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Online and Distance Education

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Reimagining Our Roles: Lessons From The Field In Oer Authoring And Open Pedagogy, Nancy A. Henke, Mark Anthoney, Jennifer Burek Pierce Apr 2024

Reimagining Our Roles: Lessons From The Field In Oer Authoring And Open Pedagogy, Nancy A. Henke, Mark Anthoney, Jennifer Burek Pierce

All Things Open

The redesign of a graduate course in the University of Iowa’s School of Library and Information Science to fully online, asynchronous delivery resulted in an improved class and a reimagining of what instruction, authorship, and institutional roles mean in a digital-first, open education endeavor. Creating a new OER textbook was central to the work of three individuals in different institutional roles who brought this revitalized learning project to fruition. Shifting to online instruction, beyond the borders of classroom walls, to suit the needs of working students presented the opportunity to rethink both course curriculum and instruction with open pedagogical practices …


Leveraging Vr/Ar/Mr/Xr Technologies To Improve Cybersecurity Education, Training, And Operations, Paul Wagner, Dalal Alharthi Oct 2023

Leveraging Vr/Ar/Mr/Xr Technologies To Improve Cybersecurity Education, Training, And Operations, Paul Wagner, Dalal Alharthi

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The United States faces persistent threats conducting malicious cyber campaigns that threaten critical infrastructure, companies and their intellectual property, and the privacy of its citizens. Additionally, there are millions of unfilled cybersecurity positions, and the cybersecurity skills gap continues to widen. Most companies believe that this problem has not improved and nearly 44% believe it has gotten worse over the past 10 years. Threat actors are continuing to evolve their tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting attacks on public and private targets. Education institutions and companies must adopt emerging technologies to develop security professionals and to increase cybersecurity awareness holistically. …


Cybersecurity Challenges And Awareness Of The Multi-Generational Learners In Nepal, Raj Kumar Dhungana, Lina Gurung Dr, Hem Poudyal Oct 2023

Cybersecurity Challenges And Awareness Of The Multi-Generational Learners In Nepal, Raj Kumar Dhungana, Lina Gurung Dr, Hem Poudyal

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Increased exposure to technologies has lately emerged as one of the everyday realities of digital natives, especially K-12 students, and teachers, the digital immigrants. Protection from cybersecurity risks in digital learning spaces is a human right, but students are increasingly exposed to high-risk cyberspace without time to cope with cybersecurity risks. This study, using a survey (N-891 students and 157 teachers) and in-depth interviews (27 students and 14 teachers), described the students' cybersecurity-related experiences and challenges in Nepal. This study revealed that the school’s cybersecurity support system is poor and teachers has very low awareness and competencies to protect students …


Cue The Paralinguistics: A Qualitative Case Study Of Teacher Social Presence, Molly R. Bowden Oct 2023

Cue The Paralinguistics: A Qualitative Case Study Of Teacher Social Presence, Molly R. Bowden

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand teachers’ rationale and practices as they establish a social presence in a 100% online learning environment in a high school setting, with a specific emphasis on paralinguistic cues and symbols, such as emoji, emoticons, and Bitmoji. This case study focused on the meaning and understanding of teacher social presence in the virtual setting, utilizing a variety of data collection methods. In-depth interviews were conducted, followed by digital document collection and a focus group interview; transcripts of both interviews and the focus group were analyzed in order to establish the specific …


Internet Of Things Affordance For Open Educational Resources In A Comprehensive Open Distance E-Learning, Lancelord Mncube Sep 2023

Internet Of Things Affordance For Open Educational Resources In A Comprehensive Open Distance E-Learning, Lancelord Mncube

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The Internet of Things (IoT) space has dual dimensions of affordance to support open educational resources (OER). The duality of affordance has little or not been well articulated in relation to OER, particularly in a Comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODEL) institution. Such an institution is a mega open distance in South Africa and beyond the continent to accommodate students globally and rely on information and communication technology (ICT) in the provision of tuition. In the CODEL institution, there is a recognizable shift as the institution encourages the appropriation of OER and phasing out the prescription of the prescribed textbooks. The …


Remote Working And Online Education Among Neurodiverse Individuals, Kendall Smith Jan 2023

Remote Working And Online Education Among Neurodiverse Individuals, Kendall Smith

Emerging Writers

Many jobs and schools closed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and a vast majority of students and employees found it difficult to resume their education and careers online; however, those on the neurodiverse spectrum found it much harder. Upon first glance, it was easy to see how frustrating and stressful online schooling was for special needs students. Many had difficulty concentrating during virtual lectures or lacked motivation to stay on task. Likewise, many neurodiverse employees found that at-home distractions were far worse than in-office ones, and the loneliness from staying home all day was jarring. But after pulling research …


