The research aimed to assess the feasibility of using podcasts in mobile devices to teach research proposal writing for masters’ students of University of South Africa. To aid in this, a general objective was developed which was supported by specific research objectives that guided the study. The research looked at the evolution of open distance learning (ODL) including the use of M-learning. I reviewed literature on the history of podcasts as an entertainment tool being highlighted as a revolution in the academic world especially in the area of distance learning. To create a foundation to give strength to the use of podcasts, theories of education were evaluated and criticised to give reason and foundation for the use of podcasts as a technology to support teaching and learning in ODL. All major aspects of learning were traversed in the theoretical aspect. This is in a bid to assess the ability of the use of podcasts to meet the needs of the learners. A methodology for conducting the research that included the deployment of a pilot project for the research proposal writing module in year 2011-2012 class was developed and justified accordingly. The use of both qualitative and quantitative methods was necessitated by the objectives of the research. This was implemented at data collection and analysis stages of the research. The analysis was fruitful and successful for that matter, giving reasonable backing to the proposal by the researcher of adopting the use of podcasts using mobile devices. The analysis deemed the pilot project successful for the period within which it was operated. Hurdles or challenges were present and the study gives them as majorly, the lack of sufficient skills to handle the content of the website, that is, generally, the use of the technology. Also, the study pinpoints that the availability of mobile devices is also a challenge that the students will face. Recommendations were derived from the challenges and include a framework that should be used in creating a podcast support system that will be based on the findings to create a successful project. Regarding the objectives of the study, the conclusion that indeed it is feasible to use podcasts to teach research proposal writing in Unisa is valid. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Undergraduate software engineering learners demonstrate a lack of motivation with face-to-face classroom education. Limited access to the Internet via PCs and laptops, hinders effective communication and collaboration. However, the majority of learners enrolled for studies in tertiary education, have cellphones and are proficient in the use of digital technology. A technology-enhanced m-learning solution is indicated. This research project evaluates the usability and user experience of an m-learning environment, custom-designed for a tertiary educational context and delivered by mobile handheld devices, features a synthesized framework of categories and criteria, and determines the nature and scope of an emergent digital divide. A design-based research model suited to the context of the study is implemented, gathering quantitative and qualitative data from experts and learners by survey questionnaires. Analysis of data highlights usability and UX problems, provides insight into an emergent digital divide and suggests guidelines specific to the design of m-learning implementations. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

El objetivo de esta tesis es mejorar la efectividad y eficiencia de los entornos de aprendizaje virtual. Para lograr este propósito se define un Modelo de Usuario que considera las características del usuario, el contexto y la Interacción. Estas tres dimensiones son integradas en un Modelo de Usuario Integral (MUI) para proveer adaptación de contenido, formato y actividades en entornos educativos con heterogeneidad de usuarios, tecnologías e interacciones. Esta heterogeneidad genera la entrega de contenidos, formatos y actividades inadecuadas para los estudiantes. La particularización del MUI en un entorno educativo es definida Modelo de Estudiante Integral (MEI). Las principales aportaciones de esta tesis son la definición y validación de un MUI, la utilización de un MEI abierto para propiciar la reflexión de los estudiantes sobre sus procesos de aprendizaje, la integración tecnológica con independencia de plataforma y la validación del MEI con estudiantes en escenarios reales. / he aim of this thesis is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of virtual learning environments. To that end, it defines a user model that considers at the same time the characteristics of the user, the context and the interaction. These three dimensions are embodied into an Integrated user model (MUI, from the Spanish Modelo de Usuario Integral) to provide adaptation of content, format and educational activities in heterogeneous environments of users, technologies and interactions. One problem that arises in such heterogeneous environments is that inadequate content, format and activities are delivered to students. The MUI is a general model, and as an example of its application, an Integrate Learner Model (MEI, from the Spanish Modelo de Estudiante Integral) is introduced in an educational setting. The main contributions of this thesis are the definition and validation of a MUI, the use of an open MEI to promote student reflection on their learning experience, technology integration with platform independence and validation of the MEI with students in the real world.

