Introductory mathematics courses at postsecondary institutions simultaneously function as gateways and gatekeepers to degrees and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for historically minoritized and marginalized students. While these courses provide access to higher education, they also thwart student STEM pathways…

Online courses provide flexible learning opportunities, but research suggests that students may learn less and persist at lower rates compared to face-to-face settings. However, few research studies have investigated more distal effects of online education. In this study we analyzed six years of institutional data for three cohorts of students in…

Existing research studying MOOC learner diversity has mainly taken unidimensional approaches, which have led to partial or inconsistent findings. This paper addresses this issue by proposing a multi-dimensional model that helps to identify and build the personas of key learner subgroups in any given MOOC course. By linking learners' behavioral…

In order to analyze the non-linear and uncertain relationships among the student-related features, curriculum-related features as well as the environment-related features, and then quantify the corresponding impacts on students' final MOOC performance in a valid way, we first construct a Students' performance Prediction Bayesian Network (SPBN) via…

As the financial challenges facing the U.S higher education industry mount, colleges and universities seek new activities that can improve their financial situation. Online education programs are often viewed as a promising option due to growing student interest and the substantial net revenue generated by early entrants that leveraged economies…

The paper aims to develop training for teachers to perceive non-verbal cues in online classes. The training is prepared based on a mindmap suggesting alternative tools available in the online platforms to gauge non-verbal cues in online lectures. The findings indicate that after the training, teachers could perceive students' non-verbal cues…

The quality assurance of MOOCs focuses on improving their pedagogical quality. However, the tools that allow reflection on and assistance regarding the pedagogical aspects of MOOCs are limited. The pedagogical classification of MOOCs is a difficult task, given the variability of MOOCs' content, structure, and designs. Pedagogical researchers have…

Recent years have featured a surge of introductory surveys of environmental humanities scholarship, seeking to assist instructors in familiarizing students with the field's goals and parameters. Recognizing this abundance, this review essay examines some of the field's newest contributions: J. Andrew Hubbell and John C. Ryan's "Introduction…

Of all the conceivable ideal-gas processes, almost all introductory physics textbooks as well as more advanced texts on thermodynamics emphasize only four: isochoric, isobaric, isothermal, and adiabatic (isentropic). These are processes in which a state variable--volume, pressure, temperature, or entropy--remains constant. It turns out that these…

Students often have no exposure to the incredible amount of genomic and proteomic data that is freely and easily accessible online. Becoming familiar with these resources, and seeing how they could be applied to a specific research question, is a prerequisite for students to apply them to their own scientific development. Many students have to…

At a time of seemingly endless political and social unrest across the globe, many are reacting strongly to injustices and oppression through protest and other forms of resistance. Key among efforts are the ways that art can be used as a form of activism as is expressed through craftivism or the merging of art and craft. Often associated with…

Essential oils serve as a valuable, inexpensive natural supply of useful organic compounds that possess various biological activities, including antimicrobial properties, and most oils emit pleasant and familiar odors. They are an excellent source of analytes for introductory organic laboratory experiments. We report an experiment in which…

During COVID-19, online education was utilized globally to bridge geographical and temporal gaps; however, this posed new challenges. In this context, instructors continued to play a crucial role in shaping students' educational experiences and promoting student achievement. Consequently, addressing the issues that can help students adapt to…

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been increasingly incorporated into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula, leading to greater inclusion of students in real-world STEM practices. Implicit within the definition of CUREs is the notion that generated research findings will have relevancy to one…

This study explored the impact of integrating ChatGPT into asynchronous online discussions. The analysis encompassed students' log data from Canvas and their perspectives on using ChatGPT. Results revealed a significant enhancement in overall discussion participation when ChatGPT is encouraged, emphasizing its potential as a catalyst for…