocations as a result of […]