Research on instructional design provides inconsistent results on the use of game elements in cognitive tasks or learning. Cognitive load theory suggests that game elements increase extraneous cognitive load and, thus, may distract the users. In contrast, from an emotional design perspective, the use of game elements is argued to increase…

This brief essay highlights how the COVID-19 crisis forced many faculty members in the higher education setting to abruptly transition from face-to-face and hybrid instruction to remote teaching. We propose that incorporating systematic reflection regarding one's professional practice as a faculty member will lead to overall improved instruction…

Research on instructional and learning design is 'booming' in Europe, although there has been a move from a focus on content and the way to present it in a formal educational context (i.e., instruction), to a focus on complex learning, learning environments including the workplace, and access to learner data available in these environments. We…

As the core element of classroom teaching, questions play an essential role in constructing students' knowledge systems and cultivating their ability to discover, explore, analyze, and solve problems. Therefore, the design and application of appropriate questions is the key to the success of classroom teaching. Teaching based on protocol-guided…

Recognising the usability challenges that are linked to tools like the Blackboard learning management system are significant. This paper presents the outcome of an assessment of adherence to design principles on Blackboard from the learner-user perspective at Botho University, Botswana. As the university is shifting from a conventional teaching…

Appalachian State University's First Year Seminar Online Library Component is a set of information literacy modules designed to introduce students to university-level research. Originally deployed in 2015, this is a requirement for the University's First Year Seminar Program. It is composed of original and OER content, delivered through AppState's…

In this study, teacher candidates were asked to evaluate activities designed with the use of the history of mathematics (HoM) as a tool in terms of the obstacles to the use of the HoM. A total of 12 activities which used the HoM as a tool were utilized in the study. The study group consisted of 40 teacher candidates who were first-year students in…

Despite the prevalence of case-based reasoning in systems design, many of the established design principles are based on theory rather than empirical studies. This study describes the evolution of a case library learning environment and its transition to a game-based learning approach using educational design research (EDR). We discuss our…

In a traditional classroom of mixed ability levels, it is recommended that differentiation is the answer to helping all students achieve success (Heacox, 2012). This necessitates a shift from a "one size fits all" approach to one of greater emphasis on the individual in the learning process. While teachers seek ways to look at teaching,…

Given that the primary task of teaching is to teach the content of physical education, attention to how instructional tasks operationalize the curriculum and progress learning is essential knowledge for teachers. Task progression in physical education occurs when tasks are designed to successively and incrementally present physical education…

Amidst the significant optimism for blended learning and flipped classrooms, there is a need for a model to guide the systematic design of flipped instruction. An effective flipped model could potentially improve learning outcomes and provide guidelines for designing future blended instruction. This paper presents a model for designing flipped…

In this paper we introduce a theoretical framework concerned with fostering functional thinking in Grade 8 students by utilizing digital technologies. This framework is meant to be used to guide the systematic variation of tasks for implementation in the classroom while using digital technologies. Examples of problems and tasks illustrate this…

This study focused on student-content interactions and engagement in an online graduate course. Student descriptions of their experiences and learning processes in relation to digital course resources were examined to understand how and why resources were used. Fourteen students provided detailed explanations of their use and perceived value of…

This article describes designs that use multiple conversational agents within the framework of intelligent tutoring systems. Agents in this case are computerized talking heads or embodied animated avatars that help students learn by performing actions and holding conversations with them in natural language. The earliest conversational intelligent…

This article implements a systemic framework to evaluate the long-term effects of a program characterized by a SoTL approach and a hybrid learning environment. The importance of the difference between the perception of long-term effects on individual professional development on the one hand and the development of collective practices on the other,…