Students’ learning experience in flipped classes using social media.

The current work aims at deploying Facebook as a social media site to improve students’ learning experience with the flipped learning materials through implementation of a socially enabled peer and selflearning environment. Provided the body of literature on poor students’ experience in flipped classes, the paper implements an experiment comparing the online quizzes and Facebook to improve students’ experience with the online materials in flipped classes. The study looks at the students’ perceptions. The paper provides recommendations to the instructors on how to use Facebook to improve students’ experience with the flipped materials. This study also motivates teaching practitioners in Information Systems to improve flipped learning by using social networking sites in their courses.N

Student engagement, student interactions and 'quality of use' in blended learning using flipped classroom

The research ofblended learning using flipped classroom is still at the early stage, hence the fundamental issues still unclear. Therefore, this study has examined the quality of use, by incorporating the quality constructs for entrepreneurship education. The framework was developed base on 'Quality of Use' Model underpinned by Luhmann's System Theory, Model of Online Learning and Social Learning Theory: Groups Nets and Sets. There were five variables tested in this study, namely satisfaction, efficiency, effectiveness, student interactions and student engagement. This study was conducted in two phases, firstly this study examined whether blended learning provide impacts on the studied variables. Later this study tested the relationship between variables based on the research framework. Data for the first stage were obtained through quasiexperimental among 90 students of entrepreneurship education for the Semester 201 54 in the Universiti Teknologi MARA Perlis. The results reveals that there were significant differences between treatment group and control group for all variables tested. Data for the second stage were collected through a self-administered survey questionnaires among 281 students of entrepreneurship education for Semester 20162 in the same university. This result reveals that student interactions have a significant relationship with satisfaction, efficiency, effectiveness. However, student engagement exhibits a significant influence to satisfaction, but insignificant influence to efficiency and effectiveness. Further analysis reveals that student interactions provides a partial mediation between student engagement and satisfaction and full mediation between student engagement and efficiency, as well as effectiveness. This study contributes to the development of quality framework for large enrollment in flipped classroom, a multi-method of data collection to ensure the appropriateness of variables selected, and a quality measure of blended learning in entrepreneurship education, as well as business management disciplines. Conclusions, limitation and suggestions for future studies are also highlighted

Canonical explorations of 'Tel' environments for computer programming

This paper applies a novel technique of canonical gradient analysis, pioneered in ecological sciences, with the aim of exploring student performance and behaviours (such as communication and collaboration) while undertaking formative and summative tasks in technology enhanced learning (TEL) environments for computer programming. The research emphasis is, therefore, on revealing complex patterns, trends, tacit communications and technology interactions associated with a particular type of learning environment, rather than the testing of discrete hypotheses. The study is based on observations of first year programming modules in BSc Computing and closely related joint-honours with software engineering, web and game development courses. This research extends earlier work, and evaluates the suitability of canonical approaches for exploring complex dimensional gradients represented by multivariate and technology-enhanced learning environments. The advancements represented here are: (1) an extended context, beyond the use of the ‘Ceebot’ learning platform, to include learning-achievement following advanced instruction using an industrystandard integrated development environment, or IDE, for engineering software; and (2) longitudinal comparison of consistency of findings across cohort years. Direct findings (from analyses based on code tests, module assessment and questionnaire surveys) reveal overall engagement with and high acceptance of collaborative working and of the TEL environments used, but an inconsistent relationship between deeply learned programming skills and module performance. The paper also discusses research findings in the contexts of established and emerging teaching practices for computer programming, as well as government policies and commercial requirements for improved capacity in computer-science related industries

FLIPPED LEARNING ENABLER PLATFORM : FOR UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS (UTP) ENVIRONMENT

The Flipped Learning offers a great use of technology - especially if it can divert lecture out of the classrooms and into the hands and control of the learners in this projects’ context, the students of UTP. The Flipped Learning videos have a place in the models and cycles of learning proposed by educational psychologists and instructional designers. Providing educators with a full framework of how the Flipped Learning can be used in their educational settings will increase its validity for educators and their administrators. Hence, this project will look into the feasibility of developing a framework for implementing flipped learning in UTP and tackle the challenges associated with that. The subject-focussed of this project are the lecturers and course instructors of UTP who will be the executor of flipped learning in UTP. Aiming at providing a cost free solution with ease of access and straightforward user interface, this project looks into developing a platform with guidance in implementing constructed flipped learning for lecturers and instructors of UTP. This user-guiding platform will model and enable the flipped learning method into the education system of UTP. This project paper outlines the development of Flipped Learning enabler platform that guides lecturers and instructors in implementing flipped learning wholesomely in UTP

Open educational resources for all? Comparing user motivations and characteristics across The Open University’s iTunes U channel and OpenLearn platform.

