This paper explores the potential of online micro-credentials, a novel learning approach that awards credentials after short educational experiences, as a viable solution to bridging the soft skills gap in the workforce. Using a qualitative foresight research design, the study analyzes and synthesizes insights gathered from 85 in-depth interviews…

This systematic review synthesizes 14 peer-reviewed studies from 2015 to 2023, focusing on the assessment methods and delivery of digital microcredentials. Microcredentials provide specialized, focused content and recognize professional learning or competency in specific skills. This paper defines digital microcredentials as those offered in an…

Many different factors influence students' sense of belonging in an online learning. One area of the learning experience in which a sense of "belonging" is critical is in online asynchronous discussions, and the degree to which students feel that their contributions to those discussions are valued. Unfortunately, the structure of…

Teacher autonomy-supportive style and controlling style are considered to be common motivating styles that affect online learning effectiveness. However, the associations between perceived teacher autonomy-supportive style and controlling style and undergraduates' self-regulation of online learning needs to be further explored, especially in terms…

The recent shift to remote instruction in response to the global pandemic has resulted in increasing demand for flexible learning options in higher education going forward. As institutions strategize the advancement of distance education as a means of addressing these demands, a parallel need has emerged for increased awareness of flexible…

The present study evaluated the validity of the Online Learner Satisfaction Instrument (OLSI) in terms of construct and convergent validity, and measurement invariance across demographic groups. The study results revealed that the factor structures generally confirmed to the original factor structure proposed in the instrument. Also, some…

This study comprised a meta-analysis of the relationship between learning engagement and learning outcomes in online learning in higher education. The effect sizes of 175 samples were extracted from 34 eligible studies published from January 2010 to March 2022. First, the relationship between learning engagement and learning outcomes was g =0.430,…

Online discussion forums are highly valued by instructors due to their affordance for understanding class activities and learning. However, a discussion forum with a great number of posts requires a large amount of time to view, and help requests are easily overlooked. Various machine-learning--based tools have been developed to help instructors…

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…

In-service teachers, constrained by work commitments, adopt online learning methods for their graduate studies, emphasizing the significance of exploring the construction of online learning communities. Analyzing collaborative conversation texts within the online learning process of the "Learning Science" course at a university in…

Although designing and developing courses curricula are often the primary foci for online learning, instructional considerations are just one part of an educational ecosystem contributing to the online educational quality and success for online learners. In this paper, we explore systemic planning for online learning organized around the idea of…

Due to the sudden transition to online education because of the outbreak of COVID-19, various strategies and factors have been extensively investigated to increase the effectiveness and quality of online education. In this study, we reviewed and synthesized the factors correlating with students' online learning satisfaction, considered a basic…

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…

This paper describes a case study of an online physics laboratory course implemented for 254 engineering students at Walailak University in Thailand in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The laboratory sequence was designed based on the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework and covered eight experiments on fundamental concepts of motion,…

Facing the growing popularity of autonomous online learning, students require more agentic engagement (AE) to construct a supportive learning environment for themselves. Existing studies based on self-determination theory (SDT) state that teachers' motivating style can predict students' engagement, and students' competence beliefs can moderate the…