Challenges in Online Teaching Management in Vietnam Universities

In Vietnam today, online teaching is still in the development stage. There has not been a set of quality assurance standards for universities to organize online education. Universities that apply online teaching are mainly based on the ability to use information technology. The resources of each university are at a different level and limited while receiving no government investment. Furthermore, the implementation of online teaching requires a significant and methodical investment in technology infrastructure, training content, human resources, and implementation. Therefore, there is a need for online teaching management solutions in universities

Is there a Scandinavian model for MOOCs? Understanding the MOOC phenomenon in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

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Dropping out or dropping in? A connectivist approach to understanding participants’ strategies in an e-learning MOOC pilot

Targeting faculties and external mentors in the teacher-training unit, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway opened up a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) pilot on digital learning in the fall of 2014. A main objective was to encourage these to use digital media more actively and hence, also to become role models for their own students’ future digital practice. However, research has shown that a main concern with MOOC programs is attrition. In line with those findings, and according to the course platform data, none of the MOOC participants completed the course material. As the course progressed, less and less pages were opened and obligatory assignments were only rarely submitted. The participants may thus be described as dropouts. Five of these participants were then interviewed about their MOOC experiences and activities. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed according to Grounded theory procedures. A general finding was that the informants would in fact put some of the material and ideas from the MOOC to use. Even if they dropped out, this indicates a gain from the course. In fact, some of the material that was introduced significantly changed these informants’ digital practices when they tested out new ideas in their own teaching. Frame-factors, such as lack of financial compensation or a nonstop flow of competing tasks, however, led the informants to down-prioritize the formal demands in the MOOC pilot. The informants selectively picked the material that suited their own purpose and therefore qualified as “drop-ins” rather than “drop-outs”. Rather than quitters who could not keep up with the pace in the MOOC we met media literate participants who remixed and redefined the MOOC content into a Web 2.0 resource and a stepping stone for self-directed online learning

Academic support through tutoring, guided learning, and learning diaries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: an experimental model for master’s students

IntroductionEngaging students in co-planning their learning paths, peer cooperation, tutoring, and network building in an inclusive and project-based environment has been associated with higher academic and professional success. However, university teachers face challenges in offering guidance and academic supervision to optimize student learning, particularly in the context of online learning. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of adapting collaborative learning environments, peer tutoring, and academic supervision in the online learning space.MethodsAn experimental design methodology was employed to investigate the impact of collaborative learning environments, peer tutoring, and academic supervision on student engagement, interest, and dedication to learning.ResultsThe findings showed direct positive effects on the level of engagement (VI; M = 23.18, SD = 5), higher interest and dedication to the learning process (DE: M = 26.93, SD = 3.21), and better concentration and enthusiasm while studying (AB, M = 24.83, SD = 8.52).DiscussionThe results suggest that adapting to online learning by providing collaborative learning environments, peer tutoring, and academic supervision can enhance student engagement and motivation. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and scalability of these interventions in diverse educational contexts

A model for putting connectivism into practice in a classroom environment

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementTechnology in education, as in most pillars of society, represents a trend for the new era. Often referred to as Smart Education, the integration of technology into learning environments with the goal of enhancing the experience for students and teachers has been of growing interest to learning institutions. The emergence of a heterodox theory of learning, connectivism, has come to prioritize the incessant search for new and accurate information and, consequently, the capacity of the learner to build knowledge through the connection of nodes within the chaos of contradictory opinions. Being connectivism associated with the reality of an e-learning context, it remains challenging to adapt it into a setting of presential university classes. The model developed in this paper is a proposition of how to fill this gap, hence answering the question of how to put connectivism into practice in a campus environment. The framework, which combines the students’ self-research, and online interaction with their peers through social media platforms, culminating in physical classroom discussions, reflects the connectivism principles and is beneficial for the majority of students. Unlike most connectivism-inspired class dynamics, here, the professor’s role is critical, with the responsibility of moderation and capacity to assess whether the students have been successful in building knowledge through their connections. Although the aim of the study is to apply connectivism principles in a physical campus, the relevance of work-oriented social media platforms in this model is undeniable

The Role of Support Units in Digital Transformation: How Institutional Entrepreneurs Build Capacity for Online Learning in Higher Education