The teaching model in Open Distance Learning is moving towards fully integrated information and communication technology applications, therefore, academic lecturers need to have a strong comfort level with the use of technology tools. The academic lecturers are qualified and experienced subject matter experts but this does not translate to having the necessary technical competencies to do online teaching. They consequently could experience feelings of incompetency to facilitate courseware on a technology platform. The study identified the factors that influence the user experience when using a Learning Management System (LMS) in an academic institution. The research design comprises a convergent, parallel design mixed-method case study. A literature review was conducted to abstract the factors that influence the user experience into a conceptual framework. An expert review was conducted to validate the conceptual framework and then a questionnaire-driven survey was performed. The quantitative analysis of the survey results revealed that eight of the nine factors proposed in the conceptual framework do have an influence on the perceived user experience of the academic when using the LMS. The qualitative analysis revealed that all nine of the identified factors do have an influence on the perceived user experience of the academic when using the LMS. The contribution of this study is to present a conceptual framework of the factors that influence the user experience of the academic when using an LMS to improve our understanding of the experience of the academic and the practical challenges involved for academics that have to facilitate learning in an online environment The findings should be of interest to developers of LMSs and to institutions in support and training of academics that have to use the LMS. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

The research aimed to assess the feasibility of using podcasts in mobile devices to teach research proposal writing for masters’ students of University of South Africa. To aid in this, a general objective was developed which was supported by specific research objectives that guided the study. The research looked at the evolution of open distance learning (ODL) including the use of M-learning. I reviewed literature on the history of podcasts as an entertainment tool being highlighted as a revolution in the academic world especially in the area of distance learning. To create a foundation to give strength to the use of podcasts, theories of education were evaluated and criticised to give reason and foundation for the use of podcasts as a technology to support teaching and learning in ODL. All major aspects of learning were traversed in the theoretical aspect. This is in a bid to assess the ability of the use of podcasts to meet the needs of the learners. A methodology for conducting the research that included the deployment of a pilot project for the research proposal writing module in year 2011-2012 class was developed and justified accordingly. The use of both qualitative and quantitative methods was necessitated by the objectives of the research. This was implemented at data collection and analysis stages of the research. The analysis was fruitful and successful for that matter, giving reasonable backing to the proposal by the researcher of adopting the use of podcasts using mobile devices. The analysis deemed the pilot project successful for the period within which it was operated. Hurdles or challenges were present and the study gives them as majorly, the lack of sufficient skills to handle the content of the website, that is, generally, the use of the technology. Also, the study pinpoints that the availability of mobile devices is also a challenge that the students will face. Recommendations were derived from the challenges and include a framework that should be used in creating a podcast support system that will be based on the findings to create a successful project. Regarding the objectives of the study, the conclusion that indeed it is feasible to use podcasts to teach research proposal writing in Unisa is valid. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Undergraduate software engineering learners demonstrate a lack of motivation with face-to-face classroom education. Limited access to the Internet via PCs and laptops, hinders effective communication and collaboration. However, the majority of learners enrolled for studies in tertiary education, have cellphones and are proficient in the use of digital technology. A technology-enhanced m-learning solution is indicated. This research project evaluates the usability and user experience of an m-learning environment, custom-designed for a tertiary educational context and delivered by mobile handheld devices, features a synthesized framework of categories and criteria, and determines the nature and scope of an emergent digital divide. A design-based research model suited to the context of the study is implemented, gathering quantitative and qualitative data from experts and learners by survey questionnaires. Analysis of data highlights usability and UX problems, provides insight into an emergent digital divide and suggests guidelines specific to the design of m-learning implementations. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El uso de nuevas tecnologías y el número de usuarios de sistemas de enseñanza online universitaria se han extendido alrededor del mundo en las últimas décadas, mostrando un mayor incremento con la propagación de la pandemia Covid-19 desde 2020. Adicionalmente, la normativa ISO 9241-210:2019 establece los estándares internacionales de calidad para diseñar productos, servicios y sistemas de interacción persona-ordenador que cumplan con requisitos de usabilidad, accesibilidad y de experiencia de usuario (User eXperience - UX). Por tanto, el concepto de UX ha cobrado mucha importancia como requisito de calidad. Para diversos autores, la UX es un concepto multidimensional que incluye las motivaciones, sentimientos y necesidades de los usuarios finales. Por otra parte, el Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) 4 de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) para el 2030 persigue asegurar a nivel global una educación inclusiva, igualitaria, para todos y de calidad. En este sentido, con el fin de diseñar interfaces y experiencias de aprendizaje en entornos universitarios que respeten todas especificaciones de calidad se requiere evaluar previamente la UX de estos entornos de manera automática y precisa. Por tanto, el objetivo principal de esta tesis es identificar las características concretas más relevantes en la UX de entornos de e-learning universitarios que permitan analizar específica y automáticamente el sentimiento de los estudiantes con el fin de asentar las bases para diseñar plataformas de aprendizaje virtual centradas en los usuarios. Con esta finalidad, el estudio plantea analizar las necesidades y sentimientos de los estudiantes on-line universitarios con métodos digitales, avanzados y eficientes de inteligencia artificial. Por ello, el presente proyecto investiga la aplicación de modelos de aprendizaje automático de análisis de sentimiento para la evaluación UX. Estas técnicas de inteligencia artificial se han aplicado sobre las respuestas recibidas de entre los más de 2.000 estudiantes universitarios encuestados procedentes de estudios de posgrado online y de cursos en línea masivos y abiertos (MOOCs). Los resultados presentan las bases de un modelo que permite clasificar ontológicamente categorías o aspectos de la educación en línea universitaria y conocer la polaridad del sentimiento de los usuarios respecto a su experiencia e-learning de manera automática. De este modo, se han podido conocer las opiniones de los estudiantes de manera automatizada con respecto a categorías claves de la enseñanza digital. Además, los comentarios de los estudiantes se han clasificado en distintas dimensiones UX e-learning o UXEL (Conexiones Sociales, y Recursos y Herramientas de Aprendizaje). Así mismo, se ha identificado la polaridad del sentimiento para cada dimensión. En resumen, este trabajo ha generado importantes contribuciones a la comunidad científica. En primer lugar, una adaptación del cuestionario validado UEQ-S integrado y adaptado a tres plataformas de e-learning para cursos específicos de postgrado en la Universitat de València y en la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; y para MOOCs en la Universitat Politècnica de València. En segundo lugar, esta tesis ha generado una aplicación innovadora de métodos de análisis de sentimiento y aprendizaje automático mediante el procesamiento del lenguaje natural para la evaluación de la experiencia de usuario de estudiantes universitarios online. Así, este método proporciona el análisis de las opiniones de los alumnos y las clasifica según su polaridad en positivas, negativas o neutras. Y en tercer lugar, este trabajo científico aporta una ontología propia de aspectos para la experiencia de aprendizaje virtual asociada a dimensiones UX con herramientas de análisis de sentimiento. Esta ontología clasifica la polaridad de las opiniones de los alumnos por categorías e-learning: VLE, Profesor, Alumno, Sonido, Imagen, Material, Ejercicio, Evaluación y y Comunicación. / [CA] L'ús de noves tecnologies i el nombre d'usuaris de sistemes d'ensenyament en línia universitària s'han estés al voltant del món en les últimes dècades, mostrant un major increment amb la propagació de la pandèmia COVID-19 des de 2020. Addicionalment, la normativa ISO 9241-210:2019 estableix els estàndards internacionals de qualitat per a dissenyar productes, serveis i sistemes d'interacció persona-ordenador que complisquen amb requisits d'usabilitat, accessibilitat i d'experiència d'usuari (User eXperience - UX). Per tant, el concepte de UX ha cobrat molta importància com a requisit de qualitat. Per a diversos autors, la UX és un concepte multidimensional que inclou les motivacions, sentiments i necessitats dels usuaris finals. D'altra banda, l'Objectiu de Desenvolupament Sostenible (ODS) 4 de l'Organització de les Nacions Unides (ONU) per al 2030 persegueix assegurar a nivell global una educació inclusiva, igualitària, per a tots i de qualitat. En aquest sentit, amb la finalitat de dissenyar interfícies i experiències d'aprenentatge en entorns universitaris que respecten totes especificacions de qualitat es requereix avaluar prèviament la UX d'aquests entorns de manera automàtica i precisa. Per tant, l'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és identificar les característiques concretes més rellevants en l'experiència d'usuari d'entorns d'e-learning universitaris que permeten analitzar específica i automàticament el sentiment dels estudiants amb la finalitat d'assentar les bases per a dissenyar plataformes d'aprenentatge virtual centrades en els usuaris. Amb aquesta finalitat, l'estudi planteja analitzar les necessitats i sentiments dels estudiants en línia universitaris amb mètodes digitals, avançats i eficients d'intel·ligència artificial. Per això, el present projecte investiga l'aplicació de models d'aprenentatge automàtic d'anàlisi de sentiment per a l'avaluació de la UX. Aquestes tècniques d'intel·ligència artificial s'han aplicat sobre les respostes rebudes d'entre els més de 2.000 estudiants universitaris enquestats procedents