In this article, we preliminarily discuss the limitations of current video conferencing platforms in online synchronous learning. Research has shown that while the involved technologies are appropriate for collaborative video calls, they often fail to replicate the rich nature of face-to-face interactions among students and between students and…

As more and more students seek out online educational opportunities, emerging technology and platforms must provide the most effective experience for learners to expand their knowledge and skill sets. The research study aimed to investigate social presence, collaboration, and design opportunities in head-mounted, virtual reality as compared to the…

The paper describes the design and implementation of a virtual lab for on-line lab training on optical communications, part of the 'Optical Communications' course offered at the Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Educators, School of Pedagogical & Technological Education (ASPETE), Athens, Greece. The virtual lab is based on the…

Online courses include the design for student interaction to support effective learning. Studies have shown that online discussion boards are a useful option to engage students. However, with new emerging digital technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), the question remains to what extent or in what ways these immersive technologies can be used…

Background: Online synchronous learning in higher education frequently struggles to overcome the social presence gap, resulting in dissatisfaction and poor learning outcomes. Objectives: This study examined the effectiveness of desktop-based virtual reality (VR) social platforms compared to video conferencing (VC) platforms in enhancing students'…

Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (AANZ) medical schools have been impacted by curricular changes and the introduction of virtual microscopy (VM). No survey has explicitly described the outcome of these events on histology education in AANZ. This study provides a cross-sectional overview of histology education in accredited medical schools across…

Avatar use has been proposed as a method to address students' social anxiety and hesitancy to interact with other people in synchronous online environments. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of research examining the effects of avatar-based interactions on students' emotions and motivation. A quasi-experimental research was conducted to examine the…

This reflection provides an introduction to, and reflection on, the new text "Rethinking Problem-based Learning for the Digital Age" (Savin-Baden and Fraser, 2024). It begins by telling the story and rationale for the creation of the book and then provides an overview of the text of the whole. The next section discusses the purpose of…

The forced move to online learning in the arrival and persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the present lack of models for fully online general chemistry laboratory courses. While there exist a fair number of simulation platforms, video libraries, and one-off virtual experiments, a lack of complete general chemistry lab online courses…

This chapter describes two case studies that highlight how courses can be taught simultaneously in classrooms across partnering university campuses using the effective, evidence-based team-based learning (TBL) method. The objective is to assist faculty in effectively using TBL in a synchronous virtual collaborative space.

Immersive technology plays an increasingly important role in design education, supporting digital literacy and experiential learning in higher education, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context. Many design disciplines, such as Architecture and Landscape Design, which used to rely heavily on physical field trips, and dialogic studios as…

This teaching note describes how a school of social work adapted Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) during the COVID-19 pandemic to an online live-streamed format, providing students the opportunity to engage in this experiential learning activity despite pandemic-related limitations. A step-by-step process for developing online…

Microteaching, as defined by Allen in 1969, in his book "Micro-Teaching--A Description" is a scaled down teaching approach in which a teacher teaches a small group of approximately 5 pupils for a small period of 5 to 20 minutes. This is helpful for an experienced or inexperienced teacher to acquire new teaching skills and to refine old…

Interest in virtual reality technologies has increased significantly in recent years, and an effort is being made to integrate it into educational environments. This study aims to investigate the impact of synchronous distance courses in the Virtual Reality (VR) learning environment (via vAcademia) and Web-based (via Adobe Connect) learning…

As a result of COVID-19, teacher preparation institutions scrambled to change face-to-face delivery of coursework to various online approaches (e.g., synchronous, asynchronous). This special issues brief is the second in the series released by the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR Center). Both…