The Impact Of Technology, Engagement, And Student Readiness On Student Learning In Blended Synchronous Learning Environments, Kirsten Passyn, Susan Wright Jan 2023

The Impact Of Technology, Engagement, And Student Readiness On Student Learning In Blended Synchronous Learning Environments, Kirsten Passyn, Susan Wright

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The authors investigate technology, engagement, and student readiness as determinants of student learning in a blended synchronous learning environment. The experiment was conducted in two sections of a principles of marketing course where in-person and remote students simultaneously completed short concept quizzes using a mobile polling app. In-person students achieved higher quiz scores than remote students. GPA is a predictor of scores in both environments, and the effect is more pronounced for lower GPA students in remote locations. Student surveys identify focus and engagement as primary challenges to remote learning. Technology issues are secondary.


Implementing A Short-Term Field-Based Experiential Learning Activity: The Retail Scavenger Hunt, Pam Richardson, Rebeca Perren Jan 2023

Implementing A Short-Term Field-Based Experiential Learning Activity: The Retail Scavenger Hunt, Pam Richardson, Rebeca Perren

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This article introduces the Retail Scavenger Hunt (RSH)—a short-term field-based experiential learning activity. This flexible pedagogical tool enables students to experience first-hand what is commonly referred to in the consumer-packaged goods industry as “the store check.” Although initially designed as an instructor-led activity, the authors adapted the exercise during the pandemic to be executed as a self-directed, app-based field activity. As a result, this research can compare student impressions across implementation modes.


Ksu's Digital Course Repository (Dcr), Kimberly S. Loomis, Heather Hankins Oct 2022

Ksu's Digital Course Repository (Dcr), Kimberly S. Loomis, Heather Hankins

All Things Open

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, KSU faculty saw an opportunity to teach in the digital space and developed many effective courses in online and hybrid formats. The KSU Distinguished Course Repository (DCR) was created to catalog, recognize excellence, and showcase these courses, and to provide access to others, all in support of ongoing student success. Submitted courses are required to have a Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International Public License, since they are expected to be shared and modified by future faculty. Publication in the DCR is beneficial to faculty, students, and programs, and the DCR itself is an excellent example of …


Adapting An Online Learning Quality Assurance Framework In A Developing Country Setting: The Case Of A Hei In Malawi, Bennett Kankuzi, Menard Phiri, Robert Chanunkha, Jonathan Makuwira, Paul Makocho Aug 2022

Adapting An Online Learning Quality Assurance Framework In A Developing Country Setting: The Case Of A Hei In Malawi, Bennett Kankuzi, Menard Phiri, Robert Chanunkha, Jonathan Makuwira, Paul Makocho

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Covid-19 prompted many higher education institutions (HEIs), even in developing countries like Malawi, to abruptly shift from their traditional face-to-face mode of delivery to online learning. However, quality issues with online learning remain one of the greatest challenges to acceptance of online learning by many students and stakeholders. This paper presents an action research based study at the Malawi University of Science and Technology, in which an online learning quality assurance framework is adapted to a developed country setting. The adapted framework builds on the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs. The contextualization and …


A Theoretical Framework For M-Learning, Osman Sadeck, Moses Moyo, Nyarai Tunjera, Agnes Chigona Aug 2022

A Theoretical Framework For M-Learning, Osman Sadeck, Moses Moyo, Nyarai Tunjera, Agnes Chigona

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The proliferation of mobile technologies in all spheres of society necessitates looking at their beneficial use for education. Many parts of South Africa (SA), Africa and the world experience social-exclusion and marginalisation in education. Education is a human right, and this paper looks at using mobile devices as a means to counter E-exclusion. Emphasis is currently on the adoption and use of mobile technologies, available in many communities, for offsetting E-inclusion. This paper presents an evaluation of mobile learning (M-learning) and M-learning models towards a theoretical framework for M-learning for marginalised contexts. The model offered is applicable to a range …


University Students’ Perceptions Of Designing Mobile Application Prototypes For Social Innovation: Case Study During A Global Pandemic, Fazlyn Petersen, Muhammad Ziyaad Behardien Aug 2022

University Students’ Perceptions Of Designing Mobile Application Prototypes For Social Innovation: Case Study During A Global Pandemic, Fazlyn Petersen, Muhammad Ziyaad Behardien

