As pointed out by many scholars, Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides both opportunities and challenges in regard to assignments and examination in higher education. The accessibility and use of AI in regard to student assignments, examinations and assessments places demands on teachers’ work in course design and formats of assignments and examination. For teachers, this work is a constant and continuous process, in line with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) according to Boyer (1991). In order to meet these new demands, teachers need to reflect upon design, as reflective practitioners (Schön, 1987). Reflective design may alleviate the challenges with AI as well as make use of the opportunities with the use of AI. In this paper there are two sets of data. This study aspires to contribute to the current state of AI (ChatGPT) as it is applied in higher education through an empirical study of authentic reflection texts by students in comparison to AI (ChatGPT) generated texts. The first set of data is authentic reflection texts (N=20) written by students. The second set of data is texts generated by AI (ChatGPT). The texts are analysed using reflective thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019). The themes in the two sets of texts are described, analysed and compared. The two sets of data are then explored, analysed and compared to highlight similarities and differences between the authentic texts and the texts generated by AI. These insights may provide support for teachers in regard to the design of assignments and examinations as well as the practical use of AI (ChatGPT) in higher education.
{"title":"Exploring Student and AI Generated Texts: Reflections on Reflection Texts","authors":"Marcia Håkansson Lindqvist, Catarina Arvidsson","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.6.3473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.6.3473","url":null,"abstract":"As pointed out by many scholars, Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides both opportunities and challenges in regard to assignments and examination in higher education. The accessibility and use of AI in regard to student assignments, examinations and assessments places demands on teachers’ work in course design and formats of assignments and examination. For teachers, this work is a constant and continuous process, in line with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) according to Boyer (1991). In order to meet these new demands, teachers need to reflect upon design, as reflective practitioners (Schön, 1987). Reflective design may alleviate the challenges with AI as well as make use of the opportunities with the use of AI. In this paper there are two sets of data. This study aspires to contribute to the current state of AI (ChatGPT) as it is applied in higher education through an empirical study of authentic reflection texts by students in comparison to AI (ChatGPT) generated texts. The first set of data is authentic reflection texts (N=20) written by students. The second set of data is texts generated by AI (ChatGPT). The texts are analysed using reflective thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019). The themes in the two sets of texts are described, analysed and compared. The two sets of data are then explored, analysed and compared to highlight similarities and differences between the authentic texts and the texts generated by AI. These insights may provide support for teachers in regard to the design of assignments and examinations as well as the practical use of AI (ChatGPT) in higher education.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141928719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eatedal Basheer Amin, R. Al-Dmour, Hani Al-Dmour, A. Al-Dmour
This research examines the effects of technostress on educators' productivity within Jordan's higher education sector, highlighting gender differences. Technostress, characterized by techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, and techno-uncertainty, adversely affects productivity. The study gathered data from 500 educators through a structured online survey, achieving a 73% response rate. Analysis revealed that technostress generally decreases productivity, with a more pronounced negative impact on male educators than females. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate technostress, particularly among male educators. Strategies recommended include training programs, policy adjustments, and organizational support to enhance the digital teaching environment. This study contributes to the understanding of technostress in Jordanian educational settings. It offers practical recommendations for enhancing e-learning practices and improving the overall educational experience and productivity in Jordan's higher education sector.
