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1 – 10 of over 2000Husnayati Hussin, Fatimah Bunyarit and Ramlah Hussein
This study aims to investigate the elements of effective instructional design in an e‐learning environment in selected Malaysian higher learning institutions. In addition, the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the elements of effective instructional design in an e‐learning environment in selected Malaysian higher learning institutions. In addition, the study also seeks to investigate the e‐learning use behaviour among these e‐learners.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the interview method of data collection to examine the e‐learning systems used at the selected institutions and a questionnaire‐based survey to gather responses from students on their perception of the effectiveness of instructional design elements and their e‐learning use behaviour.
Findings
Findings of the study indicate positive perceptions of e‐learning among students in the selected universities. Student involvement and course content are among the most satisfactory factors for instructional design principles as perceived by the students.
Research limitations/implications
Limitations of the study relate to the generalisability of the findings to other user groups. The findings of the study provide insights on the relevance of instructional design elements to an effective e‐learning environment.
Practical implications
The findings should assist instructors and e‐learning implementers in designing course materials that would be more effective for e‐learning at the tertiary level of education.
Originality/value
The research provides some evidence from an e‐learners' perspective on the effectiveness of instructional design for an e‐learning environment in the Malaysian context.
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Holly M. Hutchins and Dennis Hutchison
The purpose of this paper is to review cross‐disciplinary research on e‐learning from workplace learning, educational technology, and instructional communication disciplines to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review cross‐disciplinary research on e‐learning from workplace learning, educational technology, and instructional communication disciplines to identify relevant e‐learning design principles. It aims to use these principles to propose an e‐learning model that can guide the design of instructionally sound, usable, and interactive e‐learning courses and programs for workplace learning.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is a review of empirical and conceptual e‐learning literature from human resource development, workplace learning, educational technology and instructional communication.
Findings
The paper presents a current review of e‐learning design research, identifies convergent areas of e‐learning design practices, and proposes a tripartite e‐learning design model. Design principles identified in the literature review include adherence to instructional design principles based on adult learning principles, ensuring human‐technology interface (usability) guidelines, and supporting online immediacy (social presence) attributes.
Practical implications
An expanded view of e‐learning design strategies grounded in a learning sciences perspective and encompassing research on behavioral, cognitive, constructivist and humanistic theories is offered.
Originality/value
The study provides an integrated e‐learning design model that represents main areas of e‐learning research and suggests competencies for e‐trainers.
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Sylvia Ping-Ping Chin, Eric Tsui and Chien-Sing Lee
Guidelines for the design of knowledge-based e-learning usability systems are absent from the current recognized set of usability design heuristics and from an established…
Abstract
Purpose
Guidelines for the design of knowledge-based e-learning usability systems are absent from the current recognized set of usability design heuristics and from an established evaluation methodology of e-learning system developments. Such systems can help Web designers and instructional designers design for different user needs and decide which properties are of a higher priority, thus meriting more design and development efforts. The authors aim to help students develop higher-order thinking skills, such as application, evaluation and syntheses of knowledge.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors applied Merrill ' s first principles of instruction and usability properties as pedagogical and usability design guidelines, knowledge management (KM) and hierarchical task analysis as methodological knowledge bases. The authors proposed a KM e-learning usability framework which frames our mapping of Web usability attributes to e-learning usability properties. The authors aim to investigate whether adopting Merrill ' s first principles of instruction and usability properties as knowledge-based guidelines/design factors would help learners develop higher-order thinking skills and whether this design would result in positive technology acceptance. The authors also developed a method matrix to map the selected methods of cognitive engineering to its potential uses in the KM e-learning usability framework of this paper and mapped e-learning usability tools with components in the KM e-learning usability system.
Findings
Findings indicated that our design effectively helped learners to demonstrate higher-order thinking skills and positive technology acceptance, promising indications toward the design and development of knowledge-based usability frameworks and systems.
Research/limitations/implications
The sample size of this paper is small. Hence, conclusions are not generalizable at this moment.
Originality/Value
The authors’ contributions are twofold: First, the authors proposed a KM e-learning usability framework, which frames the mapping of KM processes to e-learning principles and usability properties. Second, the authors proposed a method matrix which maps the selected methods of cognitive engineering to its potential uses in their KM e-learning usability framework. Based on these mappings and focusing on the usability properties navigation and learning support, the authors used ICT/Web2.0 tools to present/visualize information more clearly and more sensibly/manageably to students, to help trigger new knowledge and develop higher-order thinking skills, such as application, evaluation and syntheses of knowledge and articulate information from different perspectives throughout the KM life cycle.
