Using a primarily experimental design, this study investigated whether discussion boards in online community college philosophy classes can be designed in the Blackboard course management system to lead to higher order thinking. Discussions were designed using one of two teaching techniques: the activation of prior knowledge or the use of peer…

We built on two cognitive and three motivational theoretical constructs to create a combined intervention aiming to improve course achievement and retention in STEM for first-year ("gateway") biology students. Participants were 350 students in one of 8 conditions or a no-treatment control group. Messages supporting cognition and…

The advent of Web 2.0 technology has afforded language educators more useful technology for English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching. This article reviewed 31 empirical studies investigating the employment of web-based technology to enhance EFL learners' speaking performance. The findings indicated that overall, web-based language learning…

This case study explored the potential applications of data mining in the educational program evaluation of online professional development workshops for pre K-12 teachers. Multiple data mining analyses were implemented in combination with traditional evaluation instruments and student outcomes to determine learner engagement and more clearly…

This study examines the efficacy of a multimodal online bilingual dictionary based on cognitive linguistics in order to explore the advantages and limitations of explicit multimodal L2 vocabulary learning. Previous studies have examined the efficacy of the verbal and visual representation of words while reading L2 texts, concluding that it…

Problem Statement: Learners can access and participate in online learning environments regardless of time and geographical barriers. This brings up the umbrella concept of learner autonomy that contains self-directed learning, self-regulated learning and the studying process. Motivation and learning strategies are also part of this umbrella…

A project developed and field tested a Student Assessment System (SAS) to aid in the articulation of secondary and postsecondary vocational programs in Georgia. A systematic procedure was provided for determining credit toward advanced placement for secondary vocational students entering a related postsecondary program and for advanced placement…

For the thirty-first year, the Research and Theory Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) sponsored the publication of these Proceedings. Papers were presented at the annual AECT Convention in Orlando, Florida. This year's Proceedings has two sections--Section 1 includes research and development papers and…