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1 – 10 of over 3000
Article
Publication date: 19 May 2021

Daniela Perbandt, Marie-Sophie Heinelt, Paula Bacelar-Nicolau, Mahsa Mapar and Sandra Sofia Caeiro

Distance universities are of great importance for establishing sustainability literacy, as they operate as multipliers for thousands of students. However, despite several…

Abstract

Purpose

Distance universities are of great importance for establishing sustainability literacy, as they operate as multipliers for thousands of students. However, despite several advantages of e-learning environments compared to traditional class-teaching, there are still challenges regarding suitable e-learning tools and didactical models. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of several e-learning tools on students’ knowledge and skills growth and to compare two learning paths, synchronous vs asynchronous, exploring how each affects the level of students’ knowledge achievement and skills acquisition.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on an online course “Participatory processes in environmental politics”. International MSc and PhD students who enrolled in the course were from FernUniversität in Hagen (Germany) and Aberta University (Portugal). The course was designed as the flipped classroom, applying different e-learning tools and activities, some synchronous and others asynchronous. A pre- and post-evaluation questionnaire was applied to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills. Descriptive statistical analyses were carried out on this data.

Findings

Results showed that in the synchronous group, knowledge about theoretical approaches to citizen participation and sustainable environmental governance improved to a greater extent, whereas the asynchronous group showed greater improvement in nearly all skills related to intercultural communication and e-learning. Also, in the synchronous path, students enhanced their knowledge on “research application” to a greater extent.

Originality/value

Evaluating the effectiveness of different e-learning tools on students’ sustainability knowledge and information and communication technologies skills is a fundamental issue. The study discusses these issues, contributing to enhancing the use of adequate and grounded e-learning models on sustainable development in higher education.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 22 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 25 February 2022

Cassandra Jane Fernandez, Rachana Ramesh and Anand Shankar Raja Manivannan

This research aims to study the students' perspectives on synchronous and asynchronous learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both synchronous and asynchronous learning approaches…

8896

Abstract

Purpose

This research aims to study the students' perspectives on synchronous and asynchronous learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both synchronous and asynchronous learning approaches used in online education have positive and negative outcomes. Hence, the aim is to study online education's positive and negative consequences, reflecting sync and async approaches. This research followed a mixed research approach. The key stakeholders of this research are the Indian educational institutions and students.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected data from the students undergoing synchronous and asynchronous learning amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. The data were collected (N = 655) from various students taking online classes during the pandemic. A questionnaire survey was distributed to the students through online platforms to collect the data. In this research, the authors have collected data using simple random sampling, and the same has been used for data analysis using SPSS version 26. The collected data were exposed to a factor analysis using a principal component analysis technique to reduce the vast dimensions.

Findings

The study findings show that synchronous learning is sometimes stressful, placing more responsibility on students mainly because of the increased screen time. At the same time, asynchronous learning allows the students to self-explore and research the topics assigned to them. Students also felt that asynchronous activities create a burden because of many written assignments to be submitted within a short period. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for the students and the teachers. However, teachers have helped students to learn through digital platforms. The majority of the respondents opined that technological disruptions and death in the family circle had been significant reasons for not concentrating during online classes. However, the combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning has led to a balanced education.

Practical implications

Higher education has undergone multiple transformations in a short period (from March 2020, 2021 and beyond). Educational institutions underwent a rapid transition in remote teaching and learning in the initial stages. As time progressed, educational institutions did course navigation where they relooked into their course plans, syllabus and brought a structural change to match the pandemic requirements. Meanwhile, educational institutions slowly equipped themselves with infrastructure facilities to bring academic integrity. At present, educational institutions are ready to face the new normality without disrupting services to society.

Social implications

Educational institutions create intellectual capital, which is important for the development of the economy. In the light of COVID-19, there are new methods and approaches newly introduced or old methods and approaches, which are reimplemented, and these approaches always work for the benefit of the student community.

Originality/value

The authors collected data during the COVID-19 pandemic; it helped capture the students' experience about synchronous and asynchronous learning. Students and faculty members are newly exposed to synchronous and asynchronous learning, and hence, it is essential to determine the outcome that will help many stakeholders.

Details

Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, vol. 17 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1858-3431

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2009

Dan Bouhnik, Yahel Giat and Yafit Sanderovitch

The purpose of this study is to characterize learning from asynchronous sources among research and development (R&D) personnel. It aims to examine four aspects of asynchronous…

801

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to characterize learning from asynchronous sources among research and development (R&D) personnel. It aims to examine four aspects of asynchronous source learning: employee preferences regarding self‐learning; extent of source usage; employee satisfaction with these sources and the effect of the sources on the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 120 R&D employees of a high‐tech firm were administered questionnaires consisting of open‐ended and close‐ended questions regarding different features of asynchronous learning.

Findings

The study finds that a synchronous sources are highly utilized by employees and are used both for general‐purpose learning and solving specific problems. Despite the high usage and satisfaction from these sources, we do not find evidence to support the creation of an expert community of practice.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to a single, albeit large, firm. Possibly, in different organizational, cultural or geographical settings, expert communities of knowledge may be created in a more pronounced manner.

