Massive open online courses (MOOCs) experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this work, we studied participants in an astrobiology MOOC offered on Coursera since April 2019. Using a modified version of the Science Motivation Questionnaire II, we examined the primary motivational factors of the participants, how those…

Teachers' motivational strategies can be categorised into two types of motivating styles--autonomy-supportive style versus controlling style (Reeve in Educ Psychol 44:159-175, 2009). Several factors can affect the teachers' use of motivational strategies, and student-related factors are some influential reasons. In this study, we focussed on…

This study investigates the shift in the use of AI-based chat tools in higher education focusing on changes in student engagement, learning behavior, and perceptions during a heavily AI-integrated semester. The research is based on pre- and post-semester surveys conducted among students from diverse demographic backgrounds and academic disciplines…

This quantitative study explored the relationships among student-instructor connectedness, learners' anxiety, and motivation in online higher education courses. Research has shown that student-instructor connectedness can affect student motivation in online learning. Utilizing the connectedness and anxiety items of the Student-Instructor…

Undergraduates often report problematic perceptions of low value and high cost in their initial science courses. These beliefs often predict poor performance and retention, and also strengthen over time. Few studies have examined how profiles of value and cost beliefs emerge, and fewer track students' transitions across profiles over a course and…

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic since the last days of 2019 has led to school closure worldwide and forced institutions at all levels to move to online or distance learning. This study was conducted to explore university students' readiness to such a sudden situational shift to online learning. We surveyed 1304 online-learning students in a…

This study explored the life experiences of care experienced adults in higher education to understand the factors that impeded or enhanced their journeys. Care experienced refers to someone who has been in the care of the state at some point in their life. Six students with a history in the care system took part in semi-structured interviews.…

Research on student transition into Higher Education (HE) has taken different theoretical perspectives. First, studies investigated personal variables such as students' self-efficacy, emotions and motivation regarding the transition from school to HE. A second strand of research focused on contextual variables, for instance college effectiveness…

The COVID-19 pandemic brought changes around the world, especially in the education field where classes were shifted to only distance learning. This radical transformation could have affected students' level of engagement and motivation; therefore, it might also have had some influence on their performance. This study correlates English as a…

Globally, collegiate students possess distinct drives, opportunities, and constraints that influence their choices regarding if, when, and where to study abroad. This research explored the study abroad motivations of US students who were studying in other countries as well as international students who were studying in the US. Data was collected…

Researchers have investigated the demography and styles of engagement of those who enroll in MOOCs but have lent little attention to how learners navigate MOOCs' ambiguity as academic certifications. Analyzing semi-structured interviews with 60 people who devoted substantial time to at least one MOOC between 2014-2017, we find that people use…

Student enrolment in higher education is increasing, as are enrolments in non-traditional pathways, such as degree completion programs, particularly those that are offered online. These changes have shifted the nature of student learning needs and perceptions. Therefore, stakeholders in higher education need a greater understanding of the drivers…

The concept of self-regulated learning in the field of educational psychology has been developed to comprehend how students learn autonomously. Motivation is a pivotal factor in learners' academic outcomes, and its connection with self-regulated learning is extensive. While self-regulated learning and motivational beliefs are both believed to play…

Past research has indicated that teachers' use of relational power directly influences students' sense of empowerment and that students who feel empowered are more likely to be motivated. This phenomenological, retrospective study investigated gifted high school students' perceptions of power and empowerment within their classrooms and the…

This study sought to respond to the increased number of mature students in social work education and the understudied topic of their experiences. The research deployed semi- structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore the benefits, challenges, and needs of mature students (N = 19) over the age of 30 in a Canadian Bachelor of Social Work…