{"title":"Technostress Impact on Educator Productivity: Gender Differences in Jordan's Higher Education","authors":"Eatedal Basheer Amin, R. Al-Dmour, Hani Al-Dmour, A. Al-Dmour","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.8.3608","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.8.3608","url":null,"abstract":"This research examines the effects of technostress on educators' productivity within Jordan's higher education sector, highlighting gender differences. Technostress, characterized by techno-overload, techno-invasion, techno-complexity, techno-insecurity, and techno-uncertainty, adversely affects productivity. The study gathered data from 500 educators through a structured online survey, achieving a 73% response rate. Analysis revealed that technostress generally decreases productivity, with a more pronounced negative impact on male educators than females. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate technostress, particularly among male educators. Strategies recommended include training programs, policy adjustments, and organizational support to enhance the digital teaching environment. This study contributes to the understanding of technostress in Jordanian educational settings. It offers practical recommendations for enhancing e-learning practices and improving the overall educational experience and productivity in Jordan's higher education sector.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141802253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fernando Castelló-Sirvent, Vanessa Roger-Monzó, Ricardo Gouveia-Rodrigues
In recent years, academic interest in new developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ethical challenges in higher education has increased. The new emerging technologies that have become popular among the university community in recent times require an exhaustive study to evaluate their impact on academic integrity and plagiarism. The main stakeholders in higher education (SoTL, educational authorities, and policymakers) must understand the new trends and the most relevant studies to have action guides that preserve academic integrity standards in deploying AI in the university. This research analyzes scientific articles published in high-impact journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) (n=254) and carries out a bibliometric study using VOSviewer 1.6.18 and WordStat 2023.1. The Normalized Impact per Document (NID) and per Year (NIY) are studied, and four thematic groups and twelve main themes are identified and discussed, allowing the internal research structure of this field of study to be determined. Based on the findings, a roadmap for implementing AI in higher education is proposed, preserving ethical standards and based on three levels (Micro, Meso, Macro). This study offers practical implications for SoTL, academic authorities, and policymakers. Furthermore, the evidence found allows editors of high-impact journals to advise on unclosed gaps and new research trends and new research trends in the area.
{"title":"Quo Vadis, University? A Roadmap for AI and Ethics in Higher Education","authors":"Fernando Castelló-Sirvent, Vanessa Roger-Monzó, Ricardo Gouveia-Rodrigues","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.6.3267","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.6.3267","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, academic interest in new developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its ethical challenges in higher education has increased. The new emerging technologies that have become popular among the university community in recent times require an exhaustive study to evaluate their impact on academic integrity and plagiarism. The main stakeholders in higher education (SoTL, educational authorities, and policymakers) must understand the new trends and the most relevant studies to have action guides that preserve academic integrity standards in deploying AI in the university. This research analyzes scientific articles published in high-impact journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) (n=254) and carries out a bibliometric study using VOSviewer 1.6.18 and WordStat 2023.1. The Normalized Impact per Document (NID) and per Year (NIY) are studied, and four thematic groups and twelve main themes are identified and discussed, allowing the internal research structure of this field of study to be determined. Based on the findings, a roadmap for implementing AI in higher education is proposed, preserving ethical standards and based on three levels (Micro, Meso, Macro). This study offers practical implications for SoTL, academic authorities, and policymakers. Furthermore, the evidence found allows editors of high-impact journals to advise on unclosed gaps and new research trends and new research trends in the area.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141808157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The ultimate goals of education and training are the development of learners’ learning outcomes. The prospect of achieving high academic results should function as a driving force for students to be engaged in learning. Recognition of the factors affecting their learning satisfaction should facilitate their learning process, especially in online learning environments such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The purpose of this study was to examine the interactions among students’ characteristics, their perceived values of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, satisfaction and academic performances. A mixed-methods design was employed to investigate the issue under exploration. The 227 surveyed responses were collected from English majors who had experience in MOOCs and were studying at a private university in Can Tho city in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Data from the survey was analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 for the correlations between their characteristics and the quantitative variables, while Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed to examine the perceived effects of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies on their satisfaction and academic outcomes. Qualitative data was collected through open-ended survey questions and analysed based on thematic analysis guidelines. The results revealed that SRL strategies such as strategic planning, time management, environment structuring, and help-seeking positively influenced both student satisfaction and academic performance. Notably, the study identified flexible learning time, self-paced learning, and the ability to choose study locations as significant factors enhancing student satisfaction. Conversely, limited social interaction, poor internet connectivity, and low motivation were found to be demotivating factors. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of gender and prior online learning experience in shaping students' satisfaction and performance in MOOCs. While gender showed no significant correlation with SRL strategies, satisfaction, or academic performance, prior experience in online learning environments, such as the number of completed MOOC courses, was significantly correlated with better academic outcomes. However, a weak negative correlation between students' academic years and their satisfaction was observed, suggesting that more advanced students might face increased academic pressure and higher expectations, leading to lower satisfaction levels. The research underscores the critical role of SRL strategies in facilitating effective learning in MOOCs, especially in the context of English major students who often lack direct interaction with instructors and peers. Training students in SRL strategies can help them better manage their learning processes, overcome challenges, and achieve their academic goals. This study contributes to the understanding of how student characteristics and SRL strategi
{"title":"Examining Student Characteristics, Self-Regulated Learning Strategies, and Their Perceived Effects on Satisfaction and Academic Performance in MOOCs","authors":"C. Dinh, H. Phuong","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.8.3446","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.8.3446","url":null,"abstract":"The ultimate goals of education and training are the development of learners’ learning outcomes. The prospect of achieving high academic results should function as a driving force for students to be engaged in learning. Recognition of the factors affecting their learning satisfaction should facilitate their learning process, especially in online learning environments such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The purpose of this study was to examine the interactions among students’ characteristics, their perceived values of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, satisfaction and academic performances. A mixed-methods design was employed to investigate the issue under exploration. The 227 surveyed responses were collected from English majors who had experience in MOOCs and were studying at a private university in Can Tho city in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Data from the survey was analysed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 25 for the correlations between their characteristics and the quantitative variables, while Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed to examine the perceived effects of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies on their satisfaction and academic outcomes. Qualitative data was collected through open-ended survey questions and analysed based on thematic analysis guidelines. The results revealed that SRL strategies such as strategic planning, time management, environment structuring, and help-seeking positively influenced both student satisfaction and academic performance. Notably, the study identified flexible learning time, self-paced learning, and the ability to choose study locations as significant factors enhancing student satisfaction. Conversely, limited social interaction, poor internet connectivity, and low motivation were found to be demotivating factors. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of gender and prior online learning experience in shaping students' satisfaction and performance in MOOCs. While gender showed no significant correlation with SRL strategies, satisfaction, or academic performance, prior experience in online learning environments, such as the number of completed MOOC courses, was significantly correlated with better academic outcomes. However, a weak negative correlation between students' academic years and their satisfaction was observed, suggesting that more advanced students might face increased academic pressure and higher expectations, leading to lower satisfaction levels. The research underscores the critical role of SRL strategies in facilitating effective learning in MOOCs, especially in the context of English major students who often lack direct interaction with instructors and peers. Training students in SRL strategies can help them better manage their learning processes, overcome challenges, and achieve their academic goals. This study contributes to the understanding of how student characteristics and SRL strategi","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141812385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deborah Oluwadele, Yashik Singh, Timothy T. Adeliyi
Validation is needed for any newly developed model or framework because it requires several real-life applications. The investment made into e-learning in medical education is daunting, as is the expectation for a positive return on investment. The medical education domain requires data-wise implementation of e-learning as the debate continues about the fitness of e-learning in medical education. The domain seldom employs frameworks or models to evaluate students' performance in e-learning contexts. However, when utilized, the Kirkpatrick evaluation model is a common choice. This model has faced significant criticism for its failure to incorporate constructs that assess technology and its influence on learning. This paper aims to assess the efficiency of a model developed to determine the effectiveness of e-learning in medical education, specifically targeting student performance. The model was validated through Delphi-based Expert Judgement Techniques (EJT), and Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the proposed model. Simple Correspondence Analysis (SCA) was used to measure if stability is reached among experts. Fourteen experts, professors, senior lecturers, and researchers with an average of 12 years of experience in designing and evaluating students' performance in e-learning in medical education participated in the evaluation of the model based on two rounds of questionnaires developed to operationalize the constructs of the model. During the first round, the model had 64 % agreement from all experts; however, 100% agreement was achieved after the second round, with all statements achieving an average of 52% strong agreement and 48% agreement from all 14 experts; the evaluation dimension had the most substantial agreements, next to the design dimension. The results suggest that the model is valid and may be applied as Key Performance Metrics when designing and evaluating e-learning courses in medical education.
