Turning to online educational technology is a growing trend in our society. In particular, many community college Mathematics Departments have adopted online preparation and rigorous enhancement platform (OPREP) such as WebAssign. Nationally educators are attempting to address the low passing rates in developmental mathematics. Developmental mathematics courses are the gatekeepers to higher education. Slow progression through these courses can adversely affect a student’s ability to persist to graduation, which in turn impacts an individual’s employment opportunities and quality of life. The literature shows that OPREPs are typically employed to replace the tedious and time-consuming task of grading paper-based homework. Ignoring the testing management features of an OPREP and limiting it to a web-based homework tool is a reflection on implementation strategy. The purpose of this research is to develop a grounded theory about effectively implementing OPREP, which is informed by the perspectives and beliefs of the developmental mathematics students who use them. This mixed method study critically analyzed the student comment sheets, student evaluations, and the responses from 129 Elementary Algebra students who completed a questionnaire about their experiences using WebAssign. Analysis through an adult learning theory lens revealed the central phenomenon of the students’ needs for immediate feedback and the role that feedback plays in facilitating self-regulated learning. The findings reveal that the nature of the feedback extended beyond correctness. Students preferred to use interactive step-by-step tutorials, practicing different versions of the problem and watching lectures more than any other learning tool. The instructor’s implementation was a point of emphasis for key students. Multiple repeaters of elementary algebra stressed the importance of the OPREP implementation strategy on their achievement. Comments range from differences in the availability and strategic deployment of the learning tools to proper instruction on how a student should use the OPREP. Although this study confirms a significant and relative large correlation between homework and an exit examination, it also shows that OPREP assessments such as quizzes and practice examinations have stronger positive correlations. Results showed that OPREP quiz average was the best sole predictor of student achievement. OPREP quiz average was also the only OPREP assignment category included as a predictor of student achievement in the best multiple linear regression model.

Jong, Siu-yung = 探索如何將建構式電腦遊戲化學習融入正規學校課程教學中 / 莊紹勇. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; includes Chinese. / Jong, Siu-yung = Tan suo ru he jiang jian gou shi dian nao you xi hua xue xi rong ru zheng gui xue xiao ke cheng jiao xue zhong / Zhuang Shaoyong.

The project developed eBay Learning Center System (ELCS), a web-based application that provides current and potential eBay users a way to learn about the many functions of the popular online auction and shopping web site and be successful eBay traders. ELCS provides end users with online tutorials, available both in multimedia and text formats, and methods of communicating with system administrators and other users by means of a message box and a discussion forum to facilitate learning and collaborative problem solving. The system employs current technologies such as SQL, HTML, ASP.NET, VBScript, XML, ODBC, and ADO.

This study focused on the effects of using metacognitive strategy cuing integrated into problem-solving activities in a web-based learning environment. Purposes of the study were to investigate: (a) differences in posttest achievement between students who received metacognitive strategies embedded as cues in engineering problem sets and students who did not receive the treatment; (b) differences in perceptions of problem-solving skills between students who received metacognitive strategies embedded as cues in engineering problem set and students who did not receive the treatment; (c) differences in thermodynamics knowledge; (d) problem-solving steps students reported using across problem sets; (e) characteristics of sampled students, and (f) students' perceptions of web-based problem sets. The sample consisted of 81 students enrolled in an undergraduate thermodynamics course. In-class lectures were scheduled twice weekly, and web-based problem sets were assigned as homework. Two groups, the treatment group using embedded metacognitive cuing and the control group not using the embedded metacognitive cuing, practiced with problem-solving activities over a fifteen-week-semester. Two-thirds through the semester, comprehensive posttest achievement scores were compared between groups. Analyses showed no significant differences between groups when metacognitive strategies were incorporated into web-based problem sets. An instrument was developed and validated to measure students' perceptions of their abilities to plan, monitor, and evaluate problems. Pre- and post testing of students' self-reported perceptions were measured. The results indicated no significant differences between groups. When differences in thermodynamics knowledge and skills between students were measured, pretest to posttest results showed equal improvement for both groups, contradicting the hypothesis those students in the treatment group would improve in skills and knowledge more than the control group. A frequency analysis revealed differences in the amount of times students' reported using engineering problem-solving steps while working through exercises. Most frequently chosen was Step Two - List Variables (91 %) and Step Seven - Solved Equations (91%).. The least chosen response was Step Four -- Made/stated Assumptions which was selected only three percent of the time. Implications from this investigation, along with previous research, facilitate definition of boundary conditions when employing metacognitive cuing in web-based learning.

