This discussion paper reflects on the affordances of face-to-face interaction and copresence in the light of increasingly digitized learning spaces in higher education. Especially in inequitable contexts, heightened dependence on digital platforms for teaching and learning can exacerbate inequalities in terms of student access and inclusion. This…

This article examined the use of film in higher education to inspire imagination and motivate learning in students with learning differences. It highlighted the benefits of film in enhancing education and fostering imagination and diverse, critical thinking. The findings demonstrated that film is a pedagogical instrument that may assist students…

This article focuses on the learning of the Lewis representation at the transition from high school to university, in France. Indeed, this notion is taught both in high school and in the first year of higher education but with different methods, which seems to hinder the learners. In this work, we observe 11th grade and higher education classes…

In this article, we suggest that we are witnessing a challenge to the hegemony of text-based knowledge in academic scholarship, brought about by newly available modes of expression, and a cultural shift in our notions of reading and writing, authorship, and networked knowledge production. The central question we address here concerns the…

Science disciplines are inherently multimodal, involving written and spoken language, bodily gestures, symbols, diagrams, sketches, simulation and mathematical formalism. Studies have shown that explicit multimodal teaching approaches foster enhanced access to science disciplines. We examine multimodal classroom practices in a physics extended…

With the proliferation of digital media and other forms of technologically mediated communication, this article argues that critical multimodal pedagogical approaches to public writing--particularly through interrogating mundane, everyday texts--have the potential to engage students with advocacy and its role in shaping public discourse. In this…

This article traces the trajectory of one particular scene in the work of three media students writing and filmmaking. The analysis scrutinizes the role of semiotic tools, such as synopsis and storyboard, in students' filmmaking practice. Moreover, the use of interactional data combined with textual data allows for a rich recording of the…

Introducing technology in higher education raises questions about staff roles and the organisation of development practices. This article presents the findings from a case study that was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of introducing three centrally supported e-developers to work with academic teams to provide specialist support. The…

Computer-assisted teaching and assessment has become a regular feature across many areas of the curriculum in higher education courses around the world in recent years. This development has resulted in the "digital divide" between disabled students and their nondisabled peers regarding their participation in computer-assisted courses. However,…

Discussion of the use of technology to meet the needs of individual student's learning styles in law school explores various learning style theories, considers the pedagogical attributes of Web-based instruction, and then reports on use of learning theory and technology in skills-based courses at Texas Tech Law School. Assessment of student…

Increasingly, colleges and universities are offering online courses using commercial course packaging. One of the most popular courseware programs is Blackboard. This article describes research that employed a two-pronged approach to investigate how education faculty used Blackboard courseware to facilitate student competence in using technology.…

This paper discusses the enormous impact distance learning has had on traditional higher education and addresses emerging leadership roles. The writer will address and discuss qualities that are necessary for leaders and the success of their distance education initiatives. Topics discussed include critical issues relating to the evolution and…

Describes the University of Saskatchewan's adoption of satellite television to deliver university courses. The institution's motivation, the teaching/learning model that evolved, findings from an evaluation of the courses, and the dynamics of staff and faculty collaboration needed for the development and delivery of the telecourses are covered.…

A college reading laboratory was designed and furnished to maximize flexibility in space use. To determine the effectiveness of the design and use of space, a two-part study was conducted that examined students' learning preferences and collected instructors' observations. Responses indicated student preferences for sound, light, warmth, and…

Discusses the origin and elaboration of the concept of learning styles. Traces the influence of a cognition and learning-centered approach to the psychology of individual development. Argues for an integration of various models into a single learning style. Includes a tabular description of fundamental dimensions of cognitive style. (MJP)