Gender differences in e-learning satisfaction

In line with recent research, the question this paper raises is whether or not gender differences also exist in e-learning. This study is based on a sample of 1,185 students who are doing on-line courses at the Universidad de Granada in Spain. The main conclusion is that female students are more satisfied than male students with the e-learning subjects that make up the sample. Furthermore, we find that female students assign more importance to the planning of learning, as well as to being able to contact the teacher in various ways.: Gender Studies; Evaluation Methodologies

Gender differences in e-learning satifaction

In line with recent research, the question this paper raises is whether or not gender differences also exist in e-learning. This study is based on a sample of 1,185 students who are doing on-line courses at the Universidad de Granada in Spain. The main conclusion is that female students are more satisfied than male students with the e-learning subjects that make up the sample. Furthermore, we find that female students assign more importance to the planning of learning, as well as to being able to contact the teacher in various ways

A Process for Designing and Developing Interactive Learning Objects for Organisations

Organisations are increasingly adopting e-learning environments for employee and customer training projects. These environments use educational technologies and interactive learning objects (ILOs) to increase the quality of digital training experiences. ILOs are growing in popularity because material is multimodal but even more so, interactive which engages trainees and increases motivation to learn. Several studies have proposed processes and guidelines for improving the usability and user experience (UX) of system applications and websites. However, the processes and guidelines for designing ILOs are limited and the majority of these focus on ILOs adopted in educational institutions. Corporations need to consider additional factors, such as the organisational culture and the disparate profile of users when designing their e-learning environment and the ILOs to be adopted. This paper seeks to answer the research question, “What process should be followed when designing interactive learning objects (ILOs) in a corporate context?”. The purpose of this paper is to propose a process for designing and developing ILOs (PDILO) that can be used to increase the UX of these ILOs and ultimately, the usage thereof in an e-learning environment for corporate contexts. A case study approach was adopted and the case was a software development company incorporating e-learning into its management strategy. The design process was used to design ILOs that formed part of a module in the company’s new e- learning environment. The proposed process can be used to guide content developers with the design of ILOs in e-learning environments and ultimately improve the success thereof

A INFLUÊNCIA DA ÁREA DE ATUAÇÃO DO PROFESSOR NA INTERFACE DE OBJETOS DE APRENDIZAGEM POR ELE IDEALIZADOS

Com a ampla discussão acerca dos Objetos de Aprendizagem (OA) e sua inserção como elementos apoiadores nos processos de ensinar e de aprender, ampliam- se as reflexões e preocupações quanto ao seu processo de desenvolvimento. Considerando a importância da interface desse recurso para o cumprimento de seus objetivos educacionais, este artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa relacionada às expectativas de professores proponentes de 44 OAs considerando as interfaces geradas pela equipe que os implementou. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam elementos que permitem estabelecer relações entre as áreas de conhecimento e a representação das interfaces criadas. São apresentados e discutidos exemplos contrastantes de projetos desenvolvidos

OBJETOS DE APRENDIZAGEM SOB O PONTO DE VISTA DOS ALUNOS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

Objetos de Aprendizagem (OA) têm sido amplamente discutidos, incluindo, por exemplo, diretrizes para sua produção e avaliação, padrões para sua construção e experiências relatando sua utilização em ambientes de ensino presenciais e a distância. Quanto à experiência de uso, neste artigo discutem-se os resultados de uma pesquisa realizada com 76 alunos usuários de OA, concernentes às questões relacionadas à aprendizagem com ou a partir do objeto em questão. Esta pesquisa permitiu verificar-se que características consideradas fundamentais para a concepção e produção de um OA são também destacadas pelos alunos, reforçando a necessidade de serem amplamente difundidas e atendidas, para que seus usuários consigam, de forma dinâmica, explorar e aprofundar conteúdos e habilidades necessárias a sua formação

Personalising Learning

This report presents the findings of the Personalising Learning project, which was commissioned by Becta. The core aim of the project is to develop a robust model of the effective use of digital technologies for the personalising of learning. Personalising learning in this context involves the tailoring of pedagogy, curriculum and learning support to meet the needs and aspirations of individual learners irrespective of ability, culture or social status in order to nurture the unique talents of every pupil. Section 2 of this report outlines the background and aims of this research project. Section 3 traces the development of the model and the accompanying learning equation. The key concept encapsulated in this model is that of overlapping action spaces, school, teaching, personal and living spaces, in which learning occurs. These spaces are populated by the key educational stakeholders: learners, their teachers, their family and peers. In each of these spaces a range of digital technologies is available to support the learner. Section 4 is a validation of the model using evidence from field research

