Articles

Researching for better instructional methods using AB experiments in MOOCs: results and challenges

We conducted two AB experiments (treatment vs. control) in a massive open online course. The first experiment evaluates deliberate practice activities (DPAs) for developing problem solving expertise as measure...

Authors: Zhongzhou Chen, Christopher Chudzicki, Daniel Palumbo, Giora Alexandron, Youn-Jeng Choi, Qian Zhou and David E. Pritchard

Who will pass? Analyzing learner behaviors in MOOCs

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have recently gained worldwide attention from educational institutes. MOOCs provide a new option for learning, yet measurable learning benefits of MOOCs still need to be inv...

Authors: Shu-Fen Tseng, Yen-Wei Tsao, Liang-Chih Yu, Chien-Lung Chan and K. Robert Lai

How do machine-generated questions compare to human-generated questions?

Science instructors need questions for use in exams, homework assignments, class discussions, reviews, and other instructional activities. Textbooks never have enough questions, so instructors must find them f...

Authors: Lishan Zhang and Kurt VanLehn

A model-driven PBL application to support the authoring, delivery, and execution of PBL processes

As problem-based learning (PBL) is becoming more and more popular, there is also a growing interest in developing and using technologies in the implementation of PBL. However, teachers may have difficulties to...

Authors: Disi Wang, Mohammed Samaka, Yongwu Miao, Zeyad Ali and H. Ulrich Hoppe

Framework to describe constructs of academic emotions using ontological descriptions of statistical models

Many studies have been conducted during the last two decades examining learner reactions within e-learning environments. In an effort to assist learners in their scholastic activities, these studies have attem...

Authors: Keiichi Muramatsu, Eiichirou Tanaka, Keiichi Watanuki and Tatsunori Matsui

Augmented reality as multimedia: the case for situated vocabulary learning

Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to create compelling learning experiences. However, there are few research works exploring the design and evaluation of AR for educational settings. In our research, we...

Authors: Marc Ericson C. Santos, Arno in Wolde Lübke, Takafumi Taketomi, Goshiro Yamamoto, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Christian Sandor and Hirokazu Kato

Code-reading support environment visualizing three fields and educational practice to understand nested loops

In this paper, we describe a code-reading support environment and practical classroom applications using this environment to understand nested loops. Previously, we developed a code-reading support system base...

Authors: Koichi Yamashita, Takamasa Nagao, Satoru Kogure, Yasuhiro Noguchi, Tatsuhiro Konishi and Yukihiro Itoh

Making mathematics meaningful for freshmen students: investigating students’ preferences of pre-class videos

Engaging students in university mathematics classes can be a challenge for professors. One pedagogical technique is the use of pre-class videos in a flipped classroom. The students are exposed to the concepts ...

Authors: Rim Gouia and Cindy Gunn

Guest reviewers: volume 10

The Editors express their thanks to the persons named below for contributing to the review process in respect of paper submissions received in 2015.

Authors: Siu-Cheung Kong

The effects of an online student question-generation strategy on elementary school student English learning

Recognizing the potential of online student question-generation to engage language learners in communicative activities and use the target language in a personally meaningful way for language and learning moti...

Authors: Fu-Yun Yu, Yu-Ling Chang and Hui-Ling Wu

GPS sensor-based mobile learning for English: an exploratory study on self-efficacy, self-regulation and student achievement

This study investigated the effects of self-efficacy and self-regulation on student achievement in a context-aware learning environment. Particularly, an innovative global positioning system (GPS) sensor-based...

Authors: Jerry Chih-Yuan Sun, Kai-Yu Chang and Yang-Hsueh Chen

Using a tablet-based composition marking recording system to conduct think-aloud for composition rating research

Language teacher’s composition rating process has become an issue of growing concern in writing research over the past three decades. It is evident that a substantial number of composition rating research have...

Authors: Kat Leung, Barley Mak and Howard Leung

Guest editors’ introduction: special issue “ICT in language learning”

Authors: Yu-Ju Lan and Ting-Chia Hsu

Editor’s introduction

Authors: Siu-Cheung Kong

Acculturation in context: knowledge sharing through ubiquitous technologies

In this paper, we assess the feasibility of using a retooled mobile and ubiquitous computer system to facilitate knowledge dissemination between users during the process of acculturation. Focused on the foreig...

Authors: Steven A. Cook, Hiroaki Ogata, Mark G. Elwell and Mitsuru Ikeda

Monitoring system for the effective instruction based on the semi-automatic evaluation of programs during programming classroom lectures

In this study, we developed a programming practice monitoring system to facilitate teachers to give appropriate instructions to students at the appropriate time during classroom lectures. To help teachers to p...