This study used New Institutional Theory to explore how entrepreneurial activities in support units contribute to digital transformation in higher education in Norway. We describe how entrepreneurs initiated and operationalized support for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), micro-credentials and fully online courses in pockets of innovation within existing institutional arrangements. An ambition was to understand why capacity building for digital transformation in a country described by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as digitally mature is lagging behind other countries. We obtained our data from qualitative interviews with faculties and staf involved in fully online course production. The informants were chosen through strategic sampling from support units and faculties, where they flled diferent roles in the production of such online courses. Our fndings describe entrepreneurial activities that strongly contributed to the emerging social feld of digital transformation. Located in pockets of innovation, the entrepreneurs provided open digital platforms, a pedagogy for online course design and support for faculties who engaged in online course production. Yet, the fndings also confrm previous research pointing out how the lack of supportive leadership may impede successful digital transformation in higher education institutions. The study concludes with a model for digital maturity which may be useful to researchers and stakeholders. The model can also support entrepreneurial processes in online environments.publishedVersio

Institutional Entrepreneurship in Loosely Coupled Systems: The Subject Position of MOOC Entrepreneurs and Their Interpretive Struggles in a Norwegian Context

While technological change in organizations is fast and eminent to most people, the adoption of Massive Open Online Courses, micro-credentials, and flexible and scalable online courses, appear to be comparatively slow in Higher Education in the Nordic countries. To explore this phenomenon, we completed 10 qualitative interviews at ten different higher education institutions across Norway in fall 2020. The informants were strategically selected among employees who had been involved in open platform technology, MOOC production and support for faculties. Adopting thematic analyses, we found entrepreneurs who positioned themselves in pockets of innovation with the intention to transform teaching and learning. Rather than seeing technological innovations as “more of the same”, the entrepreneurs embraced the possibilities emerging in new educational practices. Inspired by New Institutionalism, we focused on the organizational conditions for MOOC production. The entrepreneurs often entered interpretive struggles at higher organizational levels in competition with other stakeholders. Despite national initiatives and funding, many stakeholders questioned the value of MOOCs. Our study points to discrepancies in understanding the disruptive and transformative change that new technology can bring to study programs and lifelong learning. The informants also experienced insufficient support from leaders and lamented the lack of a national platform for open online access. We link these findings to embedded theories, belief systems and discourses in educational cultures and management in Higher Education.publishedVersio

The Relationship of Perceived Learning and Self-Regulated Learning of Undergraduate Students and the Curiosity Scores Generated by Packback

Institutions work to improve their retention rates. Research supports academically and socially integrated students are more likely to develop a commitment to the institution and persist to graduation. Historically these theories emphasized perceived learning and self-regulated learning as contributing factors for student retention. Curiosity is a motivational factor that improves student engagement and academic integration. Discussion boards are used with face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. Instructors use the virtual workspace to build a collaborative community for students to engage with one another, the instructor, and the course material. Packback uses artificial intelligence (AI) to heighten student engagement on discussion board posts by providing immediate feedback to students and publishing a leader board with curiosity scores. Through the lens of Connectivism and the Community of Inquiry Model for online learning, this predictive correlational study explored the relationship of perceived learning and self-regulated learning of students enrolled in an undergraduate political science course and the curiosity score generated by Packback. The study involved a convenience sample from a land grant institution located in the southeastern United States . The Cognitive, Affective, and Psychomotor (CAP) survey measured perceived learning using a seven-point Likert scale. The Online Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ) measured self-regulated learning behaviors using a five-point Likert scale. Packback’s Curiosity Score is generated through an algorithm using presentation, credibility, and effort. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated a lack of sufficient evidence to support a predictive relationship between perceived learning and self-regulated learning (predictor variables) upon curiosity scores (criterion variable) generated by Packback

mLearning Device Usage and Self Efficacy By Higher Education Faculty for Professional Activities: A Case Study

This study examined the level of use and the level of self-efficacy use of mLearning devices for faculty at one university. The study also examined the relationship between use and self-efficacy levels, and the challenges faced by faculty members concerning the use of mLearning devices for professional activities. A mixed-methods model was used to complete the study. A 17-item self-report survey was developed by the researcher to determine the frequency of use, and the self-efficacy level of faculty concerning professional activities. An interview protocol was used to collect additional information from selected respondents. Findings indicated statistically significant differences in mean level of use scores for each of the 17 professional activities, but no overall significant differences in mean level of use scores based on selected demographic characteristics. Findings also indicated statistically significant differences in mean self-efficacy level scores for each of the 17 professional activities, but no overall significant differences in mean self-efficacy level scores based on selected demographic characteristics. Significant differences were found in the relationship between level of use and self-efficacy level for 15 professional activities. The most-mentioned challenges for faculty in using mLearning devices were the small screen size, connectivity issues, the incompatibility with Blackboard Learn, the on-screen keyboard, and the comparison to using a computer