This dissertation investigates the role of multimedia applications in enhancing student engagement in higher education, with a particular focus on the dynamics of asynchronous discussion forums and lurking behaviors. Leveraging multimedia applications facilitates dynamic, inquiry-based discussions that promote deeper cognitive engagement and…

Online discussions are widely adopted in higher education to promote student interaction. However, prior research on online discussions falls short to estimate the effect of multiple factors collectively shape student interaction in online discussion activities. In this study, we applied a dynamic network analysis approach named relational event…

This research explores the impact of an innovative social media-based project on students' digital activism and their perspectives on societal issues, particularly domestic terrorism. A mixed methods approach, combining structural equation modeling and qualitative data, revealed that higher levels of ethnocultural empathy led to increased…

This scoping review summarizes studies on passive participation in collaborative online learning activities that used computer-mediated communication tools in school settings. A total of 42 articles spanning about 20 years were explored. ERIC and three main journal indexes from Web of Science were used to locate articles. For each year searched,…

A good understanding of banks and the banking industry are important in a quality business education. Focusing students early in the semester on the three major characteristics of banks and their place/importance in the economy that make them special establishes a solid foundation upon which to build a good understanding of the industry. However,…

In this study, we work towards a strategy to measure and enhance the quality of interactions in discussion forums at scale. We present a machine learning (ML) model which identifies the phase of cognitive presence exhibited by a student's post and suggest future applications of such a model to help online students develop higher-order thinking. We…

With the rapid expansion of online learning as a dominant pedagogical approach in higher education, significant research has been undertaken to explore the impacts of internet-based technologies to promote student engagement. Current advances in online learning have fostered innovative, and often nuanced approaches to teaching and learning that…

Engagement is an essential factor in successful outcomes for students. Several studies have shown that the use of Twitter in the higher education classroom has the potential to increase student engagement. Student engagement increases students' academic success, because they are interacting with the course content, peers and the course instructor…

In this research paper, the authors analyse the collected data output during a 36-week cMOOC. Six-week data streams from blogs, Twitter, a Facebook group, and video conferences were tracked from the daily newsletter and the MOOCs' hashtag (#Change 11). This data was analysed using content analysis and social network analysis within an…

Internships and other forms of work-based learning are increasingly viewed as essential experiences for college students. Proponents point out that internships help students develop transferable skills, apply academic knowledge to authentic situations, develop professional networks, and facilitate students' socialization and entry into the…

Hybrid classroom, which combines face-to-face and online learning, is becoming a popular way of delivering courses in higher education and a subject of growing interest in academic literature. At the same time, the ongoing development of digital educational resources and a trend of openness in systems and education gives open educational resources…

Blended learning, which combines online and face-to-face pedagogy, is a fast-growing mode of instruction as universities strive for equitable and alternative pathways to course enrollment, retention, and educational attainment. However, challenges to successfully implementing blended instruction are that "social presence," or students'…

Wawasan Open University (WOU) provides working Malaysians access to quality higher education via Open Distance Learning (ODL). As admission of students involves students from diverse backgrounds, including diversity of ability, age groups and educational backgrounds, WOU faces the real challenge of effectively engaging and supporting these…

: This paper reports the findings of a scoping review of the construct social presence. The methodology follows the design for scoping reviews as advocated by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). A scoping study is desirable because by synthesizing the research literature the opportunity to identify practical guidelines for the development of social…

The spread and popularity of mobile devices has led to their increased application in higher education. While studies have reviewed mobile learning initiatives in different contexts, none has explored this subject in Africa. This systematic review collates and compares studies published between 2010 and 2016 on mobile learning in higher education…