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The recognition of practice in online instruction is still subject to interpretation and different approaches as a result of the rapid changes in technology and its effect on…
Abstract
Purpose
The recognition of practice in online instruction is still subject to interpretation and different approaches as a result of the rapid changes in technology and its effect on society. The purpose of this paper is to address these differences through a synthesis that can be easily accessed and consulted by educators in the field of e-learning.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reviews different examples of rubrics and instruments in higher education to propose a more comprehensive rubric that constitutes a synthesis of how some institutions in HE approach best practice in this field.
Findings
The proposed comprehensive rubric emanating from the synthesis of different approaches supports the development, remixing, sharing and integration of online modules and courses by providing a single reference point with as wide a range as possible of potential pedagogical tools, facilities and approaches to e-learning.
Research limitations/implications
It is not within the scope of this paper to review quality assurance processes and administrative components, but to propose a rubric for course design and self-review of faculty and higher education institutions for a better alignment with what is regarded as current standard best practice.
Practical implications
Instructional designers in e-learning have a new comprehensive rubric that can consult at design stage.
Originality/value
Different approaches towards what is called “good practice” are brought together and analysed to provide a synthesis and a single source that can be consulted by practitioners in the field of e-learning.
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This case study identifies factors influencing the implementation of e‐learning within the Australian Army training context.
Abstract
Purpose
This case study identifies factors influencing the implementation of e‐learning within the Australian Army training context.
Design/methodology/approach
A grounded theory approach was used to gain an understanding of the concerns of stakeholders involved in e‐learning implementation. This research included interviews with Army managers, course developers, instructional designers and instructors.
Findings
The main factors that were important for respondents involved in e‐learning management, design, development and delivery could be identified. This case study demonstrates the importance of maintaining focus on organisational priorities and learning goals while meeting the demands of change pressures.
Research limitations/implications
This is an initial study to gain an overview of the main issues. More research will be required to understand the Army's e‐learning context and to confirm these findings. Further research will include other stakeholders, including trainees' perspectives and extend to other Army sites.
Practical implications
For effective implementation there needs to be a process of continual adaptation and alignment of e‐learning to reflect changing demands while meeting the priorities of the organisational culture and learners' needs.
Originality/value
This paper analyses the first independent external research into e‐learning in the Australian Army. Although this is a specialised context for e‐learning, the issues raised in this case study will inform research into other workplace e‐learning projects.
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E-learning has the potential to engage learners in ways that is not possible in a conventional classroom environment. Nevertheless, for this unique capability of e-learning to be…
Abstract
E-learning has the potential to engage learners in ways that is not possible in a conventional classroom environment. Nevertheless, for this unique capability of e-learning to be optimised, a good understanding of learners’ need as to what motivate them to be engaged in activities is paramount. This chapter suggests strategies for engaging learners in e-learning based on past empirical studies on computer games characteristics and an exploratory study on values influencing learners’ decisions to engage in activities. The exploratory study in this chapter adopted qualitative research methods of Kelly Repertory grid and laddering interview based on the means-end chain (MEC) theory. Based on the exploratory study, value dimension was added to the existing literature. The value dimension of excitement, warm relationship with others and sense of accomplishment were revealed as important to learners in their decision whether to engage in activities. Strategies for e-learning instructions that promote the revealed values were suggested with the aim of integrating the value dimension with the existing literature as well as proven teaching approaches.
Chokri Barhoumi, Areej Alsaysi and Souheil Essid
This study aims to explore the effectiveness of the e-learning solutions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic based on teachers' and students' opinions in Saudi higher education.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the effectiveness of the e-learning solutions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic based on teachers' and students' opinions in Saudi higher education.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was performed during the 2021 academic year and involved a survey approach to analyze the effectiveness of Saudi e-learning solutions adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjective opinions were collected from a sample of 106 teachers and 1,196 students.
Findings
The teachers disagreed that online courses provide students with multiple opportunities to track their learning progress with timely feedback, with an arithmetic mean of 2.566 and a standard deviation of 1.627. Moreover, the students disagreed that the use of multimedia facilitates the ease of learning and knowledge extraction from online resources, with an arithmetic mean of 2.443 and a standard deviation of 1.633. Generally, the study implies that today during the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to exploit the power of multimedia tools to bring out knowledge from online learning resources such as images, animations, simulations, video and hypermedia. Based on the results, we need to concentrate on exploiting the power of hypertext systems used in flexible online instruction to enable flexible thinking for online students. Therefore, the e-learning process must favor cognitive flexibility and foster knowledge acquisition for students in the context of e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originality/value
The findings may be useful in discovering the degree of effectiveness of Saudi e-learning solutions during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Betânia Mafra Kaizer, Carlos Eduardo Sanches da Silva, Thaís Zerbini and Anderson Paulo Paiva
The purpose of this study is a bibliometric and descriptive review of the literature on instruction planning of training offered in the e-learning modality in work corporations to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is a bibliometric and descriptive review of the literature on instruction planning of training offered in the e-learning modality in work corporations to identify methodologies and experiences that will serve as a model for professionals working in planning e-learning training in the corporate context.