Practical implications

Managers should: consult with employees as to what they need most to complement the asynchronous sources; put more emphasize on measuring satisfaction from asynchronous sources to predict the value of these sources to the organization; and encourage and ensure the creation of an expert community of practice and support and maintain it thereafter.

Originality/value

Empirical research about the implications of asynchronous sources on the workplace is scarce. This paper complements previous research and provides new insight into understanding these effects.

Details

Journal of Workplace Learning, vol. 21 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1366-5626

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 August 2022

Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Sidra Khan, Fahad Sherwani and Jyoti Sekhar Banerjee

Internet technology in the classroom has become the primary demand of every student in this era. Moreover, information and communication technology aids students' learning…

Abstract

Purpose

Internet technology in the classroom has become the primary demand of every student in this era. Moreover, information and communication technology aids students' learning involvement and progress by providing learning assistance by improved instructor, pupil and interactions with fellows. Using an asynchronous Web-based learning environment (WBLE) is one way to manage such assistance. This study aims to identify to what extent the asynchronous WBLE affects students' interest and motivation in learning mathematics at Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a survey research design under a quantitative approach. Therefore, data are collected through a questionnaire about students' motivation and interest in learning mathematics via asynchronous WBLE. Data are collected from the students of four departments (BEd, BSCS, BBA, BS Mathematics) of SALU, Khairpur. However, as the nature of this study is quantitative, both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the results and discussion, and a one-way ANOVA test was used. The Cronbach alpha test was also used to assess the item's reliability, and the items were found to be acceptable.

Findings

The findings of this study discovered that asynchronous WBLE has a significant impact on students' intrinsic, extrinsic and interest levels. The results indicated that there is a positive impact based on the level of mean range of asynchronous WBLE on mathematics students.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome of this study can be used as a guideline to understand and further plan or develop educational interventions based on the level of motivation and interest of mathematics students towards asynchronous WBLE in other contexts.

Originality/value

This is first study of its nature in the context of Khairpur district of Sindh that emphasizes on the motivation and interest of mathematics students toward asynchronous WBLE.

Details

The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, vol. 39 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4880

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 12 December 2022

Thomas Chandy Varkey, John A. Varkey, Jack B. Ding, Philip K. Varkey, Colton Zeitler, Anne M. Nguyen, Zachary I. Merhavy and Charles Ryan Thomas

The purpose of this paper is to create a “go-to-guide” of best practices in the creation of asynchronous courses. Due to the global pandemic, millions of students around the world…

5710

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a “go-to-guide” of best practices in the creation of asynchronous courses. Due to the global pandemic, millions of students around the world transitioned from in-class instruction to online programs, which ranged from completely synchronous classrooms to completely asynchronous classrooms. Students were forced to learn how to engage within an online classroom environment with minimal notice and instructors were abruptly thrusted into a different operational environment, with many required to construct educational ecosystems in an unfamiliar and digitized interface. This led to several actions and the utilization of a multitude of different teaching techniques, many of which were poorly implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

Key words, “Asynchronous learning”, “Learning”, “Feedback”, “Online Instruction”, and “Classroom Design” were searched in online data bases (Google Scholar, PubMed, EBSCO and Data Base of Open Access Journals). These then were read by the authorial team and authoritative papers were selected by the team based on the frequency of utilization by other papers in the field and the utility of these papers for the design of asynchronous courses.

Findings

This paper explores asynchronous learning from the perspective of how instructional science and learning science can be applied to create the best classroom for both pupil and instructor.

Originality/value

It looks to provide a go-to-guide for best practices in asynchronous learning and the development of K-12 classrooms, graduate and medical school classrooms and finally continuous medical education classrooms. Finally, this guide looks to facilitate the development of master instructors through statements on how to properly provide feedback to students.

Details

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2397-7604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 August 2021

Ana Beatriz Hernández-Lara, Alexandre Perera-Lluna and Enric Serradell-López

With the growth of digital education, students increasingly interact in a variety of ways. The potential effects of these interactions on their learning process are not fully…

Abstract

Purpose

With the growth of digital education, students increasingly interact in a variety of ways. The potential effects of these interactions on their learning process are not fully understood and the outcomes may depend on the tool used. This study explores the communication patterns and learning effectiveness developed by students using two basic synchronous and asynchronous communication tools in e-learning environments, specifically business simulation games.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a quasi-experiment research with 478 online business students, 267 of whom used online discussion forums and 211 interacted via an instant messaging app. The application of learning analytics and text mining on natural language processing allows us to explore the student communication patterns with each of tools and their effectiveness in terms of learning.

Findings

The results confirm the complementarity of the communication tools, asynchronous tools being especially the suitable for task-related communication and synchronous ones for speeding up and facilitating student social interactions.

