With the gradual shift to online education models that has taken place in recent decades, research has sought to understand the nuances of student performance in an online model in comparison to more traditional in-person modalities. However, the effects of instructional modality have been difficult to determine given the many variables that exist…

In recent years, the use of asynchronous discussion forums in online learning has increased rapidly. In earlier studies, content analysis is the most-used research method in exploring the discussion transcripts. However, conventional content analysis is a time-consuming task and requires experienced coders. There is a need for an automated…

Colleges and universities in the United States swiftly shifted campus-based classes to virtual spaces as a response to extended campus closures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Synchronous online courses were mandated as a replacement for traditional face-to-face classes in many higher education institutions. We understand that the benefits…

This study aimed to understand the effects of a custom-developed, artificial intelligence-based, asynchronous remote invigilation system on the student user experience. The study was conducted over 3 years at a large Australian university, and findings demonstrate that familiarity with the system over time improved student attitudes towards remote…

This study describes the experiences of students in a flipped intermediate Spanish college class who used a video discussion digital tool to develop their confidence to speak in the foreign language. Students participated in a series of 10 speaking tasks designed based on the framework on technology-mediated tasks (Gonzalez-Lloret & Ortega,…

This study examines how student and instructor participation in online discussions impacts students' course performance. The context for the study is university introductory online mathematics/statistics courses, which typically have much higher failure rates than their face-to-face counterparts. Using text-mining techniques, we analyze online…

This study attempted to determine if placing videos in an asynchronous course influenced the learning experience. Data were examined for an introductory college statistics course comparing results pre and post implementation of videos in support of discussions, assignments, homework, quizzes, and exams. Frequency of external tutoring was…

This research aimed to investigate how achievement emotions predict, mediate, and affect academic achievement in online learning. Online learning has been proliferating, but little is known about how emotion mediates cognition in the Community of Inquiry framework. Recent progress in cognitive neuroscience provided the theoretical foundation for…

Research into asynchronous online discussions (AOD) produced conflicting, contradictory results. A central problem was AOD often did not produce a high level of engagement and critical thinking. Synthesizing best practices, a dialectical framework was developed around concrete, actionable levers to improve thinking in online and remote courses.…

Objective: Individuals with autism who are minimally speaking often rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Communication partner training is an integral element of AAC intervention, and parents are ideal communication partners for supporting their child's language development skills. Asynchronous, online trainings may offer…

The three research papers completed and compiled to make up this dissertation explore the relationship between social presence and social construction of knowledge in asynchronous online discussion forums in higher education courses in the instructional technology field. Paper 1 is a literature review of the interaction analysis model (IAM)…

This design case presents an early career designer's reflection on the design and design narrative from an asynchronous video tutorial, reflecting on the unexpected obstacles of the process and unintended consequences of certain design decisions. The first author designed a tutorial for a non-academic department of a large southeastern university.…

In this study, we aimed to explore the factors associated with higher education students' learning outcomes in emergency remote teaching environments (ERTEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic at both the population and individual levels, given the limited understanding in previous research. 9418 students from 41 countries were selected for analysis…

Teacher learning in asynchronous online professional development (PD) is often assessed through self-reported instruments, despite uncertainties regarding teachers' ability to accurately self-assess their learning gains in such settings. This study compared middle school mathematics teachers' self-perceived and observed learning gains in content…

The migration to online learning has brought about several new problems. Poor signal quality, large Internet quotas, and device compatibility with learning applications are the most common complaints among students. Additionally, students' poor self-directed learning skills, the excessive number of assignments given by teachers, and the use of…