{"title":"Operationalizing a Weighted Performance Scoring Model for Sustainable e-Learning in Medical Education: Insights from Expert Judgement","authors":"Deborah Oluwadele, Yashik Singh, Timothy T. Adeliyi","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.8.3427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.8.3427","url":null,"abstract":"Validation is needed for any newly developed model or framework because it requires several real-life applications. The investment made into e-learning in medical education is daunting, as is the expectation for a positive return on investment. The medical education domain requires data-wise implementation of e-learning as the debate continues about the fitness of e-learning in medical education. The domain seldom employs frameworks or models to evaluate students' performance in e-learning contexts. However, when utilized, the Kirkpatrick evaluation model is a common choice. This model has faced significant criticism for its failure to incorporate constructs that assess technology and its influence on learning. This paper aims to assess the efficiency of a model developed to determine the effectiveness of e-learning in medical education, specifically targeting student performance. The model was validated through Delphi-based Expert Judgement Techniques (EJT), and Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the proposed model. Simple Correspondence Analysis (SCA) was used to measure if stability is reached among experts. Fourteen experts, professors, senior lecturers, and researchers with an average of 12 years of experience in designing and evaluating students' performance in e-learning in medical education participated in the evaluation of the model based on two rounds of questionnaires developed to operationalize the constructs of the model. During the first round, the model had 64 % agreement from all experts; however, 100% agreement was achieved after the second round, with all statements achieving an average of 52% strong agreement and 48% agreement from all 14 experts; the evaluation dimension had the most substantial agreements, next to the design dimension. The results suggest that the model is valid and may be applied as Key Performance Metrics when designing and evaluating e-learning courses in medical education.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141822454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In today's technology-driven world, digital citizenship is vital in fostering responsible technology use and essential skills for learning, problem-solving, and community participation. However, a significant focus emerges within digital citizenship—empowering individuals with disabilities. This research addresses this crucial area by spearheading the creation of a specialized Thai Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) meticulously designed for hearing-impaired learners. The core objective is to equip these individuals with indispensable digital citizenship skills for seamless integration and active engagement in digital environments. The study progresses through three key phases. Phase 1 involves crafting the MOOC course to meet the needs of hearing-impaired individuals. Phase 2 develops a course on the Thai MOOC platform, using the MOOC-based Design Thinking Model and universal design learning principles. Phase 3 assesses 20 hearing-impaired learners in the "Utilizing Online Media as Digital Citizenship Course." The research reveals two significant outcomes, highlighting the course's impact. First, an evaluation of digital media quality and learning activities was conducted by five experts with 15 to 30 years of experience in the field, the result was an impressive performance rating of 4.56 on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating the course's high suitability for hearing-impaired learners. Such findings validate the precise alignment of the course with its intended objectives. Second, the outcomes of learning achievement tests on the Thai MOOC platform involving 20 high school hearing-impaired learners revealed that 15 learners scored above 70 (passing), representing 75%. The average post-test score was higher than the pre-test, with an average score of 72.05 points. These results demonstrate the course's effectiveness in improving learning outcomes and meeting predetermined criteria, while also indicating that adopting the MOOC-based Design Thinking model has led to the creation of high-quality media that delivers tangible results for hearing-impaired individuals. This research contributes to the eLearning field by addressing the specific needs of hearing-impaired individuals in digital citizenship education through tailored online learning courses designed to bridge existing gaps.
