From procrastination to engagement? An experimental exploration of the effects of an adaptive virtual assistant on self-regulation in online learning

Compared to traditional classroom learning, success in online learning tends to depend more on the learner’s skill to self-regulate. Self-regulation is a complex meta-cognitive skill set that can be acquired. This study explores the effectiveness of a virtual learning assistant in terms of (a) developmental, (b) general compensatory, and (c) differential compensatory effects on learners’ self-regulatory skills in a sample of N = 157 online learners using an experimental intervention-control group design. Methods employed include behavioural trace data as well as self-reporting measures. Participants provided demographic information and responded to a 24-item self-regulation questionnaire and a 20-item personality trait questionnaire. Results indicate that the adaptive assistance did not lead to substantial developmental shifts as captured in learners’ perceived levels of self-regulation. However, various patterns of behavioural changes emerged in response to the intervention. This suggests that the virtual learning assistant has the potential to help online learners effectively compensate for deficits (in contrast to developmental shifts) in self-regulatory skills that might not yet have been developed

THE USAGE OF MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSE (MOOC) IN TEACHING AND LEARNING AMONG STUDENTS

Purpose of Study: Technology-based education methods have an interest in ensuring Malaysia's position in the global rankings. Furthermore, the government intends to raise the level of online learning globally. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a platform that allows the government’s intention to be successfully achieved. This study aims to identify students’ level of knowledge on the importance of the use of MOOC and on the application of MOOC in teaching and learning. It also intends to identify the students’ level of acceptance of MOOC and the level of its effectiveness in teaching and learning. A total of 247 users of MOOC from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) were sampled in this study. Methodology:  The data were collected using a set of questionnaire and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSSv 21). Results: Results showed that the level of knowledge, usage, acceptance, and effectiveness was high among the students. From the findings, some suggestions were made to future researchers and the parties involved in university management. Implications/Applications: The finding noted a high level of the students’ knowledge about the importance of MOOC in teaching and learning, the students’ use of the application of the MOOC in teaching and learning, as well as their acceptance on the use of MOOC. This indicates that the use of teaching and learning in blended learning through the MOOC platform can be received by the students

Assessment, development and experimental evaluation of self-regulatory support in online learning

Online learning requires a higher level of self-regulation than face-to-face learning. Learners are likely to differ in their cognitive, metacognitive, affective or motivational resources to meet this demand. Individual differences in self-regulation is one major factor contributing to success or failure in online learning, other factors include characteristics of the online learning environment and the complexity of the learning content itself. Lack of self-regulation is likely to affect learners’ engagement with the course content, may result in sub-optimal learning outcomes, including failure to complete the course. A virtual learning assistant has been designed and developed to support online learners. This research aims at ascertaining the effectiveness of providing adaptive assistance in terms of (a) compensatory and (b) developmental effects. Online learners involved in the empirical part of this study (N = 157) were randomised into one of two experimental conditions. For the intervention group, the online learning assistant provided personalised in-browser notifications. This feature was disabled for the learners in the control condition. Results indicate that the adaptive assistance did not result in noticeable developmental shifts in learners’ self-regulation as assessed via conventional self-report measures. However, learners allocated to the intervention group spent less time online per day in first three weeks of being exposed to the adaptive assistance, reduced their time commitment to entertainment websites during first two weeks, and increased their engagement with educational web resources during the first ten days. In addition to the time-varying effects, these compensatory (behavioural) shifts were moderated by learners’ individual differences in personality. The outcome of this study suggests that the utilisation of a virtual learning assistant that provides adaptive assistance can be effective in compensating for not yet developed self-regulatory skills, and subsequently help facilitating success in learning on short online courses

Learning processes, memory development, and knowledge sharing via mobile applications using MOOCs

This paper aims to analyse the impact of MOOC-based mobile applications on the learning process, memory development, knowledge sharing, and student motivation to study. The study analyzes the existing electronic educational resources of universities. The study design includes two types of surveys (before and after MOOC-based training). The sample population included 662 students of 1–4 courses. A survey conducted before the training showed that 54% of respondents rated their technical competence level as average, 43% rated it as high, and 3% rated it as low. About 83% of respondents noted that mobile applications and online educational courses have affected their academic performance in learning, memory development, and learning ability. The post-training survey results indicated an improvement in the group performance of students who learned with mobile applications on MOOC platforms. The practical significance of the research is determined by the possibility of using the program based on MOOC mobile applications at different faculties of the university. The paper also supplements existing studies with new data on the impact of learning using MOOCs mobile applications on the educational process

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

Beyond the language classroom: researching MOOCs and other innovations

With the rise of the internet and new communication technologies, language learning has moved beyond the classroom walls. This volume presents a range of important studies on innovative ways for learning languages outside the classroom. Chapters discuss MOOCs in the UK, Belgium, China, and Italy for studying a range of languages, research on new apps, flipped classroom modes, and approaches to informal learning in a range of international settings. In these ways, the volume offers a significant contribution to our understanding of how learning beyond the language classroom will transform language education in the decades to come

Thai university students’ self-regulated learning in an online learning environment

Language learners’ achievement is influenced by a variety of psychological factors, including attention, self confidence, and motivation. In addition to the list, self-regulated learning (SRL) is another essential psychological component of learning, as evidenced by research on learning and performance. Meanwhile, rapid changes in current conditions induced by COVID-19 have prompted a shift from traditional face-to-face to online learning. In this learning environment, learners and instructors are physically apart, and thus very little is known about how their learning is navigated. To better understand how learners manage learning, this study examines Thai university students’ SRL application while taking an English course totally delivered online. Based on the administration of the 24-item Online Self-regulated Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ) at the end of the course, 75 out of the 84 students completed the questionnaire. Data analysis exhibited quite a high level of goal setting (GS) and environmental structuring (ES); however, they appeared to utilise a relatively lower level of task strategies (TS) and time management (TM). Overall, the findings underline the importance of instiling SRL in students and suggest that SRL may vary depending on academic contexts. The results contribute to our understanding of the association between learning environments and SRL, as well as providing practical pedagogical implications to enhance students’ success

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