This novel qualitative study explores the transformative potential of Virtual Reality (VR) in augmenting Computer-Based Training (CBT) for energy industry contractors. By immersing participants in four VR simulations, the study delves into the heart of how learners perceive hazardous work environments and emergency procedures in VR. The findings…

Students nowadays grow up with electronic devices and are adept at navigating the virtual world. Practical activities may be more of a novelty for them than simulations. Using the topic of electric circuits as a context, we examined the ways in which Grade 11 students perceived and learned from practical work and simulations, respectively. In this…

An instrumental case study was conducted at a large, public research university in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States to understand undergraduate use of learning analytics dashboard (LAD) interventions. Eighty-one undergraduate students participated in focus groups. Scenario-based questions, modeled on current and future LAD…

Students frequently utilize digital devices and applications to assist studying. Past research has yielded mixed results on their effectiveness, and scant research has compared portable technologies with each other or focused on smartphones specifically. We compared college students' learning of vocabulary on paper, laptop, and smartphone.…

As the majority of educational research has focused on preservice teachers' computer use for "educational purposes," the question remains: Do preservice teachers use computer technology for daily life activities and encounters? And do preservice teachers' personality traits and motivational beliefs related to computer training provided…

This research links learner engagement with interactions when Hybrid Virtual Learning models are used. Various aspects have been considered, such as learners' prior experiences related to virtual worlds, their preconceptions regarding their use as a learning tool, and the impact that instructional designers' choices have on enhancing the…

Research into teachers' attitudes, beliefs, competence, and inhibitions in relation to their use of technology may provide answers to a series of questions from administrators that relate to teachers' classroom implementation of Information and Communication Technology. The theory of planned behavior is a useful model for providing a framework for…

This article addresses the roadblocks to collaborative computing using traditional computing and educational learning systems. With the emergence of tablet computing devices, many of the barriers to technology-driven collaboration have come down. The proliferation of these devices in educational environments has increased significantly and, as a…

As higher education grapples with addressing the 21st century needs of learners, technology is a pervasive concern. Waters (2012) painted a picture of three historical "screens," namely the television screen, the computer monitor, and today's mobile device screen. As mobile devices become increasingly commonplace in the workplace and on the…

Computer games have long been used for teaching. Current reviews lack categorization and analysis using learning models which would help instructors assess the usefulness of computer games. We divide the use of games into two classes: game playing and game development. We discuss the Input-Process-Outcome (IPO) model for the learning process when…

This article describes the implementation and outcomes of incorporating creative digital assignments that utilize emergent social technologies in six college courses across the curriculum during the Spring 2015 term. These projects were supported by a digital learning center providing a website of short video and text tutorials, assignment…

We present a new approach for the organization of schools, which we call the flexible scheduling paradigm (FSP). FSP improves student learning by dynamically redeploying teachers and other pedagogical resources to provide students with customized learning conditions over shorter time periods called "mini-terms" instead of semesters or years. By…

With the advent of web 2.0 and virtual technologies and new understandings about learning within a global, networked environment, online course design has moved beyond the constraints of text readings, papers, and discussion boards. This next generation of online courses needs to dynamically and actively integrate the wide-ranging distribution of…

Technology has been integrated into academia. The 21st century learner will be a life-long learner and students need to be comfortable and familiar with computers and technology. Computers are part of the educational environment independent of the different learning styles of the students. Regardless of the major field of study elected by a…

American universities have adopted course management systems (CMSs) at levels that are unprecedented in learning technology. Researchers have investigated CMS use for a few reasons. First, they are interested in learning what universities are getting from the large investment into these systems. Second, there are so many features in a CMS that…