{"title":"Empowering Hearing-Impaired Learners for Digital Citizenship: A Thai MOOC-Based Design Thinking Approach","authors":"Kanyarat Sriwisathiyakun, Chawaporn Dhamanitayakul","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.8.3365","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.8.3365","url":null,"abstract":"In today's technology-driven world, digital citizenship is vital in fostering responsible technology use and essential skills for learning, problem-solving, and community participation. However, a significant focus emerges within digital citizenship—empowering individuals with disabilities. This research addresses this crucial area by spearheading the creation of a specialized Thai Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) meticulously designed for hearing-impaired learners. The core objective is to equip these individuals with indispensable digital citizenship skills for seamless integration and active engagement in digital environments. The study progresses through three key phases. Phase 1 involves crafting the MOOC course to meet the needs of hearing-impaired individuals. Phase 2 develops a course on the Thai MOOC platform, using the MOOC-based Design Thinking Model and universal design learning principles. Phase 3 assesses 20 hearing-impaired learners in the \"Utilizing Online Media as Digital Citizenship Course.\" The research reveals two significant outcomes, highlighting the course's impact. First, an evaluation of digital media quality and learning activities was conducted by five experts with 15 to 30 years of experience in the field, the result was an impressive performance rating of 4.56 on a 5-point Likert scale, indicating the course's high suitability for hearing-impaired learners. Such findings validate the precise alignment of the course with its intended objectives. Second, the outcomes of learning achievement tests on the Thai MOOC platform involving 20 high school hearing-impaired learners revealed that 15 learners scored above 70 (passing), representing 75%. The average post-test score was higher than the pre-test, with an average score of 72.05 points. These results demonstrate the course's effectiveness in improving learning outcomes and meeting predetermined criteria, while also indicating that adopting the MOOC-based Design Thinking model has led to the creation of high-quality media that delivers tangible results for hearing-impaired individuals. This research contributes to the eLearning field by addressing the specific needs of hearing-impaired individuals in digital citizenship education through tailored online learning courses designed to bridge existing gaps.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141653863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The Covid-19 pandemic forced universities into emergency remote learning. For universities situated in a country where internet connectivity prices are high, network coverage is low, and most students live in rural areas, this presented a unique set of problems. One of the issues is that traditional orientations were face-to-face for first-time entering students (FTENs) at universities, and they had to be moved online due to lockdown restrictions and the desire to save the academic year. For the university concerned, this presented challenges in accessing students due to their low digital literacy skills and infrastructure limitations. The study employed a quantitative exploratory research approach to assess whether WhatsApp, a low-cost communication tool offering features like affordable data bundles, group creation, and accessibility, could facilitate student engagement and support during the COVID-19 lockdown at a rural university campus. The aim was to investigate if utilizing WhatsApp could foster a sense of belonging among students, potentially mitigating dropout rates and preventing students from falling behind. The hypothesis posited a positive correlation between using WhatsApp for academic support and student retention, ultimately leading to enhanced success rates. The study used the 'Academic Dropout Wheel, a theoretical framework developed by Naaman (2021), which identifies key factors contributing to academic dropout and provides strategies for intervention. The results of a quantitative questionnaire on 181 of the 2022 cohort of FTENS at the campus revealed that students felt more at ease, had a feeling of belonging and ownership of the university, and knew where to ask for help through the effective use of WhatsApp. This paper concludes that if professionally managed, WhatsApp can be an effective tool to facilitate continued adjustment and integration of FTENs into the university.
{"title":"WhatsApp as a Tool to Facilitate Continued Adjustment of First Time Entering Students Into University During COVID–19 Lockdown Restrictions","authors":"Tshepo Rabotapi, Samson Matope","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.8.3405","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.8.3405","url":null,"abstract":"The Covid-19 pandemic forced universities into emergency remote learning. For universities situated in a country where internet connectivity prices are high, network coverage is low, and most students live in rural areas, this presented a unique set of problems. One of the issues is that traditional orientations were face-to-face for first-time entering students (FTENs) at universities, and they had to be moved online due to lockdown restrictions and the desire to save the academic year. For the university concerned, this presented challenges in accessing students due to their low digital literacy skills and infrastructure limitations. The study employed a quantitative exploratory research approach to assess whether WhatsApp, a low-cost communication tool offering features like affordable data bundles, group creation, and accessibility, could facilitate student engagement and support during the COVID-19 lockdown at a rural university campus. The aim was to investigate if utilizing WhatsApp could foster a sense of belonging among students, potentially mitigating dropout rates and preventing students from falling behind. The hypothesis posited a positive correlation between using WhatsApp for academic support and student retention, ultimately leading to enhanced success rates. The study used the 'Academic Dropout Wheel, a theoretical framework developed by Naaman (2021), which identifies key factors contributing to academic dropout and provides strategies for intervention. The results of a quantitative questionnaire on 181 of the 2022 cohort of FTENS at the campus revealed that students felt more at ease, had a feeling of belonging and ownership of the university, and knew where to ask for help through the effective use of WhatsApp. This paper concludes that if professionally managed, WhatsApp can be an effective tool to facilitate continued adjustment and integration of FTENs into the university.