d'estudis de postgrau en línia i de cursos massius en línia en obert (MOOCs). Els resultats presenten les bases d'un model que permet classificar ontològicament categories o aspectes de l'educació en línia universitària i conéixer la polaritat del sentiment dels usuaris respecte a la seua experiència e-learning automàticament. D'aquesta manera, s'han pogut conéixer les opinions dels estudiants de manera automatitzada respecte a categories claus de l'ensenyament digital. A més, s'han classificat els comentaris dels estudiants en diferents dimensions UX e-learning o UXEL. D'aquesta manera, s'han identificat la polaritat del sentiment per a cada dimensió. En resum, aquest treball ha generat importants contribucions a la comunitat científica. En primer lloc, una adaptació del qüestionari validat UEQ-S integrat i adaptat a tres plataformes d'e-learning per a cursos específics de postgrau a la Universitat de València i en la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; i per a MOOCs a la Universitat Politècnica de València. En segon lloc, aquesta tesi ha generat una aplicació innovadora de mètodes d'anàlisis de sentiment i aprenentatge automàtic mitjançant el processament del llenguatge natural per a l'avaluació de l'experiència d'usuari d'estudiants universitaris en línia. Així, aquest mètode proporciona l'anàlisi de les opinions dels alumnes i les classifica segons la seua polaritat en positives, negatives o neutres. I en tercer lloc, aquest treball científic aporta una ontologia pròpia d'aspectes per a l'experiència d'aprenentatge virtual associada a dimensions UX. Aquesta ontologia utilitzada amb eines d'anàlisis de sentiment, permet classificar la polaritat de les opinions dels alumnes per categories clau de l'e-learning (VLE, Professor, Alumne, So, Imatge, Material, Exercici, Avaluació i Comunicació) i agrupar els comentaris en tres dimensions UXEL (VLE, Connexions Socials, i Recursos i Eines d'Aprenentatge). / [EN] The use of new technologies and the number of users of university online learning systems have spread around the world in the last decades, showing a further increase with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020. Additionally, ISO 9241-210:2019 sets international quality standards for designing human-computer interaction products, services, and systems that meet usability, accessibility, and User eXperience (UX) requirements. Therefore, the concept of UX has become very important as a quality requirement. For several authors, UX is a multidimensional concept that includes the motivations, feelings, and needs of end users. On the other hand, the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 for 2030 aims to ensure inclusive, equitable, quality education for all globally. In this sense, in order to design interfaces and learning experiences in university environments that respect all quality specifications, it is necessary to evaluate the user experience of these environments automatically and accurately beforehand. Thus, the main objective of this thesis is to identify the most relevant specific characteristics in the user experience of university e-learning environments that allow specific and automatic analysis of the students' feelings in order to lay the foundations for the design of user-centered e-learning platforms. To this end, the study proposes to analyse the needs and feelings of online university students with digital, advanced, and efficient artificial intelligence methods. Therefore, this project investigates the application of machine learning models of sentiment analysis for the evaluation of user experience. These artificial intelligence techniques have been applied to the responses received from more than 2,000 university students surveyed from postgraduate online studies and massive open online courses (MOOCs). The results present the basis of a model that allows ontologically classifying categories or aspects of university online education and knowing the users' polarity of feeling about their e-learning experience in an automatic way. In this way, it has been possible to find out the students' opinions in an automated way with regard to key categories of digital teaching. In addition, student comments have been classified into several UX e-learning or UXEL dimensions. Also, it has been identified the polarity of sentiment for each dimension. To sum up, this work has generated four major contributions to the scientific community. Firstly, an adaptation of the validated questionnaire UEQ-S integrated and adapted to three e-learning platforms for specific postgraduate courses at the Universitat de València and at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos; and for MOOCs at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Secondly, this thesis has generated an innovative application of sentiment analysis and machine learning methods through natural language processing for the evaluation of the user experience of university online students. Therefore, this method provides the analysis of learners opinions and classifies them according to their polarity in positive, negative or neutral. And thirdly, this scientific work brings out a proprietary ontology of aspects for the virtual learning experience associated with UX dimensions. This ontology used with sentiment analysis tools, allows classifying the polarity of student opinions (positive, neutral, negative) by key categories of e-learning (VLE, Teacher, Student, Sound, Image, Material, Exercise, Evaluation and Communication) and group the comments in three dimensions UX e-learning or UXEL (VLE, Social Connections, and Learning Resources and Tools). Finally, these contributions will help to evaluate in an automatic and accurate way several university e-learning environments in order to design user-centered virtual learning experiences more personalised and inclusive for all which suit quality standards and meet UN SDG 4 for 2030. / Sanchis Font, R. (2023). User eXperience evaluation on university virtual learning through sentiment analysis [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/194059 / Compendio

