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Archive for the ‘Research’ Category

Signals: Using Academic Analytics to Promote Student Success

Key Takeaways Using existing student data and current grade information, Purdue created Signals, a system that gives students early and frequent performance notifications and helps faculty members steer students toward additional campus resources as needed. The student success algorithm considers not only demographic and performance data but also data on student effort and engagement. Results […]

Investigating a relationship between learner control and self-efficacy in an online learning environment

Abstract In both traditional face-to-face and online learning contexts, self-efficacy has been shown to be a key contributor to learner success. Once established, self-efficacy can be generalised to other learning situations, with the strongest effect occurring with learning activities that are closest to those in which self-efficacy has been improved. Self-efficacy is not only a […]

Hiring Managers’ Perceptions of the Value of an Online MBA

Abstract Researchers have theorized that online degrees are less valuable in the perception of hiring managers. Identifying the factors which influence the hiring managers’ perceptions and if obtaining a degree from a for-profit institution influences that perception is critical in designing programs and courses. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that […]

Learning Analytics

This paper provides a brief introduction to the domain of ‘learning analytics’. We first explain the background and idea behind the concept. Then we give a brief overview of current research issues. We briefly list some more controversial issues before concluding. e-learning and education Journal Full Article

Assessing Student Retention in Online Learning Environments: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract In their initial study, authors Boston, Ice, and Gibson (2011) explored the relationship between student demographics and interactions, and retention at a large online university. Participants in the preliminary study (n = 20,569) included degree-seeking undergraduate students who completed at least one course at the American Public University System (APUS) in 2007. Two notable […]

A preliminary examination of the cost savings and learning impacts of using open textbooks in middle and high school science classes

Abstract Proponents of open educational resources claim that significant cost savings are possible when open textbooks displace traditional textbooks in the classroom. Over a period of two years, we worked with 20 middle and high school science teachers (collectively teaching approximately 3,900 students) who adopted open textbooks to understand the process and determine the overall […]

Odyssey of the Mind: Social Networking in Cyberschool

Abstract K-12 online learning and cyber charter schools have grown at a tremendous rate over the past decade. At the same time, these online programs have struggled to provide the social spaces where students can interact that K-12 schools are traditionally able to provide. Social networking presents a unique opportunity to provide these kinds of […]

Influence of Learning Styles on Graphical User Interface Preferences for e-Learners

Abstract Implementing Web-based educational environment requires not only developing appropriate architectures, but also incorporating human factors considerations. User interface becomes the major channel to convey information in e-learning context: a well-designed and friendly enough interface is thus the key element in helping users to get the best results quickly. Interface settings will affect the quality […]

MOOCs and the AI-Stanford like Courses: Two Successful and Distinct Course Formats for Massive Open Online Courses

Abstract Open online courses (OOC) with a massive number of students have represented an important development for online education in the past years. A course on artificial intelligence, CS221, at the University of Stanford was offered in the fall of 2011 free and online which attracted 160,000 registered students. It was one of three offered […]

MaKey MaKey An Invention Kit for Everyone

MaKey MaKey is an invention kit for the 21st century. Turn everyday objects into touchpads and combine them with the internet. It’s a simple Invention Kit for Beginners and Experts doing art, engineering, and everything inbetween: MIT Media Lab Full Article