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141666665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We are increasingly realizing that technology and its use in learning contexts is not benign. With the advent of more powerful technology tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) ones, combined with the historically significant changes that have occurred in education over the last four years, there are more reasons than ever to examine their influence on human beings in the process of “being educated”. The aim of our 3-year longitudinal study was to understand how programs being offered at a fully online technical higher education (HE) institution in Chile influenced the identity development of students from socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. A Participant Action Research (PAR) approach was adopted to the study that involved macro, meso and micro-driven changes being made to programs. These changes involved aligning the instructional design, pedagogical approaches, and technology tools of programs with contemporary e-learning theory and 21st century learning goals. Previously, we provided three in-depth reports of the evolving changes on learners’ identities - in the beginning, mid and end phases of their programs. We also reported on teachers’ perspectives of learners’ evolving identities and the transformation of their own roles and practices during the change period. In this paper, we add to those findings with the results of a recent inquiry into the perspectives of macro-level administrators who were instrumental in the collaborative effort to bring about change to the institution. In this latest study, we employed in-depth focus group and individual interviews to unpack what the change involved on the part of these decision makers in terms of their own epistemological and ontological perspectives, their roles in the institution and their future goals for the organization. The framework we have developed for schematizing the results of these previous inquiries and those of the overall longitudinal study could prove useful in other organizations that are awakening to the need to successfully put e-learning theory to practice in their institutions. The insight to be gained in this framework could add to their efforts to seek pragmatic ways to bring about systemic changes in their online programs and to graduate students with the kinds of identities and skills that will best equip them for the complex world in which they will work and live.
{"title":"Identity Matters: A Framework for Bridging Contemporary e-Learning Theory with Online Practice","authors":"Paula Charbonneau-Gowdy, Caroline Galdames","doi":"10.34190/ejel.21.7.3529","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.21.7.3529","url":null,"abstract":"We are increasingly realizing that technology and its use in learning contexts is not benign. With the advent of more powerful technology tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) ones, combined with the historically significant changes that have occurred in education over the last four years, there are more reasons than ever to examine their influence on human beings in the process of “being educated”. The aim of our 3-year longitudinal study was to understand how programs being offered at a fully online technical higher education (HE) institution in Chile influenced the identity development of students from socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. A Participant Action Research (PAR) approach was adopted to the study that involved macro, meso and micro-driven changes being made to programs. These changes involved aligning the instructional design, pedagogical approaches, and technology tools of programs with contemporary e-learning theory and 21st century learning goals. Previously, we provided three in-depth reports of the evolving changes on learners’ identities - in the beginning, mid and end phases of their programs. We also reported on teachers’ perspectives of learners’ evolving identities and the transformation of their own roles and practices during the change period. In this paper, we add to those findings with the results of a recent inquiry into the perspectives of macro-level administrators who were instrumental in the collaborative effort to bring about change to the institution. In this latest study, we employed in-depth focus group and individual interviews to unpack what the change involved on the part of these decision makers in terms of their own epistemological and ontological perspectives, their roles in the institution and their future goals for the organization. The framework we have developed for schematizing the results of these previous inquiries and those of the overall longitudinal study could prove useful in other organizations that are awakening to the need to successfully put e-learning theory to practice in their institutions. The insight to be gained in this framework could add to their efforts to seek pragmatic ways to bring about systemic changes in their online programs and to graduate students with the kinds of identities and skills that will best equip them for the complex world in which they will work and live.\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141375470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Hmoud, Hadeel Swaity, Eman Anjass, Eva María Aguaded-Ramírez
This research aimed to develop and validate a rubric to assess Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots' effectiveness in accomplishing tasks, particularly within educational contexts. Given the rapidly growing integration of AI in various sectors, including education, a systematic and robust tool for evaluating AI chatbot performance is essential. This investigation involved a rigorous process including expert involvement to ensure content validity, as well as the application of statistical tests for assessing internal consistency and reliability. Factor analysis also revealed two significant domains, "Quality of Content" and "Quality of Expression", which further enhanced the construct validity of the evaluation scale. The results from this investigation robustly affirm the reliability and validity of the developed rubric, thus marking a significant advancement in the sphere of AI chatbot performance evaluation within educational contexts. Nonetheless, the study simultaneously emphasizes the requirement for additional validation research, specifically those entailing a variety of tasks and diverse AI chatbots, to further corroborate these findings. The ramifications of this research are profound, offering both researchers and practitioners engaged in chatbot development and evaluation a comprehensive and validated framework for the assessment of chatbot performance.
