Educational researchers have pointed to socioemotional dimensions of learning as important in gaining a more nuanced description of student engagement and learning. However, to date, research focused on the analysis of emotions has been narrow in its focus, centering on affect and sentiment analysis in isolation while neglecting how emotions…

It is aimed to examine the interaction experiences of distance education students in e-learning environments where content-integrated social interaction opportunities are offered, and in line with this purpose, the factors affecting students' level of interaction, appreciation, and participation in interactions were examined. The study group of…

Online-only course design has to balance students' needs to experience (1) competence and (2) autonomy as it may affect their motivation. Lecture units can provide structured guidance by being made accessible in a fixed order, or support students' autonomy by providing free access to all lecture units. Online-only courses with lecture units…

Asynchronous online courses have become increasingly prevalent in higher education, offering numerous benefits, including flexibility and accessibility. However, these courses often face challenges related to the lack of direct interaction among students. This study is grounded in a "Modified Theory of Interactions" that seeks to…

The pandemic resulted in many courses being shifted to online delivery, but some courses are designed as online courses from their conception. Courses intentionally designed for online delivery should be well-received by students, but it is not clear which aspects of courses students find particularly appealing and unappealing. We examined…

With the advancement of technology, traditional classroom environments have been increasingly replaced by technology-driven learning settings. This transition has been further accelerated by global crises such as wars, health emergencies, and economic instability, pushing education beyond conventional boundaries. Among these settings, e-learning…

This article presents a case study of an online course that cross-pollinated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and dialogic teaching to facilitate deep learning. Conceptualized through the UDL framework, dialogue and dialogic teaching, and deep learning, our analysis employs the methods of design-based research and thematic analysis to unpack…

This qualitative case study explored how course context, such as course design, facilitation, and community, supports students' basic psychological needs and thus shapes their situational motivation to participate in asynchronous online discussions in different course contexts. Three upper-level undergraduate courses in different disciplines were…

This study is a road map for effectively teaching online MBA courses. Using a case study approach, the authors describe the process in detail, in an online MBA course, titled, "Business in a Global Economy -- The BRICS nations," which can be successfully implemented in other online MBA courses. The benefits to the key stakeholders from…

Although social workers are increasingly likely to encounter suicidal clients in their practice, many are under-prepared to address the issue of suicide, and significant deficiencies in suicide education exist in social work graduate programs. This study examined the acceptability and effectiveness of a brief yet comprehensive online module…

Higher Education (HE) needs to handle a diverse student population. The role of student expectations and previous experience is a key to fully participate. This study investigates student meaning making and interaction in a course designed to stimulate student as co-creators of course content and aims. Results revealed that rich communication…

Online courses provide students the opportunity and flexibility to attend college courses on their own schedule and within the comforts of their own home. While most enjoy the flexibility offered by this type of course delivery method and the quality between distance (online) and face-to-face courses being relatively equal, the question has been…

In this article I will share a qualitative self-study about a 15-week blended 100% online graduate level course facilitated through synchronous meetings on Blackboard Collaborate and asynchronous discussions on Blackboard. I taught the course at the University of Tennessee (UT) during the spring 2012 semester and the course topic was online…

This case study examined student preference for delivery mode of online courses in two graduate degree programs in Library and Information Science. Within-group and between-groups comparisons indicated a distinct preference across the institutions. Findings from focus groups conducted with two cohorts of students enrolled in a federally funded…

This dissertation examined how an asynchronous video reflection tool impacted learners' perception of social presence and their feeling of community in an online learning environment. More than ever before learning in postsecondary education takes place online through computer mediated communication, as almost all colleges and universities offer…