In massive open online course (MOOC) environments, computer-based analysis of course reviews enables instructors and course designers to develop intervention strategies and improve instruction to support learners' learning. This study aimed to automatically and effectively identify learners' concerned topics within their written reviews. First, we…

Using nine years of student evaluation of teaching (SET) data from a large US research university, we examine whether changes to the SET instrument have a substantial impact on overall instructor scores. Our study exploits four distinct natural experiments that arose when the SET instrument was changed. To maximise power, we compare the same…

This evaluation research study investigated the impact of differences in independent and collaborative teaching models in a blended graduate teacher education program. Using the Community of Inquiry model as a framework to evaluate the student experience in this program, data were collected over a two-year period regarding student perceptions of…

This pilot is a pre/post comparative assessment of a leadership course developed and delivered using an innovative, ontological/phenomenological model of education. Participants in the course delivered in Singapore in July of 2014 provided measures of the effectiveness of their leadership before and after the course, using a scale from 1 (least…

Examines three models for an introductory natural science course and assesses possible contributions of the models to course planning in sociology. The vocational, inquiry, and humanistic models are discussed. The conclusion is that the inquiry and the humanistic models are most relevant to teaching of sociology. (Author/DB)

Presents a model that can assess the relative quality of distance education courses by moving the emphasis from student-level data to course-based data. Reports data comparing online and traditional higher education courses covering nine disciplines and explores the usefulness of this framework for identifying discipline-related differences in…

University students in two advanced introductory psychology courses were offered simultaneous enrollment in a community service-learning course. Students selecting the option did not differ from nonparticipants demographically, or in self-reporting personal development gains or final grades, but did report enhanced ability to apply concepts…

Two approaches for teaching empirical research methods to graduate students in political science courses are evaluated. Specific objectives of the evaluation, in addition to comparing relative teaching effectiveness of the two approaches, were to explore causal dynamics between the teaching environment, user satisfaction, and learning performance.…

A model program for freshman women in engineering was field tested and evaluated at the Purdue University Department of Freshman Engineering. The course, open to men and women, was designed to provide more equitable educational opportunities through hands-on laboratories, career education, and role-model lectures on energy, environment,…

A model program for freshman women in engineering has been developed at Purdue University. The program focuses on an experimental course that provides beginning engineering women and men with hands-on laboratory experiences, discussions of contemporary societal problems including environment, energy and productivity by various role model…

The National Assessment, a census-like study to collect information concerning the educational attainment of Americans, is being adapted in many states with the results of the adaptations being used for decision making by state agencies or by teachers and administrators. The characteristics of the adaptations follow patterns related to this…

The study described in this paper outlines an attempt to explore those factors that contribute to learning performance improvement in laboratory instruction. As a case study, the educational methodology involved in a basic microcontroller course was analyzed. Traditional lab sessions based on the control of peripherals with low interactivity have…

There is a wide array of approaches that produce materials (courseware) for the delivery of university level courses via Distance Learning (DL). DL has increasingly become part of university systems across the United States and is expected to grow to 10% of enrollment at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) by the start of the next…

The 7th International Conference on Education Data Mining held on July 4th-7th, 2014, at the Institute of Education, London, UK is the leading international forum for high-quality research that mines large data sets in order to answer educational research questions that shed light on the learning process. These data sets may come from the traces…