This study investigated the use of virtual chatbots in a 3D multi-user virtual environment (3D MUVE) to enhance the communication skills of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) learners. Several virtual chat agents, developed using pattern matching techniques and embedded in Second Life, created a blended learning environment in which CFL learners…

Doctoral studies can be daunting unless candidates are able to implement effective self-directed strategies and motivational tools to ensure success, which is reflected in the high attrition rates of doctoral candidates globally. This paper explores the use of a learning management system (LMS) to support the completion of a PhD for a doctoral…

Although studies have investigated the enablers and barriers of digital teaching and learning of STEM, the integration of digital technologies into teaching geometry -- one of the main mathematical concepts, is frequently ignored and does not garner much scholarly attention. To fill this specific gap, this small-scale qualitative study explored…

To deliver a comprehensive learning experience while shifting to online teaching due to COVID-19, educators at The University of Queensland (Australia) adopted Lt, a cloud-based platform, to overcome the challenges of delivering animal anatomy practicals. A two-phased study was conducted to evaluate the use of Lt for both online and on-campus…

This mixed methods study investigates the role of AI chatbots in assisting preservice teachers with creating differentiated lesson plans that emphasise student diversity and inclusion within an online learning environment. By conducting a comparative analysis of preservice teachers utilising AI chatbots versus those who did not, the research…

Today's teachers play a critical role in preparing students for the integration of educational technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), into their lessons. It is thought that AR implementation improves collaboration, motivation, and learning outcomes. Considering this, this study aims to determine the teachers' perceptions of the benefits and…

As we enter a world of blended learning in higher education, an increased need for adaptation of teaching strategies to enhance engagement has been recognised to amplify learning outcomes online. Gamification has been identified as a creative tool to engage the current cohort of learners who are also characteristically tech-savvy. To this end,…

Peer-assisted learning (PAL) involves a student peer providing some form of support to a student mentee, usually participating at an earlier point in the same programme of study. PAL has been shown to have benefits for on-campus students. However, differences in on-campus and online programme delivery make it difficult to generalise these benefits…

Training key stakeholders in the design of reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities could promote collaboration and inclusion. We tested the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of online education (intervention) in designing reasonable adjustments by Victorian (Australian) parents and…

Purpose: This systematic review paper aims to examine extant empirical research involving educational technology during COVID-19 to provide an aggregated analysis of how the pandemic has influenced educational technology research. Design/methodology/approach: Using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis systematic…

Block mode of teaching, also called intensive mode of teaching, has received great recognition and interest from education sector. This mode of teaching is a compressed style of teaching in which classes are delivered in an intensive period of time. Block mode teaching has been found to have potential to enhance student performance. Although…

The onset of COVID-19, along with its various mutations, has played havoc with many activities, not the least of which is education. For the majority of 2020 and 2021 in Australia, much of the teaching in both schools and universities was undertaken online, leading to a re-think of how learning and teaching might look in the future. This paper…

It is widely acknowledged that graduates need to develop skills and competences beyond the theoretical knowledge nurtured within higher education curricula. In the last twenty years there has been an increased interest in supporting learners with work-based learning (WBL) (e.g. apprenticeships, practice-based lab sessions, project-based learning).…

This study examined the effects of using a combination two novel technologies on the development of knowledge and understanding of ecological science concepts for a small of preservice primary teachers, who had self-identified as having low prior background knowledge in science concepts and low confidence in their abilities in teaching science.…

A number of areas of difficulty in basic numeracy and mathematical skills were identified, which hinder students' success in a foundational biochemistry course. Many students have difficulty with the concepts of pH and buffers (requiring proficiency with logarithms) and enzyme kinetics (requiring algebraic manipulations and graphing). The…