Posttest performances after two forms of Web-based tutorial instruction were compared. Both forms were designed to teach students to identify musical compositions that typify Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century music. The first treatment condition was a series of Web pages with text and accompanying hyperlinks to musical selections matched to the text. In this condition, students read and listened at their own discretion -- without Web software program restrictions. The second treatment contained exactly the same text and musical selections, but students in this condition read the text in small portions while being required to fill in missing words in the text presented. No time constraints were placed on participants. The essential difference between the conditions was 1) movement with the instruction content without restriction, and 2) advancement through the program being dependent upon correct responses to the text material (which included discriminative responding to accompanying musical examples). A statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest was found in both experimental conditions, but a difference in posttest scores between the two conditions was not found. Implications of the study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

Thesis (M. Ed.(Curriculum Studies))-University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

This study analysed the students&rsquo / perceptions about the web based instruction in a blended learning environment. Students&rsquo / perceptions, expectations and comments about their blended learning experiences, course web site and their communication experiences with the instructor were investigated. This case study was conducted within the Information Technology in Education II Course (CEIT 112). This course was delivered for the undergraduate course at the Computer Education and Instructional Technology Department (CEIT), Middle East Technical University, during the 2004-2005 Spring semester. Number of the participants was 25 and all of them were first year CEIT students. This course was delivered as a blended learning which combined face-to-face instruction with the web based instruction. The questionnaire was used to identify the students&rsquo / perceptions about the web based course at the end of the semester. Interviews were conducted at the end of the semester in order to take students&rsquo / comments, expectations and recommendations with respect to the course. Also, an interview was conducted with the instructor to identify his perceptions about the blended instruction experiences at the end of the semester. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered at the end of the semester. Data results showed that students had positive perceptions about the blended learning environment and to some extent neutral about the effectiveness of the course website. According to the instructor&rsquo / s point of view, the blended learning was beneficial for the students, but the efficient utilization of computer mediated communication would be better supported. This study can contribute the following research studies related with the blended learning. Also, the instructor of the course can benefit from this research result in order to improve the productivity of the course for the next terms.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of learners in the blended course relative to the use of Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education. Additionally through the motivational requirements specified by Keller&rsquo / s ARCS motivational design model, students&rsquo / motivations were analyzed. Thus the study was designed to determine student motivation in a blended environment in relation to Keller&rsquo / s ARCS motivational design model. For these research aims, a traditional course was redesigned with the support of online applications by taking Good Practice Principles as the framework. A triangulation mixed method approach was utilized as the primary design of the study by employing both qualitative and quantitative methods in a single study. The study participants included 47 preservice teachers in an undergraduate teacher education program of Computer Education and Instructional Technology Department in the Middle East Technical University who took the course (School Experience I) in blended design mode in 2005-2006 spring semester. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through three different surveys, student interviews, and forum transcripts. The data were analyzed concurrently according to both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. The analyses of qualitative and quantitative data showed that students&rsquo / perceptions in the blended course and perceptions in relation to each good teaching principles were mostly positive. Results reveal that students perceive six of the principles including student faculty contact, cooperation, time on task, diversity and ways of learning, feedback, and active learning helpful to their learning. Additionally, the students think that the other one principle which is expectations needs to be improved. In addition, high motivation scores were gathered in the blended course. Results show that attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction subscores revealed significantly higher levels of motivation among students.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The main objective of this study was to develop a framework for the utilization of Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning in a university of technology. The study was informed by data that was collected quantitatively from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Extensive literature review was conducted and by using content analysis 36 factors were deduced.