With the growth of online courses, moderators can play a significant role in engaging and supporting learners in asynchronous online discussions (AODs). However, a synthesis of the research on moderators has not been performed in the 40 years since the term was first used in reference to online learning. We examined 76 studies to determine key…

Research suggests that video can improve social presence in online courses. Video, though, is not a panacea; rather the success of video use depends in part on how and when it is used. Online instructors are increasingly using video in various ways, but questions remain on which types of videos students value most when it comes to establishing…

The purpose of this research was to examine differences between students at high and low levels of interactions, their perceived online presence (teaching, cognitive, and social), and the level of actual cognitive presence in asynchronous case-based discussions. The results revealed that among three online presences, teaching presence was the…

A longstanding area of disagreement among theological educators has been whether the holistic formational goals of theological education can be adequately addressed through non-face-to-face learning modes. This study explored student perceptions of how their experience of studying theology in an asynchronous online context contributed to their…

With the development of technology and the normalization of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, asynchronous online learning is becoming popular. However, it is still to be explored on how to enhance students' learning engagement and knowledge construction. Based on this, we used content analysis to explore the roles of teaching strategies…

Most distance universities have adopted advising practices traditionally employed in on-campus institutions. Nonetheless, little is known about the role of academic advisers while guiding students with dis/abilities to engage and achieve success in online higher education. This study aimed to explore and analyze advisers' perspectives related to…

Microcredentials enable a digital transformation of educational offerings that build skills of learners and the capability of organisations; however learners struggle with balancing study on top of work and family commitments unless they are motivated and self-regulated in their learning. Designing microcredentials that intrinsically motivate…

The role of motivation in online learning has been explored mostly as a predictor of course retention or satisfaction, rather than as an adaptive outcome in itself. We thus aimed to investigate how the features of motivation develop in online courses during the semester and how students' perceived teaching and social presences influence their…

Researchers have been investigating social presence in online learning for decades. However, despite this continued research, questions remain about the nature and development of social presence. The purpose of this mixed method exploratory case study was to investigate how social presence is established in online discussion forums in an…

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted widespread transitions to remote teaching and learning in the higher education sector, bringing challenges for both educators and students. This study investigated links between student engagement with distinct types of remote teaching (asynchronous and synchronous) and academic outcomes (grade point average and…

The current study proposes a comprehensive structural model to determine whether online learning perceptions and online learning readiness affect students' online learning performance and course satisfaction. A questionnaire was voluntarily completed by 356 undergraduate students enrolled in a cross-campus, general education, asynchronous online…

The mandate for K-12 and higher education instructors to teach online during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a wide range of experiences, preferences, challenges, complaints, and successes; especially in terms of synchronous forms of instruction. For much of 2020, many educators hesitantly and nervously transitioned to online environments while…

The use of video has become commonplace in education today. Educators are engaging students with video communication technology more frequently than ever before, given COVID-19. However, questions remain on how instructors use video as a communication and teaching tool in online and blended courses. The purpose of this literature review was to…

The current study examined the effects of different types of instructor comments on student engagement in an online discussion. In particular, this study examined three comment types: (1) praise-oriented comments, agreeing with students' initial messages and recapping their ideas, (2) elaboration-encouraging comments, requesting elaboration on the…

Early-warning intervention for students at risk of failing their online courses is increasingly important for higher education institutions. Students who show high levels of engagement appear less likely to be at risk of failing, and how engaged a student is in their online experience can be characterized as factors contributing to their social…