With the rise in access to mobile multimedia devices, educational institutions have exploited the iTunes U platform as an additional channel to provide free educational resources with the aim of profile-raising and breaking down barriers to education. For those prepared to invest in content preparation, it is possible to produce interactive, portable material that can be made available globally. Commentators have questioned both the financial implications for platform-specific content production, and the availability of devices for learners to access it (Osborne, 2012). The Open University (OU) makes its free educational resources available on iTunes U and via its web-based open educational resources (OER) platform, OpenLearn. The OU’s OER on iTunes U reached the 60 million download mark in 2013; its OpenLearn platform boasts 27 million unique visitors since 2006. This paper reports the results of a large-scale study of users of the OU’s iTunes U channel and OpenLearn platform. A survey of several thousand users revealed key differences in demographics between those accessing OER via the web and via iTunes U. In addition, the data allowed comparison between three groups: formal learners, informal learners and educators. The study raises questions about whether university-provided OER meet the needs of users and makes recommendations for how content can be modified to suit their needs. As the publishing of OER becomes core to business, we reflect on reasons why understanding users’ motivations and demographics is vital, allowing for needs-led resource provision and content that is adapted to best achieve learner satisfaction, and to deliver institutions’ social mission

Developing sustainable business models for institutions’ provision of open educational resources: Learning from OpenLearn users’ motivations and experiences

Universities across the globe have, for some time, been exploring the possibilities for achieving public benefit and generating business and visibility through releasing and sharing open educational resources (OER). Many have written about the need to develop sustainable and profitable business models around the production and release of OER. Downes (2006), for example, has questioned the financial sustainability of OER production at scale. Many of the proposed business models focus on OER’s value in generating revenue and detractors of OER have questioned whether they are in competition with formal education. This paper reports on a study intended to broaden the conversation about OER business models to consider the motivations and experiences of OER users as the basis for making a better informed decision about whether OER and formal learning are competitive or complementary with each other. The study focused on OpenLearn - the Open University’s (OU) web-based platform for OER, which hosts hundreds of online courses and videos and is accessed by over 3,000,000 users a year. A large scale survey and follow-up interviews with OpenLearn users worldwide revealed that university provided OER can offer learners a bridge to formal education, allowing them to try out a subject before registering on a formal course and to build confidence in their abilities as learners. In addition, it was found that using OER during formal paid-for study can improve learners’ performance and self-reliance, leading to increased retention and satisfaction with the learning experience

Language learning and technology

By and large, languages, both as first, second or foreign languages remain one of the most important core subjects at every educational level. In early stages, their inclusion in the curriculum is intricately connected with (pre-)literacy practices, but also as a main driver for the successful integration of minority students learning a second language. In addition, the attainment of a certain level of a foreign language by the end of compulsory education is a common goal in most educational systems around the globe. Arguably, the key drivers of success in learning a language range from motivational to attitudinal, but ultimately they also have to do with the amount of target language use, the access to quality input, and especially language teachers' readiness to incorporate the latest educational trends effectively in the language classroom, educational technologies amongst them

Can Facebook improve students’ engagement in flipped classes? Community of inquiry approach

This paper aims at using Facebook to improve the students’ engagements with the flipped learning materials through implementation of a socially enabled peer learning environment. The article reports an experiment comparing the online quizzes and Facebook to increase the students’ engagement with the online materials in flipped classes. The study looks at the students’ perceptions. The current study utilizes the Community of Inquiry (RCOI) to analyze the students’ opinions about using Facebook for implementation of flipped learning. The paper provides recommendations to the instructors on how to use Facebook for increasing the students’ engagement with the flipped materials. This study also motivates teaching practitioners in Information Systems to improve flipped learning by using social networking sites in their courses.N/