Design/methodology/approach
The timeline from 2010 to 2020 was adopted. Data were extracted from five databases and were compiled in the software Zotero. Based on defined criteria, 260 productions were identified. The interrelation and metric presentation of the data from these studies were done in the software VosViewer. Subsequently, were selected only free access papers, resulting in 64 publications. From these, the authors chose six empirical studies for a descriptive analysis based on specific criteria.
Findings
The range of hardware and software platforms has stimulated the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI) resources in corporative training. The use of management tools such as voice of customer (VOC) and quality function deployment (QFD), can support those responsible for instructional planning. The literature presented important elements that should be considered for the proper planning of an e-learning training: learner: feedback, control of self-learning process, classification of cultural profiles in the case of courses in which participants are geographically distant and training management: content and delivery mode of instruction.
Originality/value
The authors selected six empirical studies that presented models, systems or experiences on training planning to support decisions in this area. This study contributes to the area of T&D showing an updated context of practices for the implementation of training systems that have been adopted in several countries. The authors present quantitative indicators of scientific production using two additional software to support the bibliometric review, namely, Zotero and VosViewer. This study used five databases and a research equation to systematically present the current panorama of research on training planning from the perspective of the areas of management and organizational psychology.
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Asela Indunil Gunesekera, Yukun Bao and Mboni Kibelloh
The purpose of this study is to review the effect of usability factors on e-learning user relationships, namely, student–student interaction (SSI), student–instructor interaction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review the effect of usability factors on e-learning user relationships, namely, student–student interaction (SSI), student–instructor interaction (SII) and student–content interaction (SCI), in the existing e-learning literature. Further, this study intended to identify whether usability contributes to the satisfaction of e-learners.
Design/methodology/approach
This study has undertaken a systematic review using the PRISMA methodology to filter the literature in the domain of e-learning with respect to usability concerns using six databases. An analytical framework has been formulated to evaluate the literature against different dimensions of interactions and usability.
Findings
Results reveal that while SSI has grabbed 71.4 per cent research attention with respect to usability factors of e-learning systems, SCI has been given the least focus, i.e. 26.6 per cent. According to the results, e-learning systems’ usability issues influence the user relationships and affect the user satisfaction, which will lead to lack of user continuity.
Practical implications
The findings of this review will provide insights to instructional designers to construct more satisfied learning content for the users. The analysis framework of this study will encourage researchers to drive future research in e-learning along with the concern of usability.
Originality/value
This research emphasizes on the importance of SCI to focus future e-learning research on a different angle, in addition to SSI and SII. The analysis framework of this study will provide different dimensions, specifically for the empirical research in the domain of e-learning.
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Syed Aziz Anwar, M. Sadiq Sohail and Meera Al-Marri
It has been argued in the literature that quality assurance is a relative concept. In view of the new challenges (and opportunities) created by e-learning institutions in the Gulf…
Abstract
Purpose
It has been argued in the literature that quality assurance is a relative concept. In view of the new challenges (and opportunities) created by e-learning institutions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, this paper aims to explore the dimensions of quality assurance in e-learning and test the psychometric properties of the underlying dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
A sequential mixed methods approach was applied in this study. In the qualitative phase, items were generated using the inductive and deductive approaches. This was then followed by the quantitative phase where data was collected from 275 senior academics, scholars and administrators associated with e-learning institutions in Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Findings
The findings of this study revealed that e-learning quality assurance is a multidimensional construct. The dimensions of accreditation, assessment, accountability and benchmarking were identified. Further, the model demonstrated adequacy in its validity and reliability.
Practical implications
In the light of proliferation of e-learning courses in GCC countries, the results of this are invaluable to enable administrators and instructors to design strategy and foster innovation in the domain of quality assurance. E-learning institutions operating in a competitive environment have to design and implement an effective strategy to achieve innovation, uniqueness and diversity in the educational sector of their countries.
Originality/value
This paper has successfully validated an e-learning quality assurance questionnaire, which can be used effectively for evaluating e-learning programmes.
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