Originality/value

The main value of this research lies in the use of data analytics and text mining to access and analyse the content of student interactions to assess the learning process in greater depth, comparing synchronous and asynchronous learning modes, considering that little is known about the impact of online synchronous interaction or instant messaging, and even less about the different features, content and performance that emerge when these two learner interaction modalities are compared.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 63 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 9 March 2022

Arun Aryal and Shilpa Balan

In the wake of the pandemic (COVID-19) throughout the United States, many educators had to promptly switch to online modality to continue to provide education to students with…

1504

Abstract

Purpose

In the wake of the pandemic (COVID-19) throughout the United States, many educators had to promptly switch to online modality to continue to provide education to students with safety through physical distancing requirements. This study mainly focuses on delivering an Information Systems module aligned with the information systems curriculum model during a pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data collection techniques from student assignments and course tasks. These data are used for the purpose of academic assessment for the Information Systems program. The student performance is assessed on a 5-point scale (1 being low and 5 being high) for the synchronous and the asynchronous tasks related to the course. The authors compared the student performance during the pandemic to the pre-pandemic semester.

Findings

This study revealed that the technical module of an information systems course can be successfully delivered during a pandemic in a remote session. However, the authors found that there is a decline in the student performance in synchronous tasks and asynchronous tasks. But the decline of the student performance in the synchronous tasks is greater than that of the asynchronous tasks. The result of this study helps the Information Systems program with their assessment and to improve their course delivery during a pandemic.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors examine the delivery of a technical module in the field of information systems via online learning models. The authors particularly examine the synchronous and asynchronous online learning models in the delivery of the technical module. The lessons learned from transitioning to the online modality can help universities better prepare for the future during unprecedented times.

Details

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2397-7604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2000

Thomas R. Kochtanek and Karen K. Hein

The introduction of Web‐based course instruction into an existing degree programme offers the opportunity to re‐examine models supporting learning and the transfer of knowledge…

Abstract

The introduction of Web‐based course instruction into an existing degree programme offers the opportunity to re‐examine models supporting learning and the transfer of knowledge among students enrolled in such courses. By removing the barriers of time and place, instructors can create and sustain student learning communities supported by interactive communication tools grounded in asynchronous learning models. The instructor’s role moves to that of a facilitator who seeks to stimulate interactions between students and between students and the instructor, in the pursuit of improved learning and knowledge base construction.

Details

Online Information Review, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1468-4527

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 March 2022

Gavin Baxter and Thomas Hainey

This article aims to explore student views from a UK higher educational institution about the concept of remote online higher educational delivery. Students were asked about…

4192

Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to explore student views from a UK higher educational institution about the concept of remote online higher educational delivery. Students were asked about opinions towards working remotely and the psychological impact this had upon students and students' studies. The research provided students with the opportunity to reflect upon whether the practice of delivering education remotely continues to provide students with a beneficial student learning experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a case study methodology utilising a mixed methods approach via questionnaire-based research. In total, 894 students completed the questionnaire. The aim of the research was to obtain a wide breadth of student opinion from multidisciplinary backgrounds to ascertain whether students' learning experience differed per subject area.

Findings

The research identified some interesting findings, namely that certain participants considered that learning remotely online was beneficial for instant feedback, supported motivation and fostered communities of practice. Negative perspectives related to feeling isolated, unmotivated and a preference towards face-to-face (F2F) delivery. One of the main areas of conflict identified from this study is that the aspect of engagement can impact students' online learning both positively and negatively.

Originality/value

The study provides an in-depth multidisciplinary student tertiary perspective relating to online remote learning. The findings from this study can be useful for educators to reflect upon and inform educational policy in relation to how best to facilitate and support the student learning experience off-campus.

Details

Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2397-7604

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 December 2023

Lauren Schnell-Peskin, Gina Riley, Kristen Hodnett, Virginia Gryta and April Kisamore

It is now considered commonplace to teach in a multigenerational higher education classroom that is made up of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Y and Z students. To ensure that all…

Abstract

Purpose

It is now considered commonplace to teach in a multigenerational higher education classroom that is made up of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Y and Z students. To ensure that all students, regardless of their generational identity, are successful in the classroom, educators must teach purposefully, with an understanding of the variables that affect student learning. Educators must ensure instruction is delivered according to varying student strengths and needs. This paper will provide guidance for higher education faculty teaching in multigenerational classrooms by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses across student generations. The most effective instructional practices for teaching will be discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is a literature review focused on meeting the needs of multigenerational learners in synchronous and asynchronous online learning classrooms.

Findings

To ensure that all students, regardless of generational identity, are successful in the classroom, educators must teach purposefully, with an understanding of the variables that affect student learning. A summary of these generational strengths and needs are discussed within this paper.

Practical implications

This paper will provide guidance for higher education faculty teaching in multigenerational classrooms by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses across student generations.

Originality/value

This paper will provide guidance for higher education faculty teaching in multigenerational classrooms by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses across student generations. The most effective instructional practices for teaching will be discussed.

Details

The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, vol. 41 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-4880

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 3000