Research Article
Carmen Ricardo, Camilo Vieira, Roxana Quintero-Manes, John Cano
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 4, Article No: ep465
ABSTRACT
While some students had experience receiving online education prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency remote modality offered a different experience given that higher education faculty had limited time for planning and, most of them, did not have any experience in online education. This research aims to identify the differences between undergraduate students’ perceptions and preferences on emergency remote and online education. Researchers identified a set of online education courses–that pre-existed COVID-19 times–and courses that were transformed into remote education courses–designed as a response of the COVID-19 emergency. Participants of this study are a group of students who, during the same academic semester, participated in both online and (emergency) remote courses. Researchers used a survey to understand students’ perceptions and preferences assessing their experiences in different dimensions (e.g., interaction and evaluation). Researchers used the add-on preferential groups model to identify which of the two modalities was preferred by the students for each dimension. The quantitative analysis was complemented using content analysis of responses to open-ended questions, seeking to gain a better understanding of students’ perceptions and preferences between online and emergency remote education. The results show that students have a positive view of the online and remote modalities; however, each of these modalities offers students advantages for specific dimensions. For example, the remote modality was preferred for having greater interaction among peers and with the instructor. On the other hand, online education provided more flexibility. Students suggested improving assessments’ approaches and instructors’ technological skills for both modalities.
Keywords: emergency remote education, preferences, perceptions, online learning, higher education
Research Article
Ekaterina Pechenkina, Carol Aeschliman
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 8, Issue 1, pp. 26-39
ABSTRACT
This article, with its focus on university students as intended recipients and users of
technological innovations in education, explores student preferences across three
dimensions of technology-enhanced learning: mode of instruction; communication; and
educational technology tools embedded in learning and teaching activities. The article
draws on results of an exploratory case study, where mixed (quantitative and qualitative)
data was collected from a randomized student sample generated through the institutional
learning management system. An online survey (N=66) gaged students’ engagement with
educational technologies, online and blended learning and social media as a learning tool.
The findings confirmed previous research arguing that students generally use educational
technology in a narrow way, rarely engaging with technological tools, unless it is presented
to them as integral to their learning or if they are already familiar with a particular tool
and/or perceive it as useful. Despite a well-cited characteristic by proponents of ‘digital
natives’ that students need constant entertainment, this study found no evidence that this
was the case.
Keywords: educational technology, student preferences, blendid learning, social media
Research Article
Nilgun Ozdamar-Keskin, Fatma Zeynep Ozata, Kerim Banar, Karl Royle
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 6, Issue 1, pp. 74-90
ABSTRACT
The purpose of the study is to examine digital literacy competences and learning habits of learners enrolled in the open and distance education system of Anadolu University in Turkey. Data were gathered from 20.172 open and distance learners through a survey which included four parts: demographic information, abilities to use digital technologies, learning habits, preferences in using digital technologies for learning purposes. Principal Component Factor Analysis was applied in order to group and classify the attitudes and statements of the learners in their personal learning preferences, problem solving skills, project work skills, and abilities to use digital tools for learning purposes. Their personal learning preferences produced five factors: visual, auditory, dependent, collaborative, and reading-writing learning styles. According to the results of the study, learners believe that they have problem solving and project working skills to deal with educational difficulties. However, they seem to have only basic competences of digital literacy and the skills to use information and communication technologies at a basic level. They need training on how to use digital tools more efficiently for learning purposes. Further research is needed to explore how to increase the use of digital tools for the purpose of effective learning and also how to design learning environments to improve digital literacy of open and distance learners
Keywords: Open and distance learning, Digital literacy, Learning preferences, Learning styles, Problem solving, Project skills
Research Article
Gonca Cumaoglu, Esra Sacici, Kerem Torun
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 4, Issue 2, pp. 121-135
ABSTRACT
Reading habits, accessing resources, and material preferences change rapidly in a digital world. University students, as digital natives, are accessing countless resources, from lecture notes to research papers electronically. The change of reading habits with a great scale has led to differentiation on accessibility of resources, archiving them and usage of related technologies. The purpose of this study is to examine the e-book usage preferences versus printed material along with reading habits in a context of different variables. Additionally, different uses of e-books in a variety of faculties have been the focus of this study. The participants comprised of 222 students, studying in 36 different universities across Turkey. A questionnaire was developed specifically for the study. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: Printed book reading habits, e-book reading habits (methods of reaching e-books, aim of usage etc.), and technological knowledge (e-book related tools and file formats etc.). According to the results of study, approximately 68% of university students stated that they read one book in a week and 62% indicated that they are e-book readers. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between social environment and reading habits of students. University students put forward accessibility advantage (68%) of e-book and stated that they mostly read e-book for research (81%). E-book format which is most commonly preferred among students is Portable Document Format (pdf) (73%), while the computer is the most commonly used e-book medium (60%).
Keywords: E-book, Printed material, Reading preferences, Reading habits, University students, Higher education