Education Commons^™

A Hybrid Machine Learning Framework For Predicting Students’ Performance In Virtual Learning Environment, Edmund Evangelista

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Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), such as Moodle and Blackboard, store vast data to help identify students' performance and engagement. As a result, researchers have been focusing their efforts on assisting educational institutions in providing machine learning models to predict at-risk students and improve their performance. However, it requires an efficient approach to construct a model that can ultimately provide accurate predictions. Consequently, this study proposes a hybrid machine learning framework to predict students' performance using eight classification algorithms and three ensemble methods (Bagging, Boosting, Voting) to determine the best-performing predictive model. In addition, this study used filter-based and wrapper-based feature …

The Effectiveness Of Online Platforms After The Pandemic: Will Face-To-Face Classes Affect Students’ Perception Of Their Behavioural Intention (Biu) To Use Online Platforms?, Rana Saeed Al-Maroof, Noha Alnazzawi, Iman A. Akour, Kevin Ayoubi, Khadija Alhumaid, Nafla Mahdi Alahbabi, Maryam Alnnaimi, Sarah Thabit, Raghad Alfaisal, Ahmad Aburayya, Said Salloum

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The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ intention to continue using online learning platforms during face-to-face traditional classes in a way that is parallel to their usage during online virtual classes (during the pandemic). This investigation of students’ intention is based on a conceptual model that uses newly used external factors in addition to the technology acceptance model (TAM) contrasts; hence, it takes into consideration users’ satisfaction, the external factor of information richness (IR) and the quality of the educational system and information disseminated. The participants were 768 university students who have experienced the teaching environments of both …

Utility And Professional Attitudes Toward Assistive Technology In Uae Special Needs Centers, Mohammad Fteiha, Deena Elsori, Ashraf Khalil, Ghanem Albustami

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The attitude of teachers about the use of technology is critical. As a result, when teachers have a constructive outlook toward a new type of assistive technology, they are more likely to make meaningful efforts to successfully integrate it into the teaching-learning process. The way assistive technology is used in the teaching and learning environment is heavily influenced by a special education teacher's attitude. Therefore, the study explored the availability of assistive technology and explored the attitudes of professional of special education towards the use of assistive technologies in special needs centers of United Arab Emirates (UAE). Questionnaires were distributed …

Theoretical Models Of Integration Of Interactive Learning Technologies Into Teaching: A Systematic Literature Review, Laila Mohebi

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With the fast progress of technology and the vast amount of research papers related to technology integration in education being published yearly, a study that reviews models used in these papers is needed. Therefore, this paper (1) reviewed and analysed theoretical frameworks with models used for integration of technology in classrooms, (2) reviewed studies that discussed the impact of technology integration on students' learning capabilities, and (3) discussed the importance of preparing teachers to effectively integrate technology in teaching. The models reviewed were: Teacher Thoughts and Action Process (TTAP), Theory of Planned Behavior, Expectancy-Value Theory of Achievement Motivation (EVAM), Substitution …

Edtech Culturation: Integrating A Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Into Educational Technology, Jenny Eppard, Amir Kaviani, Michael Bowles, Jason Johnson

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In recent years, the use of technology in educational contexts including e-learning has become increasing ubiquitous. While it is commonly believed that technology use can facilitate the process of teaching and learning, it is of paramount importance to adopt a Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) to address the needs of students who might experience difficulty because of cultural, linguistic and technological obstacles that might be inherent in the use of educational technology. With this consideration in mind, the present paper reports on the findings of a qualitative research involving three case studies based on structured interviews with three university professors who …

Editorial, Christina Gitsaki

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No abstract provided.

Shift This! How To Implement Gradual Changes For Massive Impact In Your Classroom, Rola Jawad Salam, Beidan Mussa

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No abstract provided.

