Online collaborative discussion (OCD) focuses on promoting individual knowledge inquiry and group knowledge construction through active peer interactions and communications. In practice, it is necessary to explore how different modes of OCD come into play, in which student engagement can function as an evaluating indicator. To identify student…

An increase in online learning has created a set of new challenges for higher education institutions. Institutions seek to retain students and ensure they are engaged in their courses. This paper examines forms of engagement that traditional and nontraditional students perceive in their online asynchronous graduate courses at a public flagship…

In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and adult learning, asynchronous video-based online learning has not only become the new norm but has also emerged as the cornerstone of instructional delivery for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Despite its widespread adoption, this learning mode confronts a critical challenge: the…

Asynchronous online discussions (AODs) are a critical component of online learning, enabling students to exchange ideas and interact with peers in a flexible manner. To explore the interrelationships between social presence and cognitive presence, and how these two presences are connected across various instructional strategies used in AODs, this…

Synchrony, or the timing of information as it is exchanged between participants, has garnered increasing study in online learning. Within this domain is bichronous online learning (BOL), the blending of asynchronous and synchronous elements within one learning environment. Some research has identified mobile instant messaging as quasi-synchronous…

This study investigates student engagement in asynchronous forums in distance learning by focusing on the interactions of 204 students across four classes. It aims to understand interaction evolution and influencing factors over the course of each class. Data analysis reveals an initial high involvement that declines markedly over time for each…

Learning management systems (LMS) are essential components of courses, yet student engagement on these platforms remains a significant challenge. Traditionally, grades have been used to incentivize student engagement, but this approach comes with drawbacks. In this paper, we explored an alternative form of incentivization, gamification, that has…

This study evaluates the effectiveness of an asynchronous e-text, "Library 101," in teaching students about library resources and services. Developed in a collaboration between the eLearning librarian and Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, the "Library 101"…

In recent years, online education in institutions of higher learning has exponentially expanded the application of digital approaches to learning. The Learning Management Systems (LMS) used by online instruction provide a variety of tools to enhance learning with peers and instructors (Yount & Neild, 2022). One such tool, Asynchronous…

Cognitive engagement is an essential component in student learning. With the increase of more asynchronous virtual educational tools in classrooms, there is a need to understand how students are engaging with classroom content in these formats. Several studies have examined student and teacher perceptions of cognitive engagement in virtual…

Although learning analytics dashboards (LADs) are being recognized as tools that can enhance engagement--a crucial factor for the success of asynchronous online higher education--their impact may be limited without a solid theoretical basis for motivation. Furthermore, the processes through which students make decisions using dashboards and engage…

This study aims to investigate the effects of competition through a digital leaderboard in gamified online discussions on learners' behavioral and cognitive engagement in learning. Twenty-three graduate students pursuing master's degree in instructional technology in a public university in Indonesia were involved in a five-week quasi-experiment (N…

This study investigates student interaction and engagement in Twitter-supported collaborative learning, focusing on cognitive and socio-emotional processes, their evolution, and their impact on knowledge construction and group project outcomes within a higher education flipped classroom context. Utilising mixed methods analysis, including…

Recent developments have led institutions into a transition towards more flexible educational models, such as synchronous hybrid education, i.e., having both on-site and remote students at the same time or multi-access education also providing asynchronous access. It is assumed that these new models can enhance accessibility for learners with…

Current approaches to assessing digital competence in education may be too broad to support teachers in developing their online learning designs in specific subjects. During the pandemic, studies have identified that the development of teaching practices (and subsequently their learning designs) has taken a leap. However, because digital cultures…