In higher education, a primary concern with online learning versus in-person learning centers on offering and facilitating effective communication and collaboration opportunities for students. New technologies, specifically free and open source system (FOSS) applications, help bridge these gaps by giving instructors and students the means to…

Despite huge investments in Ghanaian universities for e-learning education, there exist lecturers who struggle with the adoption and use of open-source Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in teaching. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dominant drivers of the adoption and usage of LMS by faculty to enhance e-learning education in…

Statistical software is commonly used in undergraduate social sciences statistics courses. Due to the increase in online/hybrid courses and the cost of SPSS, instructors may wish to switch to another statistical software. We cover seven programs: Excel, Google Sheets, jamovi, JASP, PSPP, R, and SOFA. We compare programs using the following…

Conventional team-based learning (TBL) uses a paper-based system to deliver a team-quiz component of the instructional method. We observed the use of this paper-based system in various settings and identified it could be challenging in a large classroom. Challenges include distributing paper answer cards, time to grade them, and additional…

In this study, the effects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) focused Arduino practical activities on problem-solving and entrepreneurship skills were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Also, the contribution of these activities to teacher candidates and their effects on the learning-teaching process were…

Adopting learning management systems (LMS) in higher education has become a major focus of interest to implement e-learning. Evaluating the quality of LMS is important to improve learner outcomes and promote teaching strategy. Many LMSs are emerging and thus assisting higher institutions to choose the adequate LMS becomes crucial especially under…

Purpose: This study aims to examine the factors influencing university students' adoption of open-source software (OSS) within the context of open educational practices (OEP) by applying an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT 2) model. Design/methodology/approach: The research employs a quantitative approach,…

In times of the explosion of distance learning, because of emergency due to the pandemic, smartphone sensors and cameras are extremely valuable for teachers as they allow students to perform significant experimental activities in their own homes. The open-source software Tracker can be used in combination with the smartphone camera to perform…

Scientific computing and computer literacy are increasingly important skills for chemistry students to learn, but despite this need, there is an absence of chemistry-specific texts available for teaching the subject. This article introduces a freely available textbook released under a Creative Commons license for use in an undergraduate scientific…

This dissertation explores the utilization of internet-connected devices to address the accessibility challenges associated with microscopy in the field of biology. Traditional microscopy devices are often costly, limiting their widespread adoption in laboratories. To overcome this barrier, we developed a cost-effective multi-well imaging device…

Open source software has now become a significant alternative in meeting different needs in business, government and academic environments, such as needs related to economics, management, learning and innovation, among others. The purpose of this research was to examine the research trends and evolution of the field of open source software…

An interactive open-source calculus textbook is compared to a popular commercial textbook. Structured as a non-inferiority study, use of the open-source textbook does not harm student outcomes, and there is evidence that the open-source textbook is better than the commercial textbook in promoting post-course enjoyment of mathematics and confidence…

This case study describes a small-scale Lightboard pilot and a full-scale Lightboard build with accompanying studio at a small, private liberal arts college in the southern United States. This article will provide an overview of the Lightboard landscape in higher education, offer considerations for the construction of a Lightboard, and share the…

This paper will detail the introduction of the open-source content creation tool H5P in a first year university French language module with 115 students in autumn 2019 and its evaluation in early spring 2020. The aim of this project is to analyse what happens when students are given access to an authoring tool traditionally intended for and used…

The Etherpad is an open source online editor providing the possibility for collaborative writing and discussions in real-time via a shared link. Previous research has shown that the use of technology in higher education can be effective and that online editors can facilitate collaborative learning. This article outlines the use of the Etherpad in…