Synchronous Distance Learning (SDL) is becoming more and more popular in the academic environment, but comparisons of the effects of this type of learning with those of traditional face-to-face have often been limited to academic performance and satisfaction. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of these two learning modalities on…

The interest in blended synchronous learning environments has increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a key challenge is how to simultaneously encourage online and onsite student participation. Response systems have been found to stimulate student participation in classroom and online education settings. This study…

This study investigates the effects of pre-task planning on English as a second language (ESL) learners' engagement in oral tasks in the face-to-face real-time communication (FTF) and synchronous video-based computer-mediated communication (SvCMC) modes. A total of 36 ESL learners performed two decision-making tasks (with versus without pre-task…

Online trainings in evidence-based treatments (EBT) can be effective platforms and may provide better access to community providers as compared with traditional in-person trainings. However, questions remain as to whether online trainings can achieve similar rates of training engagement and model application to traditional in-person trainings. We…

This study examines the effects of synchronous and non-synchronous online engagement on the academic performance of accounting students at a New Zealand university based on their choice of course delivery format -- either distance learning or face-to-face learning with online components (F2F+). We track accounting students as they complete three…

The trend to shift courses online is accelerating. Some students are gravitating toward asynchronous online classes; however, many still prefer in-person educational experiences. These students often are less engaged when taking online courses, and their willingness to pay for online courses is frequently less than for in-person courses. There is…

Educators constantly wrestle with the question of how to engage students in an environment in which students are increasingly distracted. This issue has become more relevant as instructors have been forced to pivot to the use of a variety of online learning modalities to administer instruction. While the synchronous online class session allows for…

In order to navigate enrollment challenges, universities are scheduling more online and blended courses including HyFlex courses which offer students flexibility in their method of attendance. The goal of this study is to explore student engagement in HyFlex courses. However, there is limited research supporting the effectiveness of HyFlex courses…

Research suggests that student engagement is a multi-faceted construct yet remains essential for student success in higher education. College students' actions, attitudes, and thoughts may serve as indicators for various levels of learning and development. Since online learning slowly emerged as a viable option in higher education, research has…

The pandemic forced many education providers to pivot rapidly their models of education to increased online provision, raising concerns that this may accentuate effects of digital poverty on education. Digital footprints created by learning analytics systems contain a wealth of information about student engagement. Combining these data with…

Hyflex describes a course format that combines both online and in-person elements, allowing students the flexibility to attend class in person, participate remotely in real-time (synchronously), or complete all coursework at their own pace (asynchronously). This study was conducted to explore student and instructor experiences with Hyflex…

This study examines the learning experiences including academic performance and assessments of Foundation students at a British University's campus in Malaysia during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on foundation students is important because First-Year Experience is crucial to their academic success in higher education. Using a…

With the increased attention focused on active learning, educators strive to find better and more innovative ways to engage students in the classroom. One of the hurtles that educators are presented with is that the classroom is no longer limited to a physical location but rather students and professor can meet via the internet, Before COVID-19,…

The COVID-19 pandemic, while disruptive and abrupt, provided instructors opportunities to redesign face-to-face (F2F) lecture courses to an online asynchronous delivery mode. Asynchronous course delivery is often synonymous with recorded lectures, discussion boards, and standardized assessments, yet this mode can be student-centered, include…

Task complexity and communication modes are two task design and implementation factors that have been found to affect second language (L2) learners' oral performance. While increasing task complexity and developing tasks according to the features of face-to-face and computer-mediated communication modes can optimise L2 production, few studies…