Authors: Satoru Kogure, Riki Nakamura, Kanae Makino, Koichi Yamashita, Tatsuhiro Konishi and Yukihiro Itoh

Framework of kit-build concept map for automatic diagnosis and its preliminary use

In this paper, we propose a framework of Kit-Build Concept Map (we call it as KB map) where a concept map made by a learner can be diagnosed automatically. In this research, we have divided the task to make a ...

Authors: Tsukasa Hirashima, Kazuya Yamasaki, Hiroyuki Fukuda and Hideo Funaoi

Effect of active learning using program visualization in technology-constrained college classrooms

Multiple studies report that Computer Science (CS) instructors face problems on how to integrate visualizations in their teaching. This problem gets compounded for instructors in technology-constrained classro...

Authors: Gargi Banerjee, Sahana Murthy and Sridhar Iyer

Investigating student interactions with tutorial dialogues in EER-Tutor

Eye-movement tracking and student-system interaction logs provide different types of information which can be used as a potential source of real-time adaptation in learning environments. By analysing student i...

Authors: Myse Elmadani, Antonija Mitrovic, Amali Weerasinghe and Kourosh Neshatian

A multi-layer map-oriented resource organization system for web-based self-directed learning combined with community-based learning

The main issue addressed in this paper is how to improve the learning situation of self-directed learning in resource search and organization from the web. In this paper, we have firstly proposed a multi-layer...

Authors: Hangyu Li, Shinobu Hasegawa and Akihiro Kashihara

Educational crowdsourcing to support the learning of computer programming

Recent advancements in technology have enabled a shift to occur in teaching and learning. We are living in a connected world where physical boundaries of attending an institution to gain an education no longer...

Authors: Dhiya Al-Jumeily, Abir Hussain, Mohammed Alghamdi, Chelsea Dobbins and Jan Lunn

XML-based e-assessment system for Office skills in open learning environments

Learning and teaching systems have seen fast transformations being increasingly applied in emerging formal and informal education contexts. Indeed, the shift to open learning environments is remarkable, where ...

Authors: Aicha Chorana, Abdallah Lakhdari, Hadda Cherroun and Slimane Oulad-Naoui

The utilization of data analysis techniques in predicting student performance in massive open online courses (MOOCs)

The growth of the Internet has enabled the popularity of open online learning platforms to increase over the years. This has led to the inception of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that globally enrol mill...

Authors: Glyn Hughes and Chelsea Dobbins

Emerging trends for open access learning

This special issue is dedicated to recent opportunities, trends, and expectations that the emergent number of institutions and governments, exploiting the open learning concept, face in designing and providing...

Authors: Rachid Benlamri and Fanny Klett

Editor’s introduction

Authors: Siu Cheung Kong

Guest editors’ introduction

Authors: Kazuaki Kojima and Tomoko Kojiri

Editor’s introduction

Authors: Siu Cheung Kong

A generating technique and knowledge representation of multiple-answer problems for learning with solving knowledge

Erroneous answers in multiple-answer problems not only make the correct answer harder to determine but also indicate why the correct choice is suitable and the erroneous one a mistake when compared to the corr...

Authors: Noriyuki Matsuda, Hisashi Ogawa, Tsukasa Hirashima and Hirokazu Taki

An exploration of problem posing-based activities as an assessment tool and as an instructional strategy

Problem posing, the generation of questions by learners, has been shown to be an effective instructional strategy for teaching–learning of complex materials in domains such as mathematics. In this paper, we de...

Authors: Shitanshu Mishra and Sridhar Iyer

Practice supporting system with related problem set generator based on targeted educational effects

Exercises with well-designed similar problem sets are effective in classrooms. In this case, teachers design similar problem sets related to the educational effects they have targeted. However, to design these...

Authors: Yasuhiro Noguchi, Satoru Kogure, Tatsuhiro Konishi and Yukihiro Itoh

Evaluation of a question generation approach using semantic web for supporting argumentation

Discourse and argumentation are effective techniques for education not only in social domains but also in science domains. However, it is difficult for some teachers to stimulate an active discussion between s...

Authors: Nguyen-Thinh Le and Niels Pinkwart

A framework of generating explanation for conceptual understanding based on “semantics of constraints”

In science education, conventional problem practice hardly helps students reach “conceptual understanding” with which they can solve various problems by making appropriate models of target systems. Students of...

Authors: Tomoya Horiguchi, Takahito Tomoto and Tsukasa Hirashima

Experimental study of learning support through examples in mathematical problem posing

When using mathematics to solve problems in everyday life, problem solvers must recognize and formulate problems by themselves because structured problems are not provided. Therefore, in general education, fos...

Authors: Kazuaki Kojima, Kazuhisa Miwa and Tatsunori Matsui