Using a learning management system in secondary education : design and implementation characteristics of learning paths

The general aim of this dissertation was to increase the knowledge on how Learning Management Systems (LMS) are used by secondary school teachers and to examine the design and implementation of learning paths

The impact of digital technologies on teaching and learning

This thesis explores the impact of new technologies on learning and teaching and draws on research work carried out over a ten-year period. The thesis looks at the facilitators and barriers to using digital technologies effectively and explores the challenges for educators as they respond to the changes brought about by these digital technologies. It presents eight published works that have investigated the impact of digital technologies and collected data using a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The core paper provides a model by which the impact of digital technologies can be analysed and understood and the remaining papers populate that model. The model identifies a system of learning spaces that describe the ways that learners, teachers and managers respond to the challenges and opportunities that digital technologies bring to learning. The papers explore how the school space, the teaching space, the personal learning space and the living space have all been transformed by digital technologies. These papers highlight the ongoing tension within education brought about by the conflicting ambitions of managers to control learning while at the same time encouraging personalisation. The papers consider the nature of digital divides and also the potential hazards presented to young people by digital technologies. Finally, the papers explore the relationship between the use of digital technologies and academic achievement. The work presented here provides a coherent contribution to the field that offers new understandings of the impact of digital technologies on learning, and identifies key issues for further research

A best practice e-learning environment for software training

The incorporation of best practice in e-learning environments can increase the probability of success for companies and learners alike. By identifying and understanding the barriers that potential learners may face when interacting with e-learning products, the potential for e-learning failure may be alleviated. There are a variety of benefits that may be realised by companies incorporating e-learning opportunities into their management strategies. However, certain pedagogical principles, metrics and components need to be investigated and implemented in order for a corporate e-learning environment to be successful. The aim of this research is to prototype and evaluate a practical e-learning environment for software training (eLESTP) with e-learning components consisting of interactive learning objects that can guide the development and management of online training in the corporate context. The eLESTP is based on a theoretical contribution that is conceptualised in the form of an e-learning environment for software training (eLESTT). Hence, this study followed a research methodology that is appropriate for educational technologies, namely the Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology, which was applied in iterative cycles. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected by means of a case study, interviews, a focus group and survey. The proposed eLESTP underwent several iterations of feedback and improvement and the result is a real-world solution to the problem at hand. With the purpose of determining the success of corporate e-learning, the barriers and critical success factors for e-learning as well as evaluation criteria were explored. Interviews, a focus group and a survey were conducted in order to validate the investigated literature in a real-world context. Informal interviews enabled a better understanding of the organisational context of this study. The focus group was conducted with customers who were undergoing face-to-face training using conveyancing software developed by Korbitec. Many of the issues faced by learners identified in literature regarding e-learning in developing countries were identified by the participants from the case study. An e-learning survey was used to gather information regarding the intention of Korbitec’s customers to use e-learning as well as their satisfaction with using e-learning. From the survey, it was found that respondents were positive regarding intention to use and satisfaction toward e-learning usage. DBR Cycle 1: Problem Investigation and Proposal entailed the initial problem investigation by conducting a literature review, focus group and survey. DBR Cycle 2: Design Alternative 1 of this study involved a design alternative for eLESTP, namely Prototype 1. DBR Cycle 3: Design and Evaluate Alternative 2 involved the design and prototyping of Prototype 2 for eLESTP as well as the improvement of Prototype 2 through sub-cycles of testing and refinement. The suggestions for improvement were obtained from the relevant stakeholders at Korbitec who are content developers and subject-matter experts. The criteria used to evaluate the success of eLESTP, including its e-learning components, were synthesised and adapted from literature and a new set of evaluation criteria for e-learning environments in software training contexts was proposed. The evaluated eLESTP consists of the technology basis of the Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle), design guidelines for e-learning components, certification and competency-based training, pedagogical principles and best practice. Overall, eLESTP was positively received by various evaluator groups in formative and summative evaluations. The research results indicate that the use of an e-learning environment for software training purposes was useful and necessary. In support of this Masters dissertation, the following three conference papers have been published and presented at one local conference and two international conferences. In addition, an article has been published in an accredited journal: 1. IDIA 2015, Conference Paper – Zanzibar (Tanzania); 2. Conf-IRM 2016, Conference Paper – Cape Town (South Africa); 3. MCIS 2016, Conference Paper – Cyprus (Europe); and 4. IJIKM 2016, Journal Article