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

There is a growing need for social innovation to address social challenges. Therefore, Information Systems students at tertiary institutions need to develop problem-solving and co-design skills. These skills may improve the design of products, such as mobile applications, to address social challenges. This research used design thinking for social innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research design used an exploratory case study with mixed methods. Data was collected via an online survey from 31 third-year Information Systems at the University of the Western Cape. Students’ overall perceptions were positive for using design thinking for social innovation. The challenges were due …


Covid-19 Pandemic: Digital Technology Innovations And Resilience In South African Higher Education Institutions, Vusumzi Funda Aug 2022

Covid-19 Pandemic: Digital Technology Innovations And Resilience In South African Higher Education Institutions, Vusumzi Funda

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The centrality of education in socio-economic development has since been recognized and considerable efforts have been made towards safeguarding the objectives of inclusive education. The covid-19 pandemic has disrupted learning and teaching in tertiary institutes which resulted in sudden adoption of online innovations meant to ensure continuity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the face of restrictions and social distancing. The sudden adoption of digital technologies as a desperate stop-gap measure to ensure continuity and revenue inflows against a background of high overheads has been met with challenges. This study explores literature on inroads made towards harnessing digital technologies for …


The Acceptance And Use Of Online Learning By Law Students In A South African University: An Application Of The Utaut2 Model, Jameson Goto, Anzanilufuno Munyai Jul 2022

The Acceptance And Use Of Online Learning By Law Students In A South African University: An Application Of The Utaut2 Model, Jameson Goto, Anzanilufuno Munyai

The African Journal of Information Systems

COVID-19 forced many universities to shift from traditional face-to-face or blended learning, to full online learning. The sudden shift was not easy for both students and lecturers, who had to adapt to the new learning mode. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance and use of online learning of university students in the law faculty at a South African university during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employs the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) model particularised to the online learning context in a country with a developing economy. An online survey was administered to the student …


Investigating The Impact On Student Engagement From Converting Face-To-Face Classes To Online In Response To Covid-19, Anita Whiting Jun 2022

Investigating The Impact On Student Engagement From Converting Face-To-Face Classes To Online In Response To Covid-19, Anita Whiting

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Paper investigates the impact on student engagement from converting traditional face-to-face classes to online in response to Covid-19. In particular, this study investigated the impact of conversion to online on four different types of student engagement: (1) participation engagement, (2) emotional engagement, (3) skill engagement, and (4) performance engagement. Survey data were collected from 160 business students who had their face-to-face classes converted to online due to Covid-19. Results of study show that all four types of student engagement significantly declined when classes were converted to online. Participation engagement declined the most while performance engagement declined the least. Non-traditional students …


"I Have Not Been In School For Over Ten Years? Can You Help Me? Understanding And Developing Information Literacy Skills For Non-Traditional Graduate Students, Amy Dye-Reeves Mar 2022

"I Have Not Been In School For Over Ten Years? Can You Help Me? Understanding And Developing Information Literacy Skills For Non-Traditional Graduate Students, Amy Dye-Reeves

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Studies by the United States Department of Education have shown that non-traditional students steadily grow within college campuses' enrollment rates. The National Center for Education Statistics defines that "most often age, especially over the age of 24 has been the defining characteristic for this population. The direct impact of social class (Bambe & Tett, 1999; Quinn, 2010), gender and age (Merrill, 2014), and ethnicity (Bron et al., 2014) on the individual academic lives of the students. The presenter used Tinto's (1987) interactionist quantitative theory to look at value-added to variables such as socioeconomic background, academic preparation, and achievement level based …


Toward A Student-Ready Cybersecurity Program: Findings From A Survey Of Stem-Students, Lora Pitman, Brian K. Payne, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Lenora Thorbjornsen Jan 2022

Toward A Student-Ready Cybersecurity Program: Findings From A Survey Of Stem-Students, Lora Pitman, Brian K. Payne, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Lenora Thorbjornsen

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As the number of available cybersecurity jobs continues to grow, colleges strive to offer to their cybersecurity students an environment which will make them sufficiently prepared to enter the workforce after graduation. This paper explores the academic and professional needs of STEM-students in various higher education institutions across Virginia and how cybersecurity programs can cater to these needs. It also seeks to propose an evidence-based approach for improving the existing cybersecurity programs so that they can become more inclusive and student-ready. A survey of 251 college students in four higher-education institutions in Virginia showed that while there are common patterns …


Student Perspectives On Mandatory Conversion To Online Classes: A Qualitative Study, Anita Whiting, Joie S. Hain Jan 2022