The use of online courses continues to increase despite the small amount of research that exists on the effectiveness of online educational environments. The little research that has been conducted has focused on evaluating factors taken into consideration during the adoption of online learning environments. One notable benefit often cited is the ability to incorporate multimedia such as video games. Although game researchers and developers are pushing for the use of video games for educational purposes, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of serious video games. When paring the increasing use of online educational environments, the push to use serious video games, and the lack of research on the effectiveness of online learning environments and video games, there is a clear need for further investigation into the use of serious video games in an online format. Based on current literature, no other known study has conducted an analysis comparing a serious game-based and non-game based online course; making this a unique study. The purpose of this study was to compare student learning experiences and outcomes between a serious game-based and non-game based online American History course. The data sources were data provided from Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and student and teacher interviews. Random samples of 92 students were statistically analyzed. A group of 8 students and 4 teachers were interviewed. FLVS data provided were analyzed using an independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney test and the student and teacher interview were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results of an independent t-test revealed that there was a significant (p > .01) difference in the mean number of days necessary to complete the course (MGB = 145.80, SDGB = 50.64, MNGB = 112.63, SDNGB = 49.60). The Mann-Whitney results indicated a significant difference between course performance and the type of American history course (Z = -5.066, p > .01); students in the serious game-based online course had an A average whereas students in the non-game-based online course had a B average. The thematic analysis of the relationship between student performance and motivation in both courses indicated that students and teachers of the game-based online course provided more reasons for student motivation than the students and teachers in the non-game-based online course. The thematic analysis of what aspects do students perceive as helpful and/or hindering to their learning indicated that students and teachers of the game-based online course provided more desirable, more helpful, less undesirable, and less hindering aspects for their course than the students and teachers in the non-game-based online course. As a result of the unique nature of this study, the findings provide new information for the fields of research on online learning, serious video gaming, and instructional design as well as inform instructional-designers, teachers, education stakeholders, serious video game designers, and education researchers.

Digitala läromedel blir ett vanligare inslag i skolgången då ny teknologi erbjuder tidigare okända pedagogiska möjligheter. Denna uppsats undersöker hur elever som använder ett digitalt läromedel i form av en virtuell lärmiljö för matematiklärande upplever denna lärmiljö. Dessutom undersöks elevernas prestation i lärmiljöns matematiska uppgifter. Skillnader mellan elever i olika årskurser samt elever som är matematiskt låg- eller högpresterande studeras. Matematisk prestation beskrivs utifrån Goods (1981) passivitetsmodell som innebär att lågpresterande elever är mindre risktagande i klassrumsmiljön. Elevernas upplevelse av digitala läromedel studerades i en virtuell lärmiljö bestående av två moduler, en spelmodul och en modul för skriven dialog. Upplevelsen av lärmiljön undersöktes genom att studera hur intressant eleverna tyckte att spelet var, huruvida eleverna tyckte att agenten gjorde att de brydde sig mer när de spelade, samt om de gillade den skrivna dialogen. Tidigare insamlad data från elever i årskurs 6-8 som använt den virtuella lärmiljön undersöktes med kvasiexperimentell metod och analyserades med ANOVA. Analysen påvisade en skillnad mellan låg- och högpresterande elever i hur mycket de tycker att en pedagogisk virtuell agent engagerar dem i en virtuell lärmiljö. Matematiskt högpresterande elever anser att agenten gör dem mer engagerade än vad matematiskt lågpresterande elever anser. Detta kan tyda på att lågpresterande elevers passivitet utöver traditionell klassrumspedagogik också påverkar elevernas upplevelse av digitala läromedel. I vidareutvecklingen av den virtuella lärmiljön och skapandet av andra virtuella lärmiljöer är det viktigt att se till att elever både lär sig och engageras av lärmiljön. Utvecklare bör också ta hänsyn till de skillnader som finns mellan låg- och högpresterande elevers upplevelse av lärmiljön. Detta kan exempelvis ske genom att den virtuella lärmiljön görs anpassningsbar för att passa elever oberoende av prestationsnivå. Detta är en viktig målsättning för att se förbättra lågpresterande elevers möjligheter i skolan, något som virtuella lärmiljöer och digitala läromedel i allmänhet kan utgöra ett kraftfullt medium för.