{"title":"Rubric Development and Validation for Assessing Tasks' Solving via AI Chatbots","authors":"Mohammad Hmoud, Hadeel Swaity, Eman Anjass, Eva María Aguaded-Ramírez","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.6.3292","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.6.3292","url":null,"abstract":"This research aimed to develop and validate a rubric to assess Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots' effectiveness in accomplishing tasks, particularly within educational contexts. Given the rapidly growing integration of AI in various sectors, including education, a systematic and robust tool for evaluating AI chatbot performance is essential. This investigation involved a rigorous process including expert involvement to ensure content validity, as well as the application of statistical tests for assessing internal consistency and reliability. Factor analysis also revealed two significant domains, \"Quality of Content\" and \"Quality of Expression\", which further enhanced the construct validity of the evaluation scale. The results from this investigation robustly affirm the reliability and validity of the developed rubric, thus marking a significant advancement in the sphere of AI chatbot performance evaluation within educational contexts. Nonetheless, the study simultaneously emphasizes the requirement for additional validation research, specifically those entailing a variety of tasks and diverse AI chatbots, to further corroborate these findings. The ramifications of this research are profound, offering both researchers and practitioners engaged in chatbot development and evaluation a comprehensive and validated framework for the assessment of chatbot performance.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140963233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The impact of COVID-19 on the higher education sector has extended beyond using alternative technological methods. It has also influenced the professional identities of instructors themselves. This study aims to investigate EFL instructors’ perceptions of the impact of online teaching on identity transformation during the COVID-19 lockdown. It also investigates how online teaching has affected teachers’ professional identity in relevant aspects. The study was conducted during the first academic semester of 2022/ 2023. The researchers adopted a mixed research methodology that involved both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. A questionnaire was distributed to (44) EFL instructors, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with (8) EFL instructors at the Department of Languages and Translation at a Palestinian University, Palestine. Appropriate quantitative and qualitative analyses were utilized to figure out participants’ responses to the questionnaire and the interviews. The results of the survey revealed that online teaching positively influenced instructors’ social relations with their colleagues and students, enhanced the teaching process, and promoted instructors’ self-esteem. As for the interviews, the findings showed the substantial impact of online teaching on EFL instructors’ identity in terms of their professional needs, self-awareness and self-esteem, relationships with learners, relationships with colleagues, and their perspectives towards their institution. Hence, some recommendations were suggested.
{"title":"Exploring the Impact of Online Teaching Environment on EFL Teachers’ Professional Identity","authors":"Haya Fayyad Abuhussein, Amjad Badah","doi":"10.34190/ejel.22.5.3280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ejel.22.5.3280","url":null,"abstract":"The impact of COVID-19 on the higher education sector has extended beyond using alternative technological methods. It has also influenced the professional identities of instructors themselves. This study aims to investigate EFL instructors’ perceptions of the impact of online teaching on identity transformation during the COVID-19 lockdown. It also investigates how online teaching has affected teachers’ professional identity in relevant aspects. The study was conducted during the first academic semester of 2022/ 2023. The researchers adopted a mixed research methodology that involved both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. A questionnaire was distributed to (44) EFL instructors, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with (8) EFL instructors at the Department of Languages and Translation at a Palestinian University, Palestine. Appropriate quantitative and qualitative analyses were utilized to figure out participants’ responses to the questionnaire and the interviews. The results of the survey revealed that online teaching positively influenced instructors’ social relations with their colleagues and students, enhanced the teaching process, and promoted instructors’ self-esteem. As for the interviews, the findings showed the substantial impact of online teaching on EFL instructors’ identity in terms of their professional needs, self-awareness and self-esteem, relationships with learners, relationships with colleagues, and their perspectives towards their institution. Hence, some recommendations were suggested.","PeriodicalId":46105,"journal":{"name":"Electronic Journal of e-Learning","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140970283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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