Student Perspectives On Mandatory Conversion To Online Classes: A Qualitative Study, Anita Whiting, Joie S. Hain

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This qualitative research study investigates students’ perspectives on the mandatory conversion to online classes due to COVID-19. In particular, this study explores (1) students’ struggles with conversion of class to online, (2) students’ likes of converted online class, (3) students’ dislikes of converted online class, 4) students’ happiness toward converted online classes, and (5) students’ recommendations on ways to improve online classes. The study was conducted at three universities in the southeastern region of the United States. The major findings of the study are (1) almost 80 percent of students reported struggles when class was converted to online, (2) 88 …


Learning In A Hyflex Model, Kirsten Passyn Aug 2021

Learning In A Hyflex Model, Kirsten Passyn

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.


Factors That Influence The Acceptance And Use Of Formative Feedback In An Online Undergraduate Module, Jameson Goto, Jacqueline Batchelor, Geoffrey Lautenbach Jul 2021

Factors That Influence The Acceptance And Use Of Formative Feedback In An Online Undergraduate Module, Jameson Goto, Jacqueline Batchelor, Geoffrey Lautenbach

The African Journal of Information Systems

The focus of the study was to determine the factors that influence the acceptance and use of online feedback in an undergraduate module using the modified unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The participants were third-year pre-service teachers in the Bachelor of Education degree who were taking a fully online Teaching Studies module, in addition to their specialist subject areas at one of the universities in South Africa. A survey instrument was developed from the original UTAUT2 instrument and modified where appropriate, to fit the formative feedback context. Exploratory factor analysis was used to validate the instrument. …


Hello, Are You There? Creating And Measuring Online Student Engagement, Kirsten Passyn Jan 2021

Hello, Are You There? Creating And Measuring Online Student Engagement, Kirsten Passyn

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Engaging students in an online environment is frustrating for faculty and a concern of administration. Faculty and students report lower levels of satisfaction and lower engagement in online versus face to face learning. Dropout rates in fully online courses are often two times higher than face to face courses. This research attempted to engage online students by embedding a gamification-based scavenger hunt in an online course. Engagement was measured using a combination of quantitative and qualitative measurements. Although the scavenger hunt didn't significantly engage low performing students, it did motivate and deepen top-performing students' engagement. Interestingly, qualitative-based engagement measures proved …


A Survey Of Serious Games For Cybersecurity Education And Training, Winston Anthony Hill Jr., Mesafint Fanuel, Xiaohong Yuan, Jinghua Zhang, Sajad Sajad Oct 2020

A Survey Of Serious Games For Cybersecurity Education And Training, Winston Anthony Hill Jr., Mesafint Fanuel, Xiaohong Yuan, Jinghua Zhang, Sajad Sajad

KSU Proceedings on Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Serious games can challenge users in competitive and entertaining ways. Educators have used serious games to increase student engagement in cybersecurity education. Serious games have been developed to teach students various cybersecurity topics such as safe online behavior, threats and attacks, malware, and more. They have been used in cybersecurity training and education at different levels. Serious games have targeted different audiences such as K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students in academic institutions, and professionals in the cybersecurity workforce. In this paper, we provide a survey of serious games used in cybersecurity education and training. We categorize these games into …


Facilitating Authentic Learning Experiences In Distance Education: Embedding Research-Based Practices Into An Online Peer Feedback Tool, Tiffany Roman, Matthew Callison, Rodney D. Myers, Anne H. Berry May 2020

Facilitating Authentic Learning Experiences In Distance Education: Embedding Research-Based Practices Into An Online Peer Feedback Tool, Tiffany Roman, Matthew Callison, Rodney D. Myers, Anne H. Berry

Faculty and Research Publications

Authentic learning in online education is feasible with intentional instructional strategies and appropriate educational technologies, yet as a learning approach, barriers to implementation still exist. We argue that authentic learning in online education can be successfully supported when the characteristics of authentic learning are (a) intentionally applied and (b) supported through research-based tools that facilitate the learning process seamlessly for students. To address this challenge, we developed a research-based online application that supports authentic learning. In this article, the theoretical foundations and empirical support for the tool are described, along with critical design decisions that support suggested characteristics of authentic …


Librarian At The Colloquium: Delivering Unique Library Content For Phd Students, Susan Franzen Mar 2020

Librarian At The Colloquium: Delivering Unique Library Content For Phd Students, Susan Franzen

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

PhD students have unique needs and require different resources and services from the library than undergraduates, which is especially true of professionals in a nursing program. As clinicians, many do not have experience with the research and writing intensive requirements of a doctoral degree. The majority have not taken classes for years, and their master’s degrees were more hands-on, clinically-based. They often do not feel confident in their ability to search the literature, read closely, or write expansively. A unique avenue through which to meet their needs and share library resources is a PhD colloquium course.

Students take the colloquium …


A Collaborative Approach To Blended Learning Design And Activities To Engage Students: A Case Study, Tulay Girard, Lori Lysiak Feb 2020

A Collaborative Approach To Blended Learning Design And Activities To Engage Students: A Case Study, Tulay Girard, Lori Lysiak

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.


Curating Engaging Content: Student Perceptions Of Content Delivery Methods In A Hybrid Course, Heather Kirkwood, Thomas Tanner, Ashutosh Dixit Feb 2020

Curating Engaging Content: Student Perceptions Of Content Delivery Methods In A Hybrid Course, Heather Kirkwood, Thomas Tanner, Ashutosh Dixit

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.


Using An Artificial Real-Time Response Audience In Online Sales Education To Improve Self-Efficacy In Sales Presentations: An Online Classroom Innovation, Nicole A. Flink, Desiree Cooper-Larsen Jan 2020

Using An Artificial Real-Time Response Audience In Online Sales Education To Improve Self-Efficacy In Sales Presentations: An Online Classroom Innovation, Nicole A. Flink, Desiree Cooper-Larsen

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Sales education research recently has turned its attention to using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, but much remains in our understanding of its use in the online and virtual sales education environment. AI can be useful to helping online students improve their sales presentations and vocal delivery skills. Examined through the lens of control value theory, this study is a pilot investigation into the effectiveness of using AI technology in the online classroom to help sales education students improve their vocal delivery skills in sales presentations. Based on a paired samples t-test, our results indicated that student use of AI technology …


K-12 Community Of Inquiry: A Case Study Of K-12 Online Social Studies Teacher Practice In A Virtual School, Kyle Sanders Jul 2019

K-12 Community Of Inquiry: A Case Study Of K-12 Online Social Studies Teacher Practice In A Virtual School, Kyle Sanders

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

Teaching practices, rationales, and roles of experienced online social studies teachers at one fully online high school in the southeastern United States were examined using the descriptive case study method. Three male teachers and one female social studies teacher, all with three or more years of experience in the online classroom, were studied using interviews, observations, and document analysis. The resultant data was then coded according to open and theoretical coding methods. Results demonstrated the teaching practices, rationales, and roles of experienced online social studies teachers. Results led to an adaptation of the Community of Inquiry framework to the K-12 …


Understanding Sub-Saharan African Learners Informal Learning Using Mobile Devices: A Case Of Tanzania, Laban Bagui, Samwel Dick Mwapwele Apr 2019

Understanding Sub-Saharan African Learners Informal Learning Using Mobile Devices: A Case Of Tanzania, Laban Bagui, Samwel Dick Mwapwele

The African Journal of Information Systems

In this era of pervasive computing and the Internet, learners everywhere connect and reconnect to knowledge away from classrooms, via mobile devices and their Mobile Instant Messaging platforms (MIMs). Still, many sub-Saharan African educators continue to confine these platforms to recreational activities. There is lack therefore of knowledge about how learners from sub-Saharan Africa perform such informal and experiential learning. This paper presents a case study of Tanzanian learners learning in informal settings using their mobile devices and MIMs. It deploys the rhizomatic learning theory with the aim of understanding how such learning occurs. Findings suggest that learners use mobile …


Perceptions Of Undergraduate Students Of Student-Regulated Online Courses, Victor K. Wakeling Cfa Cfp Cma, Patricia R. Robertson, Micheal Patrono, Murat Doral Oct 2018

Perceptions Of Undergraduate Students Of Student-Regulated Online Courses, Victor K. Wakeling Cfa Cfp Cma, Patricia R. Robertson, Micheal Patrono, Murat Doral

Faculty and Research Publications

Undergraduate students at a large, public, southeastern university enrolled in one of two independent, fully-online courses were released from the instructor-regulated structure mid-semester. Subsequently, the course was structured as student-regulated and students self-managed pace of study and timing of assessments for the remainder of the course. The objective of the research is to assess student preferences in learning structure (instructor-regulated versus student-regulated) in order to inform effective course design options in the online learning environment. At the end of each semester included in the study, a survey was administered to ascertain students’ perceptions of the student-regulated (self-paced) learning environment. After …