Tutors’ Beliefs About Language And Roles: Practice As Language Policy In Emi Contexts, Marion Heron, Doris Dippold, Necmi Aksit, Tijen Aksit, Jill Doubleday, Kara Mckeown

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It has been well established that for all students, but particularly second language (L2) English speaking students, academic English speaking skills are key to developing specialist terminology and disciplinary content in an English as a medium of instruction (EMI) context. However, what is less clear in many contexts is the institutional language policy necessary to guide and support both L2 English speaking students and disciplinary tutors. In this paper, we focus on disciplinary tutors’ beliefs of language and their roles with respect to language support to surface implicit and covert language policies. We argue that in the absence of explicit …

Dialogic Pedagogy And Semiotic-Dialogic Inquiry Into Visual Literacies And Augmented Reality, Zoe Hurley

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Technological determinism has been driving conceptions of technology enhanced learning for the last two decades at least. The abrupt shift to the emergency delivery of online courses during COVID-19 has accelerated big tech’s coup d’état of higher education, perhaps irrevocably. Yet, commercial technologies are not necessarily aligned with dialogic conceptions of learning while a technological transmission model negates learners’ input and interactions. Mikhail Bakhtin viewed words as the multivocal bridge to social thought. His theory of the polysemy of language, that has subsequently been termed dialogism, has strong correlations with the semiotic philosophy of American pragmatist Charles Sanders Peirce. Peirce’s …

The Systematic Implementation Of An Innovative Postgraduate Online Learning Model In The Middle East, Nessrin Shaya, Laila Mohebi

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This paper aims at examining the factors contributing to effective implementation of online learning in the Middle East higher education sector, through investigating the success and learning effectiveness of an innovative online learning model offered jointly by three prestigious universities in two different Arab countries. A mixed-method research approach was employed to triangulate data collected from key stakeholders engaged with the programme, namely senior managers and enrolled students, to derive findings that would inform managers, trainers and educators, from a systemic implementation, faculty-development and course-design perspective. Qualitative data gathered from face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with a number of senior managers took …

Examining The Factors Influencing The Mobile Learning Usage During Covid-19 Pandemic: An Integrated Sem-Ann Method, Khadija Alhumaid, Mohammed Habes, Said A. Salloum

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The way in which the emotion of fear affects the technology adoption of students and teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic is examined in this study. Mobile Learning (ML) has been used in the study as an educational social platform at both public and private higher-education institutes. The key hypotheses of this study are based on how COVID-19 has influenced the incorporation of mobile learning (ML) as the pandemic brings about an increase in different kinds of fear. The major kinds of fear that students and teachers/instructors are facing at this time include: fear because of complete lockdown, fear of experiencing …

Cultural And Linguistic Struggles And Solidarities Of Emirati Learners In Online Classes During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Hopkyns

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The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented shifts in higher education worldwide, with some nations more adversely affected than others. Since the onset of the crisis, almost all education abruptly moved to ‘emergency remote teaching and learning’. While the United Arab Emirates has been praised for its swift and effective responses, unique cultural and linguistic dynamics in this region present additional challenges for teaching and learning. This article presents empirical data from a qualitative phenomenological case study investigating female Emirati university students’ ( n = 69) perspectives on the use of video cameras and microphones in online classes. Students’ …

Developing An Educational Framework For Using Mobile Learning During The Era Of Covid-19, Khadija Alhumaid

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This paper focuses on the impact of fear emotion upon technology adoption by educators and students during Covid-19 pandemic. Mobile learning (m-learning) has been applied as the educational social platform within higher education institutes, public as well as private. The research hypotheses were associated with the Covid-19 influence on m-learning adoption with the rise of the coronavirus increasing types of fear. Such fears include fear caused by the education failure, family lockdown, and loss of social relationships. Teachers and students are mostly fearful of these aspects of the situation. An integrated model was established within the research, using theoretical models; …

The Acceptance Of Social Media Video For Knowledge Acquisition, Sharing And Application: A Comparative Study Among Youyube Users And Tiktok Users’ For Medical Purposes, Rana Al-Maroof, Kevin Ayoubi, Khadija Alhumaid, Ahmad Aburayya, Muhammad Alshurideh, Raghad Alfaisal, Said Salloum

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YouTube and TikTok have gained increasing recognition as social network sites to support online knowledge acquisition, sharing, and application via social media platforms in the medical field. This study examines which aspect of TikTok and YouTube stimulates doctors, nurses, and any other YouTube and TikTok in the medical setting, to rely on them as sources of knowledge acquisition and sharing to keep their medical repertoire updated. A hybrid model is designed to investigate users’ acceptance of YouTube and TikTok as social media platforms. The model focuses on four main external factors: Content richness, innovativeness, satisfaction, and enjoyment. These factors are …

“Emergency Distance Education” Model: How Normal Could The Projected New Normal Be?, Eugene Borokhovski, David Pickup, Rana Tamim

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In this opinion piece, the authors critically consider the transition to the ‘emergency model’ of distance education (DE), forced by the pandemic and associated restrictions to our daily life, paying special attention to its potential pitfalls. The authors argue in favour of more careful approach to DE design and implementation over the ‘one size fits all’ solution. The data from previous meta-analyses in the field of DE and technology integration in education are briefly summarized to provide research-based support for the following observations: (1) students’ academic achievements in DE are largely associated with the interactivity factor, which is also instrumental …

Mothers’ Accounts Of Attending To Educational And Everyday Needs Of Their Children At Home During Covid-19: The Case Of The Uae, Fatma F.S. Said, Nadine Jaafarawi, Anna Dillon

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From March 2020 until July 2020, the UAE implemented mandatory distance learning due to COVID-19, which meant that children had to continue their learning remotely at home. Though schools concerted exemplary efforts to ensure that children received all that was necessary through advanced technology platforms and interfaces, the duty of ensuring that children continued to engage in successful learning fell solely on parents. This paper is based on a self-report study conducted during this first period of distance learning where parents were invited to anonymously complete a survey and then be interviewed. The paper relies on interviews as its main …

Framing The Role Of Higher Education In Sustainable Development: A Case Study Analysis, Suzanna Elmassah, Marwa Biltagy, Doaa Gamal

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Purpose

Higher education institutions (HEIs) should play a fundamental role in achieving the international 2030 sustainable development (SD) agenda. Quality education is the fourth of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), and one of the targets related to this is to ensure that by 2030 all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote SD. Therefore, the SDGs provide a motive for HEIs to integrate SD concepts into their day-to-day practices. This study aims to introduce a framework for HEIs’ sustainable development assessment. Such a framework guides HEIs and educational leaders to support their countries’ commitments to achieving the SDGs. …

Positive Academic Leadership: How To Stop Putting Out Fires And Start Making A Difference, Sy Jobila, Mariam Hariri, Simar Azzam

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No abstract provided.

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming The Unseen Forces That Stand In The Way Of True Inspiration, Javeria Mohsin Ali Khan, Sumitra Anilkumar, Sarah Azzam, Shahbano Farooq, Lama Mahmoud

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No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Reading Texts On L2 Reading-To-Write Argumentative Writing, Jingjing Qin, Yingliang Liu

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Reading-to-write is an essential skill in academic writing, and reading-writing tasks have been widely adopted in standardized English tests. Much more recent literature on integrated reading-writing tasks has focused on writers’ use of source texts or the validity of integrated writing assessment, while little is known about whether the nature of the types of reading texts has any bearing on integrated reading-writing tasks. This study examines whether the types of reading texts (i.e., similar views or opposing views on a debatable issue) have any influence on second language (L2) students’ argumentative writing in terms of the use of argument elements …

A Framework For Managing Innovation In Higher Education: Lessons Learnt From The Uae Ipad Initiative, Kenesha Wilson, Jobila Sy

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Purpose: Managing educational innovation in higher education institutions is a complex process that requires specific strategies based on research and proven frameworks. The aim of this paper was to examine how Bolman and Deal’s (2003) theoretical framework can be used to analyse organisational change processes and to evaluate the progress and outcomes of an educational innovation initiative at a university in the Gulf. This educational innovation involved the use of iPads in curricular practices to enhance pedagogical strategies and student learning outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: An ethnographic case study methodology was used to make an empirical inquiry that investigated data obtained from …

Media Students Using Mobile Phones In The Arabian Gulf To Improve English Writing And Video Production Skills, Najat Alsaied, Fokiya Akhtar

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Purpose: A variety of alternate technology-enhanced teaching approaches are now available to university students to broaden their learning experiences and complement conventional face-to-face teaching. This paper aims to outline a study conducted at an English Medium Instruction (EMI) University in the Arabian Gulf where students were studying media. The study explored an innovative teaching approach that sought to enhance the students’ interaction with mobile phone applications as part of their learning experiences during the course. Design/methodology/approach: The focus of the study was on enhancing the students’ English writing skills such as vocabulary, spelling and grammar and on improving their technical …

Editorial, Christina Gitsaki

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No abstract provided.

Cultural Determinants Affecting Pedagogical Decisions In Content Design: A Case Study, Michael Pazinas

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Purpose: Commercially produced educational materials often reflect the pedagogical beliefs and culture(s) of the content developers. While many teachers involved in teaching English as a foreign language have relied on commercially published content in the past, the advent of ubiquitous technology has afforded them the ability to create content that is contextualised and to share it with other educators across the globe. The purpose of this study is to investigate cultural determinants which affect the pedagogical decisions of teachers when designing content. Design/methodology/approach: This case study, conducted at a higher educational institution in the Gulf, addresses the issues that arise …

Reflections On Teachers And Students’ Views On Teaching And Learning Experiences At University: A Diary Study, Amir Kaviani, Kara Mckeown, Jenny Eppard

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No abstract provided.

Characterizing Visual Programming Approaches For End-User Developers: A Systematic Review, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Shahbano Farooq, Rawad Hammad, Mohammed Bahja

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Recently many researches have explored the potential of visual programming in robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and education. However, there is a lack of studies that analyze the recent evidence-based visual programming approaches that are applied in several domains. This study presents a systematic review to understand, compare, and reflect on recent visual programming approaches using twelve dimensions: visual programming classification, interaction style, target users, domain, platform, empirical evaluation type, test participants' type, number of test participants, test participants' programming skills, evaluation methods, evaluation measures, and accessibility of visual programming tools. The results show that most of the selected …

Talking About Talk: Tutor And Student Expectations Of Oracy Skills In Higher Education, Marion Heron, Doris Dippold, Anesa Hosein, Ameena Khan Sullivan, Tijen Aksit, Necmi Aksit, Jill Doubleday, Kara Mckeown

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Although participation in academic speaking events is a key to developing disciplinary understanding, students for whom English is a second language may have limited access to these learning events due to an increasingly dialogic and active higher education pedagogy which places considerable demands on their oracy skills. Drawing on the Oracy Skills Framework we explore disciplinary tutors’ and students’ expectations of oracy skills required for disciplinary study. An analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data found that disciplinary tutors placed importance on the cognitive dimension of oracy skills such as argumentation and asking questions, whilst students placed importance on linguistic …

Media And Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely!, Alton Grizzle, Carolyn Wilson, Ramon Tuazon, Chi Kim Cheung, Jesus Lau, Rachel Fischer, Dorothy Gordon, Kwame Akyempong, Jagtar Singh, Paul R. Carr, Kristine N. Stewart, Samy Tayie, Olunifesi Suraj, Maarit Jaakkola, Gina Thésée, Curmira Gulston

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Can we improve our societies by clicking wisely?

Content providers such as libraries, archives, museums, media and digital communications companies can enable inclusive and sustainable development. However, they do not always live up to these ideals, which creates challenges for the users of these services. Content providers of all types open up new opportunities for lifelong learning. But at the same time, they open up challenges such as misinformation and disinformation, hate speech, and infringement of online privacy, among others.

Media and information literacy is a set of competencies that help people to maximize advantages and minimize harms. Media and …

A Study Of Arab Undergraduate Business Students Response To Text Adaptation, Larysa Nikolayeva

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Current research explores the response of Arab undergraduate Business students to text adaptation. The data was collected in Majan University College, Oman, during the academic year 2018-2019. Incorporated at the time of developing learning aids, students’ response can serve as one of the tools for enhancing students’ language skills required for their academic success. The analysis is based on the response of two mixed-gender groups of students (23 and 31 students respectively) obtained through a micro test and a text difficulty survey addressing their comprehension skills of authentic versus adapted texts. The effect of the text and sentence length, grammatical …

Using A Reflective Practice Model To Teach Stem Education In A Blended Learning Environment, Areej Elsayary

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© 2021. by the authors; licensee Modestum. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). All rights reserved. This study explores and explains teachers’ perceptions and practices in using a reflective practice model to teach STEM education in a blended learning environment. The study was conducted before the COVID-19 lockdown and continued after the quarantine till the end of the semester. The transformative learning and the experiential learning theories are used as combined conceptual frameworks to form a reflective practice model that guided this study. The participants are …