This study aimed to investigate undergraduates' perspectives of online syllabus design and interactivity in an asynchronous geoscience course. The study was grounded in previous research on syllabus design and interactivity and used a multiple case study design to gather data from five participants. The course had multiple sections, each with a…

This paper revisits theoretical and conceptual lenses of distance education in order to identify the current state of the art and explore what do we have and then what do we need to provide meaningful learning experiences. The paper argues that the knowledge and experiences gained in the field of distance education provide working solutions and…

This study employed a single factor experiment to investigate how different voices from a social robot affect the learning outcomes and motivation of 46 children. The learning motivation for the participants was measured using the ARCS questionnaire, which tested for four subcategories: attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. The…

As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly enters K-12 classrooms, what do teachers and students see as the roles of human versus AI instruction, and how might educational AI (AIED) systems best be designed to support these complementary roles? We explore these questions through participatory design and needs validation studies with K12 teachers…

Student performance in a Connectivist Massive Open Online Course (cMOOC), featuring daily synchronous web meetings was analyzed to explore the possibility of increased participant motivation and confidence. Participant survey data and course performance data were compiled, analyzed, and interpreted for 1256 individuals who completed a pre-course…

The aim of this case study was to explore the feasibility of the Quick Response (QR) codes and mobile devices in the context of Finnish basic education. The interest was especially to explore how mobile devices and QR codes can enhance and blend teaching and learning. The data were collected with a teacher interview and pupil surveys. The learning…

In this paper we explore students' engagement in a new media enhanced problem-based learning (PBL) environment and investigate the characteristics of these environments that facilitate learning. We investigated both student experiences using a new media enhanced PBL environment and the specific elements students found most supportive of their…

A synthesis of the flow theory of intrinsic motivation of Csikszentmihalyi and the motivational design theory of instruction of Keller is presented. The conceptual integration of these theories is the basis for prescriptions aimed at increasing the level of intrinsic motivation in instruction. The flow phenomenon is described in terms of challenge…

This presentation describes the methodology used by Dr. Michael Marek of Wayne State College, Nebraska USA, and Dr. Vivian Wu of Chienkuo Technology University, Taiwan, for English language instruction in Taiwan using Internet videoconferencing, and their research findings after three semesters. Initial student reaction was positive. Quantitative…

Adults have specific and unique motivational needs in instructional settings. As a result, motivating instruction for adult learners should be designed with special considerations. This paper uses an adult motivational instructional design model to demonstrate the application of prescribed strategies into instructional software designed to teach…

This paper examines the role of learner motivation--elements that arouse, sustain, and direct behavior--as the pivotal factor in education, and urges researchers to consider the motivational state of the individual learner in interaction with the instructional method. It is emphasized that a thorough understanding of the learner's personality, as…

This paper poses and generates the answers to six questions about the use of newer media in education and the areas of disagreement that seem to recur as new media become available for teaching. Cast in the context of videodisks, those questions ask whether: (1) videodisk technology is more effective than traditional media in promoting learning;…

This review of the role of the metaphor in instruction begins with a brief description of historical thinking on the subject. Modern views of the metaphor as a psychological mechanism rather than just a figure of speech are then presented, with emphasis on reasons why metaphors should be helpful in education. It is noted that the hypothesis that…

Although the use of animated visuals is both common and popular among computer based instruction (CBI) designers, the theoretical and empirical foundation for their use have not been firmly established. Animated visuals represent a subset of instructional visuals, not a distinctive set. For this reason, general conclusions from research on static…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the problems associated with learner motivation in Web-based instruction, in particular in self-directed online learning environments. This study is interested in identifying and exploring what motivate or demotivate learners